There are no ecclesiastical reasons for separating the Bay of Kotor from the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral (MCP), and such rumors have, above all, political motives. If they were to come true, it would represent an attack on the historical continuity, centuries-old heritage and integrity of the MCP.
This was told to "Vijesti" yesterday by the Metropolitanate, in response to the question - whether the allegations that at the May session of the Holy Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) it was planned to "separate" Boka Kotorska from its jurisdiction, which would reduce the Metropolitanate to only the continental part, are true.
The Belgrade newspaper "Danas" announced on Monday, citing information from the top of the Serbian Orthodox Church, that the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Porphyry and "his spiritual father", the Bishop of Bačka Irenaeus, they plan to "leave" the Metropolitanate without Boka at the session of the Serbian Orthodox Church Assembly in May.
This media outlet claims that there is speculation about the division of the Diocese of Žička, but also the Diocese of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, which could allegedly be left without Dubrovnik.
The editorial office was told yesterday by several sources familiar with the events in the Patriarchate in Belgrade and the Metropolis in Cetinje that there are stories in the Serbian Orthodox Church about the separation of Boka. One source claims that this is an alleged attack by Porfirio on the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral. Joanikia, the second that it is the same thing - the Serbian Patriarch's response to the alleged objections of the head of the MCP to some moves by the church leadership, and the third - that the alleged plan to redraw the borders of the Metropolitanate exists, but that he (the interviewee) does not think that it will happen at the Parliament in May, given the already existing frictions in the Serbian Orthodox Church.
However, "Vijesti" could not officially confirm either the writings of "Danas" or the claims of the source.
Porfirio's office and the Serbian Orthodox Church Information Service did not respond to questions from the editorial staff as to whether it was true that the May session of the Parliament planned to separate Boka from the Metropolitanate, and if so - what the reasons were for that.
MCP: Our deepest roots are in Boka
The Metropolitanate told the newspaper that the separation of Boka Kotorska from its composition was not a topic at the sessions of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, nor within the framework of the MCP. They claim that they do not know where such a “rumor” comes from, but that, as they state, it appears to have “primarily political motives.”
"Because it is certainly not based on the mood and will of the local clergy and faithful people," they point out.
The Metropolitanate says that it is the centuries-old seat of the "ancient bishopric of Zeta, blessed by the Holy Savom, the first Serbian archbishop", was in Prevlaka, near Tivat, and that it was from this episcopate that the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral was created.
"And the term 'coastal' is present in its name, not only because of the modern jurisdiction, but also because of the fact that its first headquarters was in Boka Bay," it says in a response to "Vijesti".
They stated that when, in the mid-15th century, the Venetians "brute force pushed the Metropolitanate from the coast", the Zeta/Montenegrin metropolitans fought in every way, against the pretensions of the Venetian authorities, to retain jurisdiction over Boka, in which, they claim, "they had the loyalty and support of the local Serbian people".
"When Austria-Hungary established power in Boka Kotorska, it was already Šeегошево (Petar II Petrović Njegoš) time, almost completely prevented the jurisdiction of Montenegrin metropolitans over Boka. In order to reduce the political influence of Vienna, the Orthodox population requested the establishment of a Boka Kotor episcopate, which the Austro-Hungarian authorities, after a long period of resistance, complied with,” the Metropolitanate said.
They said that "after liberation and unification", as soon as objective circumstances allowed, Boka Kotorska was quickly returned to the jurisdiction of the Metropolitanate, and that in this way the historical injustice done to the MCP was corrected, "which also abolished the ecclesiastical consequences of the Venetian and Austro-Hungarian occupation".
The Metropolitanate therefore assessed that today there are "no ecclesiastical and pastoral reasons for separating Boka from the MCP, especially considering that its deepest roots are precisely in Boka - in the Prevlaka Monastery."
"Excluding Boka from the jurisdiction of the Metropolitanate and thus effectively restoring the Austro-Hungarian creation would be a kind of attack on the historical continuity, centuries-old heritage and integrity of the Metropolitanate, because such a move would not be guided by reasons for the improvement of church life, which, without a doubt, do not exist at this historical moment," they said.
