Ordained vicar bishop of Dioclia

Partiarch Serbian Irinej today ordained the former abbot of the Cetinje monastery Metodije in the Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica to the rank of vicar bishop of Diokli.

"His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Mr. Irinej presided this morning in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica with the Holy Bishop's Liturgy and the solemn ordination of the so-called highly worthy Archimandrite Metodij (Ostojić), former abbot of the Cetinje Monastery in the rank of Bishop of Diocletian, Vicar Bishop of the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Amfilohije His Holiness was served by the Archbishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Amfilohije, Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana, Mr. Porfirije, and the Bishops: Lucian of Buda, British-Scandinavian Dositej, Jovan of Šumadija, Atanasije of Milesev, Joanikije of Buda-Nišić, Joanikije of Zahum-Herzegovina and Littoral Grigorije, Teodosije from Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, Jovan from Pakrac-Slavonia, Sergije from Bihać-Petrova, Arsenije from Niš, Nikodim from Dalmatia, Cherub from Osijek-Poland and Baranja, Antonije from Moravia, Stefan from Remesija, Hesihije from Mohács, retired Athanasius from Zahum-Herzegovina, Archimandrite Dimitrije, elected Bishop of Zahum-Herzegovina and Littoral and numerous clergy and clergy," announced the Metropolis of Montenegro and Littoral.

Irinej told the new vicar bishop of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral that "just as he wisely managed the Cetinje monastery, he also manages it as a bishop".

"You have been in the Cetinje Monastery and this environment for a long time, a relatively long time. You had the opportunity to get to know this people and all the opportunities in Montenegro. That is why our Church elected you to the highest dignity, with the desire that, just as you wisely managed the monastery, you will manage wisely as a bishop in the diocese, as a vicar of the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral. To serve the Lord with your service and what the Lord wants from all of us," he said.

He recalled that Bishop Metodije served Patriarch Pavlo for a while when he was ill, and that because of that feat he gained general respect.

He added that Bishop Metodije was elected vicar of the famous Diocese that "gave birth to Montenegro".

"She gave the great figures of our church history. Not to mention all, only Saint Basil and Saint Peter of Cetinje and Peter the Second Njegoš, who shone with their mind and their life to their people. They left an example for us to emulate," he pointed out.

The Serbian patriarch emphasized that Bishop Metodije now has a great duty and obligation to "keep his people in the Orthodox faith."

"And to preserve him in national unity, because he is facing a great temptation to divide and separate from his brothers from Serbia. We hope that the Lord will not allow this and that he will make our people remain united. We wish you to preserve that unity together with your Metropolitan, who is a worthy heir of his great ancestors. That you help him in that holy and great work", said Irinej.