Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral claimed today in the Cetinje prosecutor's office that he did not violate any measure by serving the funeral service at the funeral of historian Vlad Jovićević on April 23 in Rijeka Crnojevića.
This is what the spokesperson of the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Cetinje, prosecutor Duško Milanović, told the News.
Metropolitan Amfilohi's hearing was scheduled for tomorrow, but he made the statement today, at his personal request.
"The necessary notifications were collected from Metropolitan Amfilohi regarding the circumstances of his attendance at the funeral in the city of Rijeka on April 23. He said that he believes that he did not commit any criminal offense, nor did he violate temporary measures to prevent the introduction of the coronavirus into the country and the spread of it, nor the orders of the Ministry of Health, but that he was there in accordance with the service he performs. His statement, the notifications collected so far, but also those that will be collected during the investigation, I will evaluate whether there are elements of the criminal offense of failure to comply with health regulations for the suppression of a dangerous infectious disease," said the prosecutor Milanović.
He clarified that he transferred part of the collection of information to the police, who have interviewed the priests so far.
"I only listened to the Metropolitan, and possibly I will also listen to Vladimir Božović, depending on the data I collect during the procedure," he said, stressing that the procedure is still under investigation.
In addition to Metropolitan Amfilohi, the funeral of Jovićević was attended by one of the leaders of the Democratic Front, Andrija Mandić, and the Serbian Ambassador to Montenegro, Vladimir Božović.
The two have not yet been questioned.
The statement in the Cetina Security Department was given by the priests who served the funeral with the Metropolitan, Rafailo Boljević, Danijel Jovanović, Hariton Živkov, Nikolaj Antičević, Krisnat Bojović, Aleksandar Lalić and Eustatije Ivanović.
Amphilochia: Measures are used for ideological-party intimidation of believers
Metropolitan Amfilohije said in a statement that on April 22, after the liturgy in the Monastery of St. Nicholas in Rijeka, Crnojevića and the clergy, at the invitation of the Jovićević family, held a memorial service for Vladimir Jovićević.
"We do not consider it necessary, nor important, for us as the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Primorsky Territory to make a statement about those present at the funeral service and funeral of Dr. especially at moments like these, we expel them from the temples and report them to the police. After all, in our conditions, even in urban areas, it is impossible for the deceased to be buried in a dignified and honorable grave while respecting the "measure" of a physical distance of 2 meters between people. And that as you can see, only the Church is required, and it seems that this "measure" applies only to it in Montenegro", said Metropolitan Amfilohije in a statement.
He added that for the first time in more than 80 years of his life and 60 years of his service, he twice called the Police Directorate to give statements due to the performance of his sacred duties and services.
"According to Article 14 of the Constitution of Montenegro, which is in force regardless of the corona virus pandemic or any other virus, the Church and religious communities are "free to perform religious rites and religious affairs". Religious rites, which are under the exclusive constitutional jurisdiction of the Church and religious communities and which are carried out freely and in accordance with the autonomous right of the Church and its age-old tradition, are not prohibited, nor can they be prohibited by the orders of the state administration bodies in Montenegro. This can be seen from the acts that were passed in Montenegro on March 14 this year to date, but it is more than obvious that the Police Department behaves and, what is even more dangerous, acts as if religious ceremonies and only Orthodox churches are prohibited, and priests and monks are an undesirable social category. The result is not only emergency and medical irresponsible and completely discriminatory interventions by members of the Police Administration towards us as the Metropolitan of Montenegro and Primorje, but also towards the clergy, monks and believers of the Metropolitanate who, these days, are also called and brought to police stations to give statements for the conscientious and responsible performance of their religious duties with respect introduced measures and realization of their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of religion".
Metropolitan Amfilohije expressed "human and episcopal protest because the funeral and burial of the deceased are abused, legally prosecuted and desecrated in this way by the state authorities".
"We are forced to state with regret that the measures introduced due to the spread of the corona virus by a number of state bodies and public office holders, and especially by the pro-government media, have been used, and continue to be used, for ideological-party intimidation of believers from positions of public authority and a massive violation of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, which can only be limited by law, not by any orders, and without a declared state of emergency. Finally, because of our service to the Risen Lord Christ, we are ready to answer before any court in the world," according to the statement of Metropolitan Amfilohi .
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