The Letter of Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I
to Mr. Djukanovic, President of Montenegro

No. of Prot. 211-copy

TO: His Excellency Mr. Milo Djukanovic, President Of Montenegro
MONTENEGRO

Dear and very respected Excellency,

We are referring our prayerful Patriarchal letter to You with gladness, wishing You and Your people all the blessings from God in the highest. We are obliged, however , to remind You of an issue, we think You will agree, is a matter of great importance. It concerns the person, falsely presenting himself as one of the Bishops of The Eastern Orthodox Church, whose name is Miras Dedeic. This person is the alleged leader ( although he is completely unknown to all in The Orthodox Church) of an independent orthodox church in Montenegro. Miras Dedeic has, few years ago been defrocked and disentitled as a priest by our Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate and therefore returned to the order of laity. Nevertheless he continues to present himself in the public as the member of clergy thus defying all the laws and disturbing the life of orthodox christians in Montenegro where the canonically recognized Orthodox Bishop, accepted by All Orthodox Churches is Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije. Keeping in mind the historical perspective, which shows that spiritual schism within a nation could have unforeseeable consequences and could also threaten the stability of that nation, it is clear that schismatic activities of Miras Dedeic would not serve the true and long term interests of Your people, whose well being Your Excellency I'm sure is Your fundamental concern.

It is well known that The Orthodox Church, as a spiritual organism accepts and embraces All Autocephalous Orthodox churches, using the holy canons which are respected by All and which are also obligatory for All. In accordance with the holy canons Autocephalous Orthodox Churches function through the canonical Bishops which are accepted and recognized by all since they have been canonically ordained and not defrocked and disentitled. Therefore, if the local church functions through the defrocked and disentitled clergy it is not recognized by any of the Orthodox Churches, and that is why the political leadership should not bring its people into ecclesiastical isolation and schism with the body representing the community of All Orthodox Churches.

In addition, we want to say that the autonomy is usually granted to a local Orthodox church after certain conditions and formal requirements are fulfilled. It can never be granted through defrocked and disentitled clergy who are doing nothing but creating dissent and disorder.

Dear Excellency, we are convinced that You will understand the danger that is being caused for the spiritual welfare of the people of Montenegro by the activities of Mr. Miras Dedeic and that You will disassociate Yourself from him for the sake of well being and unity of Your people.

Asking You, please, to accept our kindest regards,

sincere respect and love we remain

Your Excellency's fervent intercessor before God

Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I

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