Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral was buried yesterday in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, in the presence of thousands of citizens.
During the liturgy, funeral service and funeral, the epidemiological measures to combat the coronavirus were massively violated, because many citizens, as well as the clergy, did not wear masks, nor was distance ensured.
After the liturgy, which began at nine o'clock, the coffin with the metropolitan's body was taken out of the temple, where the funeral service was held. The funeral took place around 14 pm.
Speaking over Amfilohi's bier, Patriarch Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church said that the metropolitan is "where our holy ancestors are and where all the living will one day be."
He said that after enthronement on the throne of the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Amfilohije faced many problems and a difficult situation:
"He was greeted by a people alienated from the faith, most temples turned into cattle pens, empty monasteries without monks, a small number of priests... With God's help, with hard work and great effort, Metropolitan Amfilochius with apostolic zeal weeded the weeds in the Lord's field, restoring what which is neglected or abandoned", Irinej pointed out.
In a short time, as he said, "Montenegro was resurrected spiritually and became an example and reputation for the Serbian Church and the Serbian people."
Irinej pointed out that the spiritually renewed Montenegro, headed by Metropolitan Amfilohi, had the strength to resist and stand up for the defense of its holy places - "to raise the spirit and reputation of its name, which the previous government reduced to a national minority".
He pointed out that the late metropolitan was the initiator and bearer of all renovations in Montenegro:
"That's why his name will be written in golden letters in Serbian history as a distinguished person. He is at the top of Serbian theology of our time".
Irinej pointed out that with the death of Amfilochius, he leaves a big void in the life of the church, and especially in the solution of problems related to the church in Montenegro.
The Serbian patriarch said that what Amfilohije carried in his heart and left as a bequest was his love for Kosovo and Metohija and that the chapel on Lovcen should be restored.
The President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Aleksa Bečić, said that he hopes that Amfilohije will be the last bishop who had to defend the church from a part of his people.
"And you defended her and defended her so that you forgave everyone in advance. And if you hadn't acted like that, there isn't a Montenegrin who wouldn't hold a grudge against you, and it wasn't because you carried the sacred within you. You knew that because, like a sailor's son, you are harsh in your expression and gentle in your behavior. "Only the great and immortal can defend like that and not take anything, do so much and give everything away, build so much and give everything away," said Bečić.
He said that as the President of the Assembly, in the Temple in front of the holy bier, he stands on behalf of all the citizens who elected and nominated them, not only to represent them and make decisions on their behalf, but also to thank and say goodbye on their behalf.
"This time something different, because he is someone you have to say goodbye to, and with whom it is impossible to part. That's how I say goodbye to you today, Bishop, believing that we will never part," said Bečić.
He said that the deceased metropolitan rests in Podgorica and Montenegro, the most beautiful country in the world.
"Protect us and bless Montenegro, our mother and homeland. Protect her just as you used to stand up against her when they used to disparage her. Long live reconciliation, long live Montenegro," said Becic.
Mandater Zdravko Krivokapić said that yesterday was the day of litia of all previous litias that poured in from all over and that it was led by Metropolitan Amfilohije.
Krivokapić said that every meeting with Amfilohi was a joy and a learning experience.
"My greatest joy is our meeting on August 30 before midnight. I will carry that hug of yours until my last hour, and let the words you said echo in our hearts. You said: 'Blessed is me,'" said Krivokapić.
He pointed out that the death of Amfilohi is an extraordinary loss for the people, but also for Orthodoxy:
"Citizens of Montenegro are left without a great man who stands side by side with Saint Peter of Cetinje and genius Njegoš".
He said that the metropolitan was "guided by the peaceful wisdom of God and perfected the holy virtues towards everything eternal and God-eternal".
"For this fleeting earthly moment, he testified that the prerequisites are only two things - honesty and truth, and that is why his words resonate loudly and are heard far and wide. Even though you resurrected Montenegro, you experienced hardships and sufferings for the sake of the Lord and from your own people, knowing that this is how you become closer to God. I guess it is the fate of the throne of Saint Peter of Cetinje", said Krivokapić.
Bishop Joanikije of Buda-Nikšić said that the arrival of a large number of important personalities, people and clergy, to the funeral of Amfilohi under difficult conditions - a great event equal to the great grief that befell Montenegro. He said that the metropolitan could say yesterday - "I fought a good war, I finished the church, I kept the faith".
"And how was that war fought? The strongest weapon. With God's truth and justice, but also with love, and prayer, and patience, and forgiveness. That is why he won every battle to this day, and his death sealed all his victories to this day. That is why we perceive his death, his blessed end, as a victory. It is a great sorrow, but it is such a sorrow that, by God's grace, will turn into joy, not only for the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral, but, we are convinced, much wider and will comfort all those who are crying today because of the farewell to Metropolitan Amfilohi throughout the Orthodox universe".
Writer and academician Matija Bećković said that great people are only magnified by death and that the second, eternal life of Amfilohi Radović is beginning.
He recalled that in 1990, during his enthronement in Cetinje, he told Metropolitan Amfilohije that "if he wants to be holy, there is no better place or country for such an opportunity and role".
"They say that God keeps everyone on earth until he does what he was born to do, so the Lord called him at the right time, if it was earlier, it wouldn't work. To heaven, where he will now be able to do more for his people and the church, than if he had remained on earth... New, reborn Montenegro starts from 'A', that's why death did not come easier to anyone than him, that's why he is so blessed on the scaffold and peaceful, that's why we weep, and he and the sky rejoice".
Bećković said that the metropolitan was not just a man, but a "universal man":
"He grafted and ennobled and perfumed the barren land, in which only bloody fruit trees grew, with his heroism, love and honesty, begging Montenegro and Montenegrins to return to their face".
Bećković assessed that only King Alexander and Patriarch Pavle had this kind of funeral.
In the liturgical sermon, Bishop Irinej of Bačka said that in addition to the sadness of parting with the metropolitan, "the joy is greater, because we know that the parting is temporary". He pointed out that Metropolitan Amfilohije already in his childhood, "which was an exception in the time of impiety, as a boy from Morača received Christ with all his heart".
He pointed out that it is not true that the metropolitan died of the virus, but that he was the winner of that virus for 11 days, but that "his body and physical weakness did not withstand that temptation".
Bishop Irinej said that Metropolitan Amfilohije's life motto was - "everything for Christ, and Christ for nothing", and added that by talking about the metropolitan in this way, he did not want to create a personality cult, nor did Metropolitan Amfilohije aspire to that.
The funeral was attended by President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, Ambassador of Serbia to Montenegro Vladimir Božović, Serbian member of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik, Minister for Human Rights in the outgoing Government Mehmet Zenka.
The funeral was also attended by the head of the Pulmonology Clinic in the Clinical Center, Jelena Borovinić Bojović, who treated Amfilohi.
Many members of the Montenegrin parliament from the ranks of the new government also paid their last respects to Amfilohi, who died at the age of 83.
The funeral was attended, among others, by the presidents of the municipalities of Budva and Kotor, Marko Carević and Vladimir Jokić, the president of the Berane Municipality Dragoslav Šćekić, the president of the Budva Municipal Assembly (SO) Krsto Radović and the president of the Kotor SO Dejan Vukšić.
Metropolitan Amfilohije of the Montenegrin Coast died at the age of 83 in the Clinical Center of Montenegro, on Friday, October 30, from the effects of the coronavirus.
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