The Council gave a second metropolitan
While we await the session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its possible decision regarding the Metropolitanate, an important one was made last year concerning Montenegro - it then received a second metropolitan, because the previous bishop of Budimlje-Niksic Methods promoted to a higher rank. And then the question is whether this move by the Serbian Orthodox Church was directed against Joanikije.
On that occasion, Methodius also became a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops - the body that represents the highest executive, administrative and supervisory authority in the Serbian Orthodox Church. In addition to him, the members of the Synod are Porfirije, Irinej, Metropolitan of Zvornik-Tuzla Photius and Metropolitan of Raška-Prizren Theodosius.
After Methodius was elevated to the title of metropolitan, the MPC told "Vijesti" that the decision was "natural and logical", and that the Budimljansko-Niksic episcopate was one of the first to be founded by Saint Sava, "the first Serbian archbishop, when establishing the church organization in our region". This eparchy, as they stated, had had metropolitans at its head since the 15th century, "since it was then elevated to the level of a metropolitanate and lasted as such until the mid-17th century".
"All of this is reason enough that its current bishops, in modern circumstances, can and should have the title of metropolitan," the MCP assessed at the time.
Metodije's "promotion" opened the dilemma of who is the current ecclesiastical ruler of Montenegro - he or Joanikije, especially in the context of months of revisionist moves and messages from the Metropolitan of Budimlje-Niksic, during which the head of Montenegro and the Littoral was mostly in the background, although he made statements similar to Metodije's on some topics.
Some analysts assessed at the time that Methodius was presenting himself in his statements as a man who was closer to the regime in Serbia, and that Joanikije had a critical view of developments in Serbian society and politics.
Since becoming metropolitan, Metodije's statements have become increasingly harsh and his actions increasingly controversial. This culminated during and after the events surrounding the illegal erection of a monument to the notorious Chetnik commander. Pavlo Đurišić in the Berane village of Gornje Zaostro. The controversial statue was unveiled by the Metropolitan of Budimlje and Nikšić at the beginning of August last year, saying that "there are few who were as inspired as Đurišić", and that a monument to this war criminal should also be erected in the center of Berane.
During this time, Joanikije, at least publicly, kept aloof, although from his statements it can be concluded that the ideological position of the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral on some topics, such as the role of the Chetnik movement, does not differ from that of Methodius.
Joanikije on the beach
At the end of February last year, Joanikije signed a letter condemning allegations that students protesting in Serbia were "Serbian Ustashas", a move that was not approved by the regime in Belgrade, with which, according to some analysts, the top leadership of the Serbian Orthodox Church is also connected.
A few days later, Belgrade tabloids demanded that Joanikije withdraw his signature from the letter, saying that he had joined in the public attack on Porfirio and the Metropolitan of Kruševac. Davida (who is the author of the text in which the students were called “Serbian Ustashas”), and that he “joined the ranks of those who do not wish well for the Serbian people and Serbia.” This was stated in an article by the little-known portal “Sunčanik”, close to the Serbian Orthodox Church, and which was reported by the local tabloid press.
Another signatory to that letter, until recently the Metropolitan of Žička Justin, was removed from that position last week by a decision of the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which accused him of "persistently deceiving the public that he was politically persecuted."
The Synod dismissed Justin until the regular session of the Council in May (when a final decision on his status will be made) and initiated proceedings to determine his canonical responsibility.
"Danas" announced on Monday that high-ranking church sources are already unofficially speculating that at the upcoming Assembly, the "church assembly" should not only approve the synodal decision to dismiss Justin, but also divide the Diocese of Žička.
The newspaper claims that the division also "threatens" the Diocese of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, from which Dubrovnik would allegedly be taken away. The head of that eparchy is the Metropolitan Dimitriye - another signatory of the letter condemning the calling of students "Serbian Ustashas".
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