Metropolitan Amfilohije of the Montenegrin Coast had to explain to the police why, yesterday morning, during the service at the remains of the Zlatica monastery, priests, singers, deacons and nuns kissed his hand.
This is what they told "Vijesta" from the Metropolitanate of Montenegrin Littoral, explaining that kissing the hand is an integral part of the service, and that Amfilohije explained this to the inspectors.
He, priests Velibor Džomić, Branko Vujačić and Leka Vujisić, then deacon Ivan Crnogorčević and priests Nešo Kovačević and Vukić Milikić were called to the police after it was reported to the police that social distancing was being violated in Zlatica - by kissing the hand of Amfilohi.
They, the elder of the Church of the Resurrection Archpriest-Stavrophor Dragan Mitrović, priests Dalibor Milaković, Mirčeta Šljivančanin, Miladin Knežević, protodeacon Vladimir Jaramaz and deacon Pavle Božović, who served in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ yesterday, were questioned for several hours...
Several citizens who were in front of the temple, or were just passing by, were detained in the CB, among them the leader of Prava Crne Gora Marko Milačić and lawyer Nikola Bošković.
In addition to them, Nataša and Siniša Fatić, Ljubiša Jokić and Milovan Ivanović, who were found in front of the temple, as well as Jovan Radović, Milenko Đinović, Miloš Jokić and Veselinka Rajković, who were at the remains of the temple in Zlatica, gave their statement.
The Basic State Prosecutor's Office will decide whether someone will be held criminally responsible for violating the temporary measures after the prosecutors have watched the recording of the liturgy from the temple in Zlatica, "Vijesti" was told unofficially from the investigation.
The arrest of Amfilohi, clergy and citizens was strongly condemned by the MCP and several opposition parties.
On the other hand, the Police Administration announced that they registered several citizens and priests in front of two religious buildings, called them and brought them to the Podgorica Police Station to take their statements as citizens.
"This many priests have not been detained since '48"
Archpriest Stavrofor Velibor Džomić told "Vijesti" that since 48 no priest has been detained as much as yesterday, on the Feast of Flowers.
He explained that the temple glory was marked in Zlatica with, as he said, the greatest possible reduction of the clergy and faithful people.
"Neither the MCP nor the administration of the monastery invited the faithful to the service. On the other hand, the service started at 7 o'clock, not at 9 as in previous years, only the metropolitan and us two priests served, there were not 15 of us as in previous years and we were accompanied by a deacon, nuns, ushers and singers. After the end of the service, the officers of the Police Administration came and handed over invitations to report to CB Podgorica due to the alleged violation of social distance, because 'someone saw that someone was kissing the Metropolitan's hand', which is an integral part of the service".
Džomić said that it was a bad and inappropriate gesture "that cannot honor anyone".
"Religious buildings are not closed, services are not prohibited. I think that believers have the right, at least as much as is given in supermarkets".
He pointed out that the inspectors at CB Podgorica were correct:
"They just took statements from us and forwarded them to the prosecutor".
Priest Mirčeta Šljivančanin assessed that the arrest of Amfilohi and the clergy was another in a series of attacks on the Church.
"With this act, it was shown that it was a bad intention, and not a concern for the preservation of the health of the people," he told radio Svetigora.
The MCP said that the holiday services in the Cathedral in Podgorica were held without the presence of the faithful, but that despite this, almost the entire brotherhood of that monastery was arrested:
"Archpriest Miladin Knežević, who was on his way to Nikšić, where he lives, was stopped on the main road Podgorica - Nikšić near the restaurant 'Ognjište', from where he was also detained for an informative interview".
Police ID in front of the Cathedral
Priest Šljivančanin explained that after the liturgy they opened the Cathedral so that the faithful, observing the regulations, could enter, pray to God and light a candle... They claim that they respected all regulations and physical distance by entering two at a time.
He also said that after the service, the priests went to the temple premises and that they soon heard that more policemen had arrived in front of the temple and were legitimizing people:
"What we were convinced of when we went outside... We tried to explain that entering the temple is not prohibited and that no rule is being broken." After all this, we were invited to come to the CB to give statements, without any explanation why they are taking us to the police, except that they received orders from higher authorities".
Šljivančanin said that he thought "that this is the first time in the history of Montenegro and our Church that one of the most respected archbishops, such as Amfilohije, and so many holy persons were detained".
Šljivančanin claims that the biggest gathering in front of the temple was actually when the police started to legitimize people.
"That's when, in fact, the measures were violated the most, because until then people kept order and distance much more orderly than we had the opportunity to see, while we were walking towards the Security Center, next to shops, bakeries or pumps".
Joanicius: Malicious and transparent
Bishop Joanikije of Buda-Nikšić assessed that all Orthodox priests and believers were humiliated by the arrest of Metropolitan Amfilohi:
"This shameful action by the Podgorica police, which was carried out under the malicious and transparent pretext of the fight against the coronavirus, is nothing more than a new attack on the Church and the holy Orthodox faith."
The Rector of the Cetinje Theological Seminary, Gojko Perović, told the Mina Agency that it is not clear to them what rules the police are acting on, and whether there are any at all.
"While in other public places these days, in front of bakeries, on markets and construction sites, a much larger number of people gather... than in front of Orthodox temples (because we priests respect the regulations and do not invite the people) - the police detain the Metropolitan because of the service at Zlatica, which is served only with priests and singers".
Tip: The police acted inadequately
The Podgorica police officers did not explain to the detained priests and citizens why they were being called for an informational interview, nor what criminal offense they were investigating, the Council for Civil Control of Police Work announced yesterday.
They explained that a certain number of citizens were not served with a summons, nor, despite their insistence, did the police officers tell them the reason for the summons:
"By which they are denied the legal right to know the reason for the summons". Council President Aleksandar Saša Zeković and lawyer Zoran Čelebić checked the actions of the police yesterday and it was concluded that "the police officers, due to a series of objective and subjective circumstances, acted inadequately".
Police: We reacted because of the gathering, the decision is up to the prosecutor
After the arrest of priests and citizens, the Police Administration announced that "the presence of a large number of citizens and priests was registered at two locations in front of religious buildings."
They said that they informed the prosecutor about the events, and that "all persons were invited and brought" as citizens to the official premises of CB Podgorica:
"In order to collect information from them on the stated circumstances. The police collected information from citizens and clergy. By order of the prosecutor, all collected notifications, as well as other data and information obtained by the police during the activities undertaken, will be submitted to that prosecutor for evaluation and opinion".
Archpriest Radović, brother of Amfilochius, heard in Kolašin
The parish priest of Kolasin, archpriest Rade Radović, and a dozen people from Kolasin who took part in the liturgy in the church of St. Dimitri, were also present at the informative meeting yesterday.
Radović is the brother of Metropolitan Amfilohi.
According to "Vijesti" information, he told the police that the liturgy was served in a closed church, and that after that the believers entered the temple - one by one, to light a candle.
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