Patriarch Porfirije led the procession in the honor of Saint Vasilije of Ostrog in Nikšić

As a sign of deep faith in the Risen Christ and love and respect for the heavenly protector and patron of the city at the foot of Trebjesa, on 12 May 2022, on the day of Saint Vasilije of Ostrog, the Saint Vasilije’s procession – which has been traditionally held since 1996 in memory of the day when the relics of the Saint visited the city – passed through the streets of Nikšić. (photo gallery).

The all-encompassing people’s procession, which got underway in front of the Cathedral church of Saint Vasilije of Ostrog, was led by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije, who was accompanied by the competent Hierarch, His Grace Bishop of Budimlje-Nikšić kyr Metodije. Their Eminences Metropolitans kyr Nektarios of Corfu, Paxoi and the Diapontian Islands and kyr Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, as well as Their Graces Bishops Atanasije of Mileševa, Grigorije of Dusseldorf and Germany, Maxim of Western America, Irinej of Eastern America, David of Kruševac, Ilarion of Timok, Kirilo of Buenos Aires and South-Central America, Isihije of Valjevo, Dimitrije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and Stefan of Remesiana, took part in the procession which was going through the city streets.

Together with numerous clerics and monastics, there were tens of thousands of believers, as well as the president of the Municipality of Nikšić, Mr. Marko Kovačević and the President of the Municipal Assembly Mr. Nemanja Vuković, representatives of the public, social and cultural life, in the sacred procession to the glory of Living God. The procession stopped in the central city square, from where blessings and prayers for the health and progress of those gathered and their relatives, residents of the city, but also the whole world were sent.

In a sermon delivered on this occasion, Bishop Methodius addressed words of cordial welcome to the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, wishing him many years on the throne of Saint Sava.

Addressing the gathered Hierarchs, the clerics and the pious faithful, His Holiness said, among other things:

-Dear Bishop Metodije, Our brother and concelebrant in Christ, brethren Hierarchs, brothers and sisters, Montenegro, Christ is risen! Christ is risen, brethren Orthodox Serbs! Christ is risen, brothers and sisters from Nikšić! Let us all rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ! Rejoice, all nations! Rejoice, all people, because the Living God resurrected for us humans, for our salvation, He resurrected for all people, for every man, regardless of which nation he belongs to, regardless of even the way he prays to God. Christ resurrected for the sake of all people, for the sake of all creation, to turn everything into the Church, to turn everything into a space of the presence of God's grace.

- For four full days, I have been following the footsteps Saint Sava left behind in our people, and I am following in the footsteps of the roots that Saint Sava planted so deep in our people. He planted the root, but many saints of God who decorate the Calendar of our Church, and who are sons of the Serbian Orthodox kin, arose from that Saint Sava’s root. I served the Liturgy in Mileševa, I was in Pljevlja, and then I was in Saint Sava's Herzegovina, and finally, I served yesterday and today in the monastery of Saint Vasilije of Ostrog, I served close to his relics. Here today, in the settlements of Saint Sava and Saint Vasilije, in his city of Nikšić, I have the opportunity to experience the crown of this spiritual joy… Saint Vasilije of Ostrog is the man of Christ and therefore he intercedes before Christ for everyone who asks him with faith, hope and love to pray to the Lord for him, His Holiness the Patriarch said and emphasized:

– May the Lord bring peace among us, among all the people of the world, and particularly to the places where people are suffering from weapons in our time, for the usage of weapons to stop, giving place to the language of love, the language of the heart, the language of peace, the language of Christ. May God bless you all through the prayers of Saint Vasilije of Ostrog. Christ is risen!