Metropolitanate ofMontenegro and the Littoral | |
|---|---|
 Cetinje Monastery, seat of the Metropolitanate | |
| Location | |
| Territory | Montenegro |
| Headquarters | Cetinje,Montenegro |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodox |
| Sui iuris church | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Established | 1219 (as Eparchy of Zeta) |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, Podgorica |
| Language | Church Slavonic andSerbian |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop | Joanikije II |
| Map | |
-en.svg) | |
| Website | |
| mitropolija.com | |
TheMetropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Serbian:Црногорско-приморска митрополија Српске православне цркве,romanized: Crnogorsko-primorska mitropolija Srpske pravoslavne crkve) is the largesteparchy (diocese) of theSerbian Orthodox Church in modernMontenegro. Founded in 1219 bySaint Sava as theEparchy of Zeta,[1] it has continued to exist, without interruption, up to the present time, and has remained one of the most prominent dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church.[2] The currentMetropolitan bishop isJoanikije II.[3] His official title is "Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral" (Serbian:Црногорско-приморски митрополит,romanized: Crnogorsko-primorski mitropolit).[4]
The Eparchy ofZeta was founded in 1219 bySava of theNemanjić dynasty, the firstArchbishop of the autocephalousSerbian Orthodox Church. After receiving theautocephaly from theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and confirmation from theByzantine Emperor, Archbishop Sava organized the area under his ecclesiastical jurisdiction into nine bishoprics. One of these was the Bishopric of Zeta (the southern half of modern Montenegro, and northern part of modern Albania). The seat of the bishops of Zeta was theMonastery of Holy Archangel Michael in Prevlaka (near modernTivat). The first bishop of Zeta was St. Sava's discipleIlarion (fl. 1219).[5][1][6]
Upon the proclamation of theSerbian Patriarchate of Peć in 1346, the Bishopric of Zeta was among several eparchies elevated to the honorary rank ofmetropolitanate, by the decision of the state-church council, held inSkopje, and presided by theSerbian EmperorStefan Dušan.[7][8]
After the dissolution of theSerbian Empire (1371), the region of Zeta was ruled by theHouse of Balšići, and in 1421 it was integrated into theSerbian Despotate.[9] During that period, theRepublic of Venice gradually conquered coastal regions of Zeta, including cities ofKotor,Budva, and theBar andUlcinj.[10] Metropolitanate of Zeta was directly affected by the Venetian advance. In 1452, the Venetians destroyed the Cathedral Monastery in Prevlaka, in order to facilitate their plans for the gradual conversion of theEastern Orthodox Christians from these parts of the coast into theRoman Catholic faith.[11] After that, the seat of the Metropolitanate moved several times, transferring between St Mark's Monastery in Budva, the Monastery ofPrečista Krajinska, St Nicholas's Monastery onVranjina (Skadar Lake), and St Nicholas's Monastery in Obod (Rijeka Crnojevića). Finally, it was moved toCetinje, in the region ofOld Montenegro, where theCetinje Monastery was built in 1484, by PrinceIvan Crnojević of Zeta.[12]
Starting from the end of the 15th century, mountainous regions of Zeta became known asCrna Gora (Serbian:Црна Гора), meaning theBlack Mountain, hence theMontenegro.[13] In 1493, Prince Ivan's son and successor, PrinceĐurađ Crnojević (1490–1496), opened aprinting house in Cetinje, run byHieromonk Makarije, and produced the first ever book to be printed among theSouth Slavs.[14] It was the "Cetinje Octoechos", a Serb-Slavonic translation from the originalGreek of a service book that is still used to this day in the daily cycle of services in the Orthodox Church. In 1496, entire Zeta, including Montenegro, fell to theTurks, but the Metropolitanate survived.[15]
After 1496, theEparchy of Cetinje (Serbian:Цетињска епархија), as well as other eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church, continued to exist under the new Ottoman rule. It had diocesan jurisdiction overOld Zeta, known now asOld Montenegro, keeping its seat in Cetinje.[16] It had spiritual influence over the territory betweenBjelopavlići andPodgorica to theBojana River. The eparchy also included some parts ofHerzegovina, from Grahovo to Čevo. From 1557 to 1766, eparchy was under constant jurisdiction of theSerbian Patriarchate of Peć.[17][18]
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the bishops and the local Christian leaders led armed resistance against the Ottomans on several occasions, with some degree of success. Though the Ottomans nominally ruled theSanjak of Montenegro, the Montenegrin mountains were never completely conquered. The bishops and local leaders often allied themselves with theRepublic of Venice. At the beginning of the 17th century, Montenegrins fought and won two important battles at Lješkopolje (1603 and 1613), under the leadership and command of metropolitanRufim Njeguš. This was the first time that the metropolitan had led and defeated the Ottomans.[19]
Entire territory of the Metropolitanate was severely affected during theMorean War, and in 1692 the old Cetinje Monastery was devastated. In 1697, new metropolitanDanilo Petrović-Njegoš was elected, as first among several hierarchs from thePetrović-Njegoš family,[20] who would hold the same office in succession up to 1851. Metropolitan Danilo (1697–1735) was greatly respected, not only as a spiritual leader, but also as leader of the people. He combined in his hands both spiritual and secular power, thus establishing a form of "hierocracy". He became the firstPrince-Bishop of theOld Montenegro, and continued to oppose theOttoman Empire, while maintaining traditional ties with theVenetian Republic. He also established direct ties with theRussian Empire, seeking and receiving financial aid and political protection.[21][22]
His successors continued the same policy. MetropolitansSava II Petrović-Njegoš (1735–1750, 1766–1781) andVasilije Petrović-Njegoš (1750–1766) had to balance between Ottomans, Venetians, and Russians.[23][24] During that time, metropolitans of Cetinje continued to be ordained by theSerbian Patriarchs of Peć (until 1766),[20] and later by theSerbian Metropolitans of Karlovci inHabsburg monarchy (until 1830).[25] After brief tenure ofArsenije Plamenac (1781–1784), several new policies were introduced by MetropolitanPetar I Petrović-Njegoš (1784–1830),[26] who initiated the unification process between theOld Montenegro and the region ofBrda.[27][28] The same process was completed by his successorPetar II Petrović-Njegoš (1830–1851),[29] who received consecration from theMost Holy Synod of theRussian Orthodox Church in 1833,[30] establishing a practice that lasted until 1885. As a reformer of state administration, Petar II made preparations for separation of spiritual and secular power,[31] and upon his death such separation was implemented.[32] His successors became: PrinceDanilo Petrović-Njegoš as a secular ruler, and metropolitanNikanor Ivanović as a spiritual leader, new metropolitan of Montenegro.[33][34]
The Eparchy was reorganized during the rule of PrinceDanilo I (1852–1860), first secular ruler of the newly proclaimedPrincipality of Montenegro. Offices of ruling prince and metropolitan were separated,[33] and diocesan administration was modernized. First metropolitan to be elected just as a church leader wasNikanor Ivanović in 1858. He was deposed and exiled in 1860 by new princeNikola (1860–1918),[35] who established a firm state control over the church administration. During his long reign, metropolitansIlarion Roganović (since 1863), andVisarion Ljubiša (since 1882) undertook some important reforms of church administration. In 1878, the Principality of Montenegro was recognized as an independent state, and it was also enlarged, by annexingOld Herzegovina and some other regions.[36][37] Until that time, Eastern Orthodox Christians of theOld Herzegovina belonged to theMetropolitanate of Herzegovina, centered inMostar, still under the Ottoman rule. Such diocesan affiliation was no longer maintainable, and for the newly annexed regions a new bishopric was created, the Eparchy ofZahumlje andRaška, with seat inNikšić. Since that time, there were two eparchies in Montenegro: the old Metropolitanate, still centered in Cetinje, and the newly created Eparchy of Zahumlje and Raška, centered in Nikšić. No ecclesiastical province with joint church bodies was created until 1904, under the metropolitanMitrofan Ban (1884–1920), when aHoly Synod was established,[38][35] formally consisting of two bishops, but because of the long vacancy in Nikšić, it did not start to function until 1908.[39]
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During the long reign of Prince and (from 1910) KingNikola I Petrović (1860–1918), who was a Serbian patriot,[40] rising political aspirations of his government included not only the securing of the Serbian throne for his dynasty, but also the renewal of the oldSerbian Patriarchate of Peć.[41] On the occasion of the elevation of Montenegro to the rank of Kingdom, in 1910,[42] the prime minister of Montenegro, Lazar Tomanović, stated:The Metropolitanate of Cetinje is the onlySaint Sava's episcopal seat which has been preserved without interruption to this day, and as such it represents the lawful throne and a descendant of thePatriarchate of Peć.[43] Such aspirations were strengthened after the liberation ofPeć during the successful enlargement of state territory of Montenegro in 1912,[44] when another eparchy was created for several annexed territories that until then belonged to theEparchy of Raška and Prizren. Its regions annexed to Montenegro were reorganized as the new Eparchy ofPeć (1913).[45] From that time, theHoly Synod started to function in full capacity, with three bishops.
