The elected Metropolitan Joanikije was solemnly welcomed in Berane

Bishop Joanikije: When we preserve the unity of our local Church, we preserve the unity, we contribute to the unity of the whole Orthodoxy. This is the great joy that has manifested itself through the personality of our newly elected Patriarch Porfirije, that not only has every fog and every doubt been removed, but we feel that the unity of the Church has been established and strengthened.

His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, the elected Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, attended a prayer of thanksgiving in Djurdjevi Stupovi Monastery on 1 June 2021.

The Prayer of thanksgiving was served by clergy of the Deanery of Berane and the brotherhood of the monastery and Bishop Joanikije was greeted by many pious people. In his address after the prayer, the elected Metropolitan Joanikije said that the Holy Church has established a special service of thanksgiving to God which serves it when it feels the direct and special action of God, that God has answered not only our individual prayers, but of the whole nation.

The Bishop assessed that before the gathering of the Holy Assembly of Bishops in Belgrade, a lot of dust, insinuations, speculations, fabrications, all kinds of mischief, nonsense, and also social networks, he believes, enable all this to spread quickly.

In his inspired sermon, the Bishop pointed out that the turning point was when they met with our new Patriarch Porfirije in the church of St. Sava and when the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy began, which was officiated by the Patriarch, concelebrated by hierarchs or participate together with the clergy and people.

Source: Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral