Joanikije

Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Joanikije and Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church.

According to "Novosti", the President thanked for this gesture and in the coming days, he will make a decision on whether he will appear at the solemn ceremony, taking into account, above all, the interests of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

It will depend on their assessment whether the announced enthronement will be held in the Cetinje monastery or in some other place, as well as what the scenario of that event will be, Pobjeda further states.

In an extensive interview for Podgorica's Pobjeda, Boskovic said that the current government does not share such concern because, as he states, they are not up to the responsibilities of the functions they perform and "their intentions towards Montenegro and preserving the civic concept of the state are very questionable."

Metropolitan Joanikije and Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church

"This government and its prime minister didn't fulfill promises given to the Serbian Orthodox Church or our expectations, and they don't have our trust. We have to talk within the ruling majority," Mandic told media.

The rector of the Seminary St. Peter of Cetine, Gojko Perovic stated that it has been going on for years.

He explained that he asked for that, and not to interfere in the election of the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.
Joanikije told the Podgorica portal IN4S that the election of the metropolitan is in the exclusive competence of the Holy Synod of Bishops, whose session is in progress.

"We have arranged with His Holiness to agree on the date of signing the basic agreement. I am looking forward to the election of a new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral with great faith that he will lead the people like his predecessor, the blessed Metropolitan Amfilohije," said Krivokapic who met with the Serbian patriarch in Belgrade on Thursday afternoon.

According to the statement, the topic of conversation was the Basic Agreement between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Government of Montenegro. The meeting was also attended by Metropolitan Chrysostom of Dabar-Bosnia, Bishop Jovan of umadija and Bishop Joanikije of the eparchy of Budimlja-Niki.

He stated that the people won the elections, and that the clergy contributed to that victory to some extent. "It is clear to every normal person why we do not do that. If we would not allow the government to determine when we will be ordained to the rank of priest, then we should not interfere in government personnel decisions," Bishop Joanikije told today's Politika.