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Following the end of theFirst World War (1914–1918), the Kingdom of Montenegro was united with theKingdom of Serbia on 26 (13o.s.) November 1918, by the proclamation of the newly electedPodgorica Assembly,[46] and soon after that, on 1 December of the same year, theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was created,[47] known after 1929 as theKingdom of Yugoslavia. The political and national unification was carried out under the auspices of theKarađorđević dynasty, and thus a long-standing dynastic rivalry between the two royal families, the Petrović–Njegoš dynasty of Montenegro and the Karađorđević dynasty of Serbia, was finally resolved, without mutual agreement.[48]
Political unification was followed by the unification of all Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions within the borders of the new state. Initial decision to include dioceses in Montenegro into the process of ecclesiastical unification was reached on 29 (16o.s.) December 1918 by theHoly Synod, consisted of all three hierarchs in Montenegro: Mitrofan Ban of Cetinje, Kirilo Mitrović of Nikšić, and Gavrilo Dožić of Peć. On that day, theHoly Synod met in Cetinje and unanimously accepted the following proposal: "The independent Serbian Orthodox Holy Church in Montenegro shall be united with the autocephalous Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Serbia".[49] Soon after that, further steps towards ecclesiastical unification were made. From 24 to 28 May 1919, a conference of all Eastern Orthodox bishops within the borders of the unified state was held inBelgrade, and it was presided by metropolitan Mitrofan Ban of Montenegro, who was also elected president of the newly createdCentral Synod.[50] Under his leadership, theCentral Synod prepared the final proclamation of Church unification on 12 September 1920. The creation of the unifiedSerbian Orthodox Church was also confirmed by KingAlexander I.[51]
Old metropolitan Mitrofan Ban was succeeded in the autumn of 1920 byGavrilo Dožić, who became new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.[52] In 1931, under the provisions of the newly adopted Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, theEparchy of Zahumlje and Raška with its seat inNikšić was abolished, and its territory was added to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral. In the same time, the Eparchy ofKotor andDubrovnik was also abolished, and divided, itsBay of Kotor region being added to the Metropolitanate. In 1938, Metropolitan Gavrilo Dožić of Montenegro was electedSerbian Patriarch, andJoanikije Lipovac was elected new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, in 1940.[53]
During theSecond World War, Yugoslavia was occupied byAxis powers in 1941, and the territory of Montenegro was organized as theItalian governorate of Montenegro (1941–1943), followed by theGerman occupation of Montenegro (1943–1944). The Metropolitanate was affected severely during the occupation, and more than hundred priests and other clergymen from the territory of Montenegro lost their lives during the war.[54] During that time, Montenegrin fascistSekula Drljević tried to create an independentKingdom of Montenegro, as a satellite state ofFascist Italy andNazi Germany, but that project failed because of the lack of support among people. His attempt was challenged by the13 July Uprising in 1941, which had support from both sides of the political spectrum. MetropolitanJoanikije Lipovac co-operated closely with several right-wing movements, and also tried to mediate with local Italian and German officials in occupied Montenegro