Public Statement of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

We fully support our brother in Christ, priest Radomir Nikcevic who is risking his life to defend Vlaska Church in Cetinje

16.12.2000 in Cetinje

Priest Radomir Nikcevic locked inside the Church

Abbots, abbesses, and all the clergy of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral held their usual annual meeting this year in Cetinje on the 16^th December 2000. Meeting was held at the premises of Cetinje Seminary after the Divine Liturgy that was served in Vlaska church dedicated to the Feast of The Birth of the Theotokos. The following statement was issued to the public:

After talks about current issues related to general improvement of the evangelical mission and spiritual life, special emphasis was given to questions regarding religious education, protection of the Church's property and other matters. Gathered church leaders together with their Bishops, are using this occasion to express their utmost concern because of the recent increase in violence directed against the Metropolitanate coming especially from impassioned political activists which are using a group of church delinquents (self-proclaimed CPC) for their political goals. Our concern is even greater because responsible Montenegrin state institutions do not adequately protect the property and the dignity of the Metropolitanate. Having all this in mind we are requesting from the president of the Republic of Montenegro and the President of Montenegrin Parliament to put an end to this lawlessness and systematic trampling of basic human and religious rights. Expressing our loyalty to the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Grace Metropolitan Amfilohije, the Serbian Orthodox Church and Ecumenical Orthodoxy we declare:

1. Persecution and breaking of elementary human and religious rights will continue until responsible Montenegrin authorities provide explicit and unequivocal guarantees concerning the personal safety of our clergy and effective ways to protect property that belongs to the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral which includes all Orthodox parish churches, monasteries and other property inherited by the Church. We declare all this with full awareness of our responsibility before the domestic and international public.

2. In these times, immediately following the period during which our Church suffered open persecution in Montenegro at the hands of the atheist regime for 50 years:

-With more than a hundred orthodox priests with their Metropolitan killed by the communists during WW2,

-Others like Metropolitan Arsenije imprisoned by the communist regime in post-war years,

-Church dedicated to St. Peter of Cetinje on top of Lovcen mountain violently and illegally destroyed by the regime in early 70' when Metropolitan Danilo also suffered persecution since he tried to oppose this barbaric act,

-Almost all church property illegally confiscated and nationalized and never returned back,

-Planned and systematic destruction of God's image in human beings almost accomplished,

In these recent times, therefore, when hopes were high that we might actually be looking towards an end to all this fearsome violence and suffering the beginning of the new millennium unfortunately seems to have flared up entirely new violence and new fears. With regret we are now witnessing the emergence of a new Montenegro that is becoming a lawless country where empty ideological 'neo-bolshevik' brainwashing is forced upon the population through the state controlled media.

Instead of trying to heal the old wounds that divide the population, current regime seems to be doing just the opposite by generating hatred and trying to translate the conflict into the Church's sphere. Instead of trying to solve nearly catastrophic social problems of our impoverished and unemployed population, rebuild the destroyed agriculture, bankrupt factories and insolvent companies; instead of trying to develop a healthy economy which could replace the black market - Montenegrin regime tries to comfort itself inventing unconvincing stories about the non-existent reforms and partly managing to mislead others with these tales trying to survive through begging and receiving alms. Trade in narcotics; white slavery, smuggling and Mafiosi style criminal organizations are spreading throughout today's Montenegro. Instead of trying to tackle these real issues that are seriously threatening the souls of young Montenegrins and the dignity of their country this regime is likely to be remembered for managing to fabricate fictitious 'Academies of Arts', 'academics', false 'churches' and false 'priests' and readily label as traitors all those who happen to think and act in a different manner. Under the pretense of privatization and market economy more and more 'plain robberies' are taking place with 'overnight millionaires' sprouting. Enormous riches are being acquired by former communist party aparatchiks and officers of secret police turned enterpreneurs, while at the same time more and more beggars are roaming the streets. Story about moving towards "European integrations" through the systematic break-up with the ages old traditional historical, national and spiritual links with our brethren in Serbia is another platitudinous lie used to deceive the gullible and seduce the ignorant.

Deeply concerned we ask ourselves: is this the foundation on which they want to build their 'upright and proud' Montenegro?

Having carefully taken all this into consideration we address the domestic and the international public with a cry for help, in an attempt to avoid and somehow being deliver ourselves from the new violence, new fears and the new manipulations which are now hovering over our heads and being spread all over Montenegro under the guise of democracy. We also declare that we fully support our brother in Christ, priest Radomir Nikcevic who, entirely prepared to risk his life in the process, now protects his parish Church (called Vlaska Church) in Cetinje. He is risking his life simply because genuine will of the responsible Montenegrin state institutions to really enforce 'law and order' simply could not be trusted any more.

We are expressing our sincere hope that Montenegro will choose the right path founded and embedded in its ages long experience and proven values, and eventually free itself from the new docleo-pagan mythomania, obviously an offspring of a bolshevik-titoist ideology.

We wish a merry Christmas to all the faithful and a blessed entry into the new millennium of our Lord's goodness.

