"We love our country and we don't give sacred things"

Tens of thousands of people gathered at a rally in Podgorica, where the request to withdraw the Law on Freedom of Religion was repeated.

The liturgy was led by Metropolitan Onufrije from Kiev, and after the liturgy in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, the gathered went for a walk, and then separated into two columns.

A smaller column led by the clergy, among whom was Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, went to, as they said, the Nemanja coast, and the rest of the column passed through the center of the city and returned in front of the Temple.

Priest Predrag Šćepanović said in front of the Church of Christ's Resurrection after the end of the liturgy that at least 100.000 people participated in the liturgy. The media close to the Montenegrin authorities announced that there were less than 30 thousand, referring to unofficial sources from the police, and they also noted that several thousand came from other cities of Montenegro.

Šćepanović thanked the police for allowing the litia to pass without any problems.

"We love our country, Orthodoxy, and we don't give holy places. Even those who are not at litia are our brothers," Šćepanović said.

He said that tomorrow in Podgorica there will be no rally against the adopted Law on Freedom of Religion.

"Saint Sava is not at war with anyone today. Peoples and states, laws and constitutions are at war. History has shown that even temporary wars against Saint Sava, no country has endured," said priest Darko Đogo in front of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ after the end of the procession.

"Our sad and unhappy brothers cannot understand that the holy things are not owned, but God owns all people," Đogo added.

Before the start of the procession, Amfilohije said that they demand the Prime Minister and President of Montenegro to withdraw "the godless, anti-Montenegrin, anti-European, anti-Serb and anti-universal law (the Law on Freedom of Religion), for the sake of their faces."

"And brotherly love will prevail. We hope that they will withdraw the law, if they want to save face. If they want to lose face and soul and be the most shameful group that ruled Montenegro, then they can do that," said Amfilohije.

Onufrije congratulated "a significant jubilee, 800 years since the ordination of Saint Sava as a Serbian bishop".

"Montenegro is very interesting, known for its colorful nature, architecture from different periods and beautiful, brave and good people. Many writers and poets wrote about the beauty of Montenegro, as well as its strong people who have always kept the Orthodox faith. In Montenegro are many sanctuaries and ancient temples," Onufrije pointed out.

He added that in Montenegro, the spiritual and saving mission has been carried out by the Montenegrin Litoral Metropolis (MCP) for many centuries.

"Which showed the world great saints - Saint Basil, Saint Peter and others. A special place among them is occupied by Saint Simeon Myrotočivi. The people of Montenegro inherited their devotion to the Orthodox faith from Saint Simeon," said Onufrije.

At one point, Litija stopped on the Blaž Jovanović Bridge and greeted with applause the group that spread the Montenegrin and Russian tricolor and a banner on the Hanging Bridge with the words "God is with us" in Russian.

Several national flags were displayed on the buildings on the boulevard, and citizens applauded.

The celebration began with a bishop's liturgy in the cathedral Church of the Resurrection of Christ, which was served by Onufrije.

As it was announced, 15 archbishops of the Serbian and Ukrainian Orthodox Church served him.

A large number of people had previously gathered in front of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.

The gathered people waved church flags (SPC flags, Lavarum flags, flags of Orthodox saints), tricolors with the Montenegrin coat of arms, crusader flags, and the flag of Byzantium, the red flag of Montenegro with a white double-headed eagle, the flag with the image of Janko Vukotić, Petar II Petrović Njegoš were unfurled. ...

As announced by the MCP, Onufrije, on the occasion of the MCP's glory, participates in the celebration of the feast of St. Simeon the Myrrh-bearing in Podgorica.

The MCP announced that the three-day visit of Onufri "is also in support of the fight for the defense of the holy places in Montenegro".

The Embassy of Ukraine in Podgorica announced earlier that the Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kyiv, Bishop Onufrije, does not represent the autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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