Irinej

He added that he discussed with Patriarch Irinej the completion of works on the Church of St. Sava and announced the completion of construction works this year.

Bishop Joanikije of Budimlja-Niksic. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Bishop Joanikije of Niksic and seven other priests were placed in custody for 72 hours on Tuesday for violating the ban on public gatherings after they and Metropolitan Amfilohije led a procession in the town to celebrate St Vasilije's Day on Tuesday with thousands of believers.

Most Orthodox churches urged their worshipers to adhere to the measures introduced to suppress coronavirus, not to go to temples, but to watch Easter liturgies on television. The Easter liturgy was served at midnight by Patriarch Irinej of Serbia in the crypt of St. Sava Temple in Vracar, Belgrade, with a television broadcast (RTS and Tanjug News Agency).

"It's nice to come to church for the holiday, but we can pray to God in our home, too," he stated.
He urged believers to respect the decisions of the medical profession.

A senior Russian-backed bishop in Ukraine will lead a prayer walk in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, on Saturday, joining protests led by the Serbian Orthodox Church against a recently-adopted law on religious freedom.

Mass protests of Serbian Orthodox Church clergy and their supporters continued across Montenegro at the weekend as the government and Church negotiate about the fate of the Freedom of Religion law adopted in December. 

These photos show President Vucic serving guests a traditional roast pork.
Among the guests was the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej.
Earlier today, Vucic bestowed decorations on the occasion of the national holiday, addressed the ceremony, and met with representatives of Serbs from Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The head of the pro-Kremlin Russian bikers group, the Night Wolves, has lent strong support to pro-Serbian protesters in Montenegro in a video published on Facebook on Friday.

In October last year, at a celebration marking the 800th anniversary of the SPC's autocephaly, or ecclesiastical autonomy, Patriarch Irinej honoured Vucic with the Order of St. Sava 1st Degree, the Church's highest order.

Bosnian Serbs on Jan. 9 held celebrations to mark the anniversary of the founding of the small entity -- Republika Srpska -- in defiance of Bosnia's top court ruling.

A parade in northern Banja Luka city -- de facto capital of the entity -- started the celebrations, which was supported by the senior members of the Republika Srpska government.