Venerable Abbots, God-fearing Abbesses and the honorable Clergy of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral:

1. Orthodox Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije

2. Bishop of Budimlje Joanikije

3. Archimandrite Mardarije, Rezevici Monastery

4. Archimandrite Justin, Savina Monastery

5. Abbot Rafailo, Moraca Monastery

6. Abbot Danilo, Kosijerevo Monastery

7. Abbot Luka, Cetinje Monastery

8. Abbot Nikodim, Djurdjevi Stupovi Monastery

9. Abbot Filimon, Obod Monastery

10.Hieromonk Dimitrije, Praskvica Monastery

11.Hieromonk Benedikt, Podmaine Monastery

12.Hieromonk Stefan, Piva Monastery

13.Hieromonk Sava, Duljevo Monastery

14.Hieromonk Isak, Dajbabe Monastery

15.Hieromonk Joanikije, Majstorovina Monastery

16.Hieromonk Joanikije, Podmalinsko Monastery

17.Hieromonk Isaija, Bijela Monastery

18.Hieromonk Marko, Vranjina Monastery

19.Hieromonk Jovan, Moracnik Monastery

20.Hieromonk Pavle, Ostrog Monastery

21.Hieromonk Jefrem, Cetinje Monastery

22.Hieromonk Joakim Cetinje Monastery

23.Protosynkellos Jovan, Cetinje Monastery

24.Abbot Dimitrije, Stanjevici Monastery

25.Abbot Pavle, Gradiste Monastery

26.Hieromonk Stefan, Ostrog Monastery

27.Hieromonk Simeon, Celija Piperska Monastery

28.Abbot Marko, Praskvica Monastery

29.Hieromonk Jovan, Ribnjak Monastery

30.Hieromonk David, Kom Monastery

31.Hierodeacon Petar, Cetinje Monastery

32.Hierodeacon Epifanije, Cetinje Monastery

33.Hierodeacon Kasijan, Cetinje Monastery

34.Hierodeacon Amvrosije, Cetinje Monastery

35.Monk Grigorije, Starceva Gorica Monastery

36.Monk Nikodim, Prevlaka Arh. Mihaila Monastery

37.Protopresbyter-stavrofor Komnen Radusinovic, Cetinje

38.Protopresbyter-stavrofor Momcilo Krivokapic, Kotor

39.Protopresbyter-stavrofor Savo Tutus, Cetinje

40.Protopresbyter Borivoje Kosoric, Tivat

41.Protopresbyter Momcilo Raicevic, Podgorica

42.Protopresbyter Radoman Mijaijlovic, Bar

43.Protopresbyter |Djordje Orovic, Herceg Novi

44.Protopresbyter Radoman Bubanja, Herceg Novi

45.Protopresbyter Sreto Medic, Sutomore

46.Protopresbyter Dragan Mitrovic, Podgorica

47.Protopresbyter Milun Femic, Podgorica

48.Protopresbyter Radojica Bozovic, Ulcinj

49.Protopresbyter Radomir Nikcevic, Cetinje

50.Protopresbyter Dragan Stanisic, Cetinje

51.Protopresbyter Ljubomir Djureinovic, Budva

52.Protopresbyter Miras Bogavac, Bijelo Polje

53.Protopresbyter Marko Djurkovic, Niksic

54.Protopresbyter Jovan Tomovic, Bijelo Polje

55.Protopresbyter Mihailo Gazivoda, Cetinje

56.Protopresbyter Milos Perovic, Niksic

57.Presbyter Ranko Loncar, Petrovac

58.Presbyter Zoran Djedovic, Gornja Zeta

59.Presbyter Petar Krgovic, Rozaje

60.Presbyter Vasilije Brboric, Niksic

61.Presbyter Danilo Damjanovic, Zabljak

62.Presbyter Gojko Mracevic, Morinj

63.Presbyter Zivan Vukojevic, Zelenika

64.Presbyter Vladan Pantelic, Moraca

65.Presbyter Sreten Simikic, Niksic

66.Presbyter Dragan Tomic, Danilovgrad

67.Presbyter Radovan Tomovic, Spuz

68.Presbyter Branko Tapuskovic, Podgorica

69.Presbyter Radoslav Laketa, Orahovac

70.Presbyter Nebojsa D. Orovic, Bar

71.Presbyter Djuro Tomovic, Podgorica

72.Presbyter Arsenije Radovic, Budva

73.Presbyter Boro Vrhovac, Andrijevica

74.Presbyter Dragan Ristic, Berane

75.Presbyter Pavle Kandic, Plav

76.Presbyter Velimir Jovovic, Niksic

77.Presbyter Velibor Dzomic, Donja Zeta

78.Presbyter Milorad Dajevic, Kumbor

79. Presbyter Milenko Jekic, Kotor

80. Presbyter Gojko Perovic, Cetinje

81. Deacon Savo Denda, Kotor

82. Deacon Jovan Plamenac, Virpazar

83. Deacon Zeljko Calic, Podgorica

84. Deacon Slavoljub Radojkovic, Budva

85. Deacon Predrag Stojkovic, Rijeka Crnojevica

86. Presbyter Ivan Stanisic, Rijeka Crnojevica

87.Abbess Justina, Zdrebaonik Monastery

88.Abbess Elikonida, Gornji Brceli Monastery

89.Abbess Efimija, Zupa Niksicka Monastery

90.Abbess Angelina, Celija Piperska Monastery

91.Abbess Olimpijada, Celija Dobrska Monastery

92.Abbess Jovana, Duga Monastery

93.Abbess Doroteja, Podlastva Monastery

94.Abbess Justina, Dobrilovina Monastery

95.Abbess Haritina, Banja Monastery

96.Protopresbyter Predrag Vidakovic, Bijela

97.Protopresbyter Aleksa Pavlovic, Niksic

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