Patriarch Porfirije: "Some people intended to prevent an act of love with a sniper rifle"
The patriarch left Montenegro after the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije in Cetinje
Serbian Patriarch Porfirije left Montenegro after the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije, and on that occasion he made an address via his Instagram, stressing that he was leaving "with a double feeling."
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"I am parting, I hope not for long, with this blessed land and people, with a double feeling. I am very happy because we have done the work of the Church, enthroned the metropolitan according to the will of the Church and the people of this diocese, a people who deeply love the Church of St. Sava," the patriarch wrote.
He added that he was more than sad, "even horrified by the fact that there were some people in sight who intended to prevent this act of love towards everyone with a sniper rifle."
"I thank everyone, I am sorry for everyone who has been hurt in any way and I ask them for forgiveness. I pray to Lord for this land, for this people and for all people, and I ask them to pray for me, because they are closer to God," concluded the patriarch.
The Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church Joanikije was enthroned on Sunday in Cetinje. Unfortunately, the day of the enthronement was marked by numerous clashes in Cetinje, which began at dawn. Several people were injured in the clashes, while the police arrested eight. The event of enthronement and the two-day visit of Patriarch Porfirije to Montenegro ended with a festive lunch in Podgorica.
Patriarch Porfirije and Metropolitan Joanikije were transferred to Cetinje by helicopter on Sunday morning and safely escorted to the Cetinje monastery with high security measures in place.
The enthronement ceremony began just after 8:30 am.
After the enthronement, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije addressed citizens, and then Metropolitan Joanikije did the same. After the enthronement, traffic was reestablished on the Podgorica-Cetinje road. It had been suspended for hours, as the Telegraf.rs team reported from the scene.
(Telegraf.rs)