Metropolitan Amfilohije: The demolition of the monastery of St. Basil on Briska Gora is an unprecedented crime

His Eminence Amfilohije, Archbishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, celebrated the Divine Liturgy with clerics in the monastery of Ostrog, next to the relics of Saint Basil the Wonderworker of Ostrog, on June 10, 2020.

In the liturgical sermon, Metropolitan Amfilohijepointed out that Saint Basil had been and remained a living witness of the truth of God for 350 years long and a healer from lies and deception, from false knowledge and false teachings. - Especially now he is that, at this moment when authorities of this country are demolishing the monastery of St. Basil on Briska Gora near Ulcinj, which was recently established, at the time when St. Basil builds up human souls and renews them, everywhere in the world and here. And when he calls upon for brotherly love and harmony of all, regardless of whether they are Orthodox or non-Orthodox - at that moment this crime of the current government is happening, a crime unremembered, said the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.

He added that it was not just a crime against that church and that monastery: - This desecrates this coffin of Saint Basil of Ostgrog and builds the future of Montenegro and its community upon hatred against Saint Basil of Ostrog. The Montenegrin government is being deprived of the blessing of Saint Basil of Ostrog. They started with that crime when they arrested our Bishop Ioanikije and priests in Niksic and continue that crime against the people, the crime against Montenegro, the crime against Saint Basil of Ostrog, depriving themselves and Montenegro of his blessing.

Metropolitan Amfilohije said that by this act the government gained the curse of Saint Basil and reminded that the Turks in the time of Duke Mirko Petrovic tried to destroy the sanctuary:

- That happens still today with the relics of Saint Basil and with the shrine of Saint Basil. The same thing that happened later, when this shrine was devastated and destroyed - it is happening today. The same thing that happened during the Second World War, when fraternal blood flooded the coffin of Saint Basil here from a fratricidal hand. This is still happening today, thanks to the behavior of this government, which is anti-godly, which builds the future of Montenegro on lies, and not on truth. They forget that, according to Saint Peter of Cetinje, judgment and justice are in the Name of God.

Source: Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Litoral