Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Joanikije visited the 19th International Podgorica Book Fair today and pointed out the importance of this event.
"This wonderful event needs to be further improved and expanded so that it can continue to live, to last, because you can see how many important people gather here, there are a large number of intellectuals, children, youth, and students. This is a significant spiritual and cultural event," Joanikije said, according to a statement from the Nova knjiga publishing house.
The Metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church said that it is extremely significant that we see publishers here not only from Montenegro, but from the entire region – from Belgrade, Zagreb, North Macedonia and other regions.
"We see a small, gathered former Yugoslavia that still lives here in a way, but also abroad. We see foreign publishers in other languages. The Book Fair is an invisible collection of human talents, gifts, abilities, and interesting creators. Today, when less and less is being read and everything has shifted to other streams, the Book Fair reminds us of the importance of books, but it also attracts us to read something new, to renew what we have forgotten. Whenever someone goes to the Book Fair, each of us will ask if there is anything new, significant, and valuable for our public that is interested in books," said Joanikije.
He also looked at the books he likes to read and recommends.
"We are people of the book and we are always dealing with books. The first book we recommend is the Holy Scriptures - the book of books. I am currently reading Elder Arizona. Anyone interested in spiritual literature will find it extremely beneficial to read his works," said the metropolitan.
The International Book Fair is being held until May 13th in the TC Big Fashion fairgrounds.
Bonus video:
