The Russian Orthodox Church surprised by the statement of Milo Djukanovic

Statement of the father Nikolai Balashov, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church to Tanjug.  

The Orthodox Churches of the whole world do not doubt that this so-called montenegrin orthodox church is the non-canonical schismatic organization , so these statements of the leader from Podgorica surprised, said Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church Nikolai Balashov.

"I was surprised by the news from media regarding the statements of (the leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro Milo) Djukanovic in which he supports schismatic organizations of a marginal character", said father Nikolai to Tanjug, responsible for relations between the Orthodox Churches.  

"The Orthodox Church has its own laws that underlie its existence, and politicians should treat with respect to these many centuries of norms, even if they feel that their interference in church matters bring additional votes in next elections", Balashov said when was asked to comment on the efforts of Djukanovic for the unique Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

He points out that the so-called montenegrin orthodox church, led by Mirasi Dedeic deprived of priestly rank, "is not recognized and cannot be recognized by any local Orthodox Church, beginning with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and ending with the Orthodox Church in America".

Wondering whether journalists had exaggerated something while citing Djukanovic, representative of the Moscow Patriarchate of the RPC, recalls that the leader of the DPS in December 2004, then as the Prime Minister of Montenegro during the meeting with the late Russian Patriarch Alexy II spoke of the importance of Orthodox unity as the spiritual basis for the identity of Orthodox Slavic peoples.

Patriarch said then to the guest that "friendship with so-called montenegrin orthodox church will not contribute to the reputation of the Montenegrin state, because Miras Dedeic and his associates  will not be positively accepted in any country, in contrast to the canonical Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, who is known to the whole Orthodox and non-Orthodox world."  

"I recall that Milo Djukanovic told reporters after the meeting that he learned so much from the talks with the Patriarch who shared with him the wisdom", said Balashov.

He also reminded that President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic, during his meeting with Russian Patriarch Kyrril in Moscow in February 2009 also discussed about the schismatic church. 

" President Vujanovic said that the Montenegrin state would always respect canonical church law. It was a decent response and I hope that it reflects the realistic position of the Montenegrin state leadership", father Balashov concluded.

Source: Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, Tanjug