Metropolitan Onufry in Montenegro did not comment on the words about the “Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church”
A protest litany in Podgorica began a three-day visit of the head of the UOC (MP), His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onufriy Berezovsky.
Balkan media reported this, PoltNavigator correspondent reports.
The first service of the primate of the UOC (MP) on Montenegrin soil was a protest evening lithium in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in the capital Podgorica, where he was concelebrated by Metropolitan Amfilohije Radovich of Montenegro and Primorye. In parallel, protest services, prayer services and religious processions were held in Beran, Bijelo Polje, Zabljak, Bar, Pljevlja, Niksic and Herceg Novi.
“We are pleasantly surprised to see how you defend the faith with your unity and the revival of Orthodoxy in Montenegro,” Onufriy said, addressing several tens of thousands of believers gathered at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. – We, Orthodox Ukrainians, are inspired and inspired by your example. Today we are here with you not only to share with you the joy of the holiday, but also to confirm the truth of the biblical words: when a brother helps his brother, he becomes as strong as a fortress.”
Subsequently, at a joint press conference with Metropolitan Amfilohiy, the Ukrainian guest stated that “the desire of one person to be a patriarch or the desire of some politicians to have their own church is not a serious argument in favor of creating such a church.”
The head of the UOC (MP) refused to comment on the statement of the Ukrainian Embassy that preceded his visit that “Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kiev Onuphry and other bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate, who were invited to Montenegro, do not represent the autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
“We came to take part in the celebration. We will comment on the statement of the Ukrainian Embassy after the holidays,” replied the head of the UOC (MP).
And indeed, nominally the visit of the Metropolitan of Kyiv is timed to coincide with the celebration of the day of memory of St. Simeon the Myrrh-Streaming. Although symbolically this is a manifestation of support for the Orthodox Church, which finds itself in a largely similar situation as the canonical Church in Ukraine.
Today, February 28, the Metropolitan of Kiev and the delegation of the UOC (MP) visited the Cetinje Monastery and venerated the incorruptible relics of St. Peter of Cetinje and the right of St. John the Baptist. On the final day of the visit, Onufriy Berezovsky is expected to lead the liturgy at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, at the end of which a religious procession will take place in the Montenegrin capital.
Metropolitan Onufriy of Montenegro did not comment on the remarks about the "Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church"