Bishop Joanikije of Budimlye-Niksic arrested

Tonight, on the feast-day of St. Basil of Ostrog, on May 12, 2020, after a long discussion, the Montenegrin police handed in a summons at the Parish Home in Niksic, around 10 pm, and tried to forcibly bring Bishop Joanikije of Budimlye-Niksic together with nine other priests to the Security Center in Niksic.

The intention of the police was to humiliate the eminent Hierarch of the Church of God in a way that they wanted to take him to the Security Center in a vehicle for criminals, popularly known as marica, which the Bishop dignifiedly refused and to the great displeasure of the gathered people (several thousands of supporters) went on foot to the Security Center, accompanied by some priests, whom the police also intended to detain.

By treating religious officials in this way, in this case the Hierarch of the Church of God and the clergy of the Niksic Cathedral, the police are demonstrating unprofessionalism, thus trying to provoke citizens and the faithful and jeopardize peace and stability in Montenegro.

Source: Diocese of Budimlye-Niksic

St. Basil of Ostrog - patron saint of the Theological Faculty in Foca

On May 12, 2020, the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Foča celebrated its patron Saint , St. Basi of Ostrog.

On this occasion, the Holy Liturgy was celebrated by the dean and vice deans of the Faculty, archpriests staurophors Vladislav Topalović, Nenad Tupeša and Darko Đogo, the rector of the Theological Seminary of St. Peter of Dabrar-Bosnia, protopriest Ljubomir Prijović and deacon Siniša Božić, in the church of St. Sava in Foča.

Saint Basil of Ostrog

Basil was born in Popovo Selo in Herzegovina, of simple and devout parents. From his youth he was filled with love for the Church of God, and when he grew up he went to the monastery of the Dormi-tion of the Mother of God at Trebinje, and became a monk. As such, he quickly became known for his serious and rare ascetic life, for he loaded himself with ascetic practices, each harder than the last. He was later chosen and consecrated as Bishop of Zahum and Skenderia, much against his will.

As a bishop, he first lived in the monastery at Tvrdo"s, whence, as a good pastor, he confirmed his flock in the Orthodox faith, keeping it from the cruelty of the Turks and the guile of the Latins. But when he was too pressed-upon by his enemies, and when Tvrdos* was destroyed by the Turks, Basil moved to Ostrog, where he lived in strict asceticism, protecting his flock by his unceasing and loving prayers. He went peacefully to the Lord in the 16th century, leaving his whole and healing body, uncor-rupt and wonderworking, to the present day.

Patron Saint-day of Saint Sava Cathedral on Vracar

His Holiness, Irinej, Serbian Patriarch officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the crypt of Saint Sava Cathedral in the Vracar district, on 10 May 2020, on the Day of the Burning the relics of Saint Sava on Vracar.

The Patriarch was concelebrated by protopresbyter-staurophors Stojadin Pavlovic and Radivoj Radic, protodeacons Mladen Kovacevic and deacon Radomir Vrucinic.

Montenegro: A new monastery near Ulcinj dedicated to St Basil of Ostrog

The church of St Basil of Ostog in Briska Gora near Ulcinj, Montenegro, has become a monastery since today (9^th May 2020) and a nun from the monastery Rustovo Olga (Lecic) has become the abbes of this monastery.

On this occasion His Eminence Amfilohije, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, officiated Holy Archhierical Liturgy this morning. He was concelebrated with the clergy.

Patron Saint-day of the church of Holy Apostle Mark on Tasmajdan

The Patron Saint-day of the church of Saint Mark on Tasmajdan was solemnly celebrated with the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy officiated by His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch on 8 May 2020.