In Nikšić, a liturgy was organized tonight in honor of Saint Basil of Ostrog.
In the Nikšić Cathedral, the evening service began at 18 p.m., and a large number of believers were present in front of the church, as well as in Šak Petrović Square, which was full.
When Bishop Joanikije of Budimlja-Nikšić appeared, the people greeted him with applause and chanting "We will not give away the holy things".
At the entrance, Joanikije met the believers who kissed his hand, and he gave them a blessing.
In the same way, the gathered welcomed Metropolitan Amfilohi of the Montenegrin littoral.
Joanikije said that they followed all the measures "prescribed by medicine".
"The Nikšić procession was established by St. Basil himself when he visited this city with his relics 20 or more years ago. We celebrate this holiday a little more modestly, but again it is beautiful and solemn in that modesty. We respected all the measures prescribed by medicine and we called on the people to respect measures because health is most important to us, but we also invited the people to approach the shrines because we believe that the shrines heal. By respecting the measures as much as possible, we will testify to our love for St. Basil. We will continue the tradition by walking through Nikšić. Our processions are neither spite nor defiance and especially today. We are going today to confirm the universal love for St. Basil. Not a single ugly word or swearing should be heard. There are no politics or parties at litias, only the people of God. There may be some provocations, but we don't care about that. we fence, and we ask you all that if you notice such things, to warn them. Please respect the distance as much as possible and that we end this in peace and love and that St. Vasilije banished this infection from this city and our Montenegro", said Joanikije, and then litia started in the streets of the city.
Metropolitan Amfilohije, speaking in front of the temple, said that "this St. Basil's liturgy" has lasted for 350 years, since the time of Saint Basil, because the people always gathered around him.
"This is neither Amfilohije's, nor Ioannici's, nor the priest's liturgy, but St. Basil's. Respecting the measures, we stopped the liturgy and made the decision that this year's liturgy will be only in the temple, after seeing such a large number of people, we could not renounce the people of St. Basil's", said Amfilohije.
He said that St. Vasilije always fought against "fraternal hatred and hatred of God". According to him, St. Vasilije is at war against "such viruses", as well as the virus of "fascism and communism and the virus that divided the people all over Europe".
In the words of the Metropolitan of Montenegrin and Littoral, "today's princes think that they are eternal and imperishable, so they turn against the people of St. Basil." He mentioned the police officer Šćepanović who left the service because of lithium, as well as the military officer Mrvaljević, and asked what kind of army it is that "wars against the people and lithium of Svetovasilijevski".
"This year's litany is dedicated to the fight against this virus that has taken over the world," said Amfilohije, as well as against "all viruses that poison the people."
"The people in Montenegro were terrified and I grew up in that time of terror when religious education was abolished and Marxism was established and divisions began among people, said Amfilohije and added that only in Montenegro "a mother gives birth to a child who has four languages".
"The time has come to continue this St. Basil's litany. St. Basil heals much bigger viruses than this small one," said Amfilohije and called on the people to pray that St. Basil heals them. Heal Vasilije from all viruses.
In his speech, he also mentioned Kosovo and the "seizing of holy places", as well as, as he said, "the biggest betrayal in the history of Montenegro" when the government recognized Kosovo as a state. According to Amfilohi, "by defending the holy places in Montenegro, we are also defending the holy places in Kosovo and restoring our image and dignity".
Joanikije said that they followed all the measures "prescribed by medicine".
Gallery
Bonus video:
