After the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church decided in February to suspend Metropolitan Justin, on the grounds that he had not adequately managed the Diocese of Žička, a showdown with his closest associates is also underway. Archimandrite Damjan Cvetković, the former financial secretary of the diocese and one of the closest associates of the suspended metropolitan, has been under strict surveillance for months in a facility near the Studenica monastery, far from the public eye, reports the portal Nova.rs.
According to information from Nova, Archimandrite Damjan is in a kind of isolation within the monastery complex. His mobile phone has been taken away, he is under constant surveillance and is prevented from moving around without an escort. Visits are strictly controlled, and contact with the outside world is reduced to a minimum.
His brother Nenad Cvetković, in an interview with Nova.rs, describes the helplessness of a man who has been trying for weeks to achieve what would be expected in any normal circumstance - to see his brother whenever he wants.
"Like any brother, I need to see and hear him"
"I am the biological brother of Damjan Cvetković, the secretary of Bishop Justin. Like every brother, I need to see and hear from my brother sometimes. I called Father Vitali, who is in charge of supervising him, and tried to organize a meeting, but that is no longer possible," says Nenad.
He speaks calmly, almost quietly, but behind each sentence you can feel a deep concern. There is no anger in his voice, but the anxiety of a man who has been trying for months to establish normal contact with a member of his family.
According to him, immediately after the suspension of Metropolitan Justin, measures were taken against his closest associates.
"Father Damjan, like Father Sava, were suspended and separated precisely so that they could not be together. Communication was at first difficult, and now it is practically completely impossible."
"It was difficult until now, now it's impossible"
The only way the family could get in touch with Damjan was through his father Vitali. Nenad would call him, and only then would he be allowed to talk to his brother for a few minutes, under constant supervision.
"Damjan was denied a phone. I was not able to call him directly. I called Father Vitali, he would put the phone on speakerphone and only then could I talk to my brother. We never received any explanation as to why his phone was taken away."
Even the rare family visits did not go unmonitored. Once they visited him, every minute of the conversation took place under the watchful eye of the man assigned to monitor him.
"We were at his place as a family, but the whole time Father Vitalije sat next to us and didn't move a single step. We didn't have a chance to talk privately, or to honestly ask him how he was feeling."
After May Day, he says, even that kind of contact was completely cut off. The message he received was brief and without any additional explanation.
"Damjan does not have the blessing to receive visitors and everything has to wait until the end of the Parliament."
"They suffer, but as a brother, I cannot remain silent"
Speaking about his brother, Nenad tries to understand the other side of the story. He reminds us that priests have taken a vow of obedience and that they accept what is happening to them as a trial they must endure.
"They consciously endure everything that happens to them, without rebellion and without resistance, because they believe it is God's will. They endure everything stoically."
But, as he says, he is not a monk.
"I believe in God, but I can't help but rebel against injustice. We're talking about my own brother. Maybe, if we could talk normally, he would tell me not to go public. But I can't even hear his opinion, because I'm not allowed to."
"I fear most for his mental state"
At one point, his voice trembles. He says he doesn't so much doubt his brother's physical health as he does the effects that months of isolation can have on a person.
"I don't fear for his physical health that much, but I fear for his mental health very seriously. Imagine being in the most restrictive prison. Even there you have the right to be visited by your wife, lawyer or family. My brother has no right to anyone."
That comparison, as difficult as it is, best describes the feeling of helplessness that accompanies his entire story.
No right to walk
Nenad claims that the restrictions have gone so far that Damjan is not even able to take a daily walk.
"Since Father Vitaly is unable to keep up with his pace, he is also deprived of movement."
Even believers who have been coming to him for confession for years, he adds, are not allowed to see him.
"A man from Negotin, who wanted to confess to Damjan as before, was told that he had to wait until the Council had passed."
"I don't believe anything will change"
While waiting for the Parliament's epilogue, Nenad says he has no illusions that a positive outcome will follow.
"I believe that Parliament will only confirm decisions that have already been made and that there will be no improvements."
Nenad Cvetković's story goes beyond church procedures and internal relations in the hierarchy. At its heart lies a simple, human need: for a brother to hear his brother, to see him without the presence of a supervisor, and to ask him if he is okay.
At a time when even such, the most basic family contact, becomes unattainable, the question is no longer just what happens within the church walls, but how far the decisions of those who are duty-bound to convey the message to the faithful people - "Love your neighbor" - can go.
On this occasion, Nova.rs writes that it has contacted Father Vitali, who, according to the family, is responsible for supervising Archimandrite Damjan, as well as the Diocese of Žička, but by the time this article was published, the portal had not received answers to their questions.
Questions that were not answered:
Who ordered Father Damjan to be placed under surveillance and why was this done?
Why is Father Damjan prevented from seeing his family members?
Is Father Damjan in some kind of confinement/punishment and how long will that punishment last?
Have you had any contact with the police regarding this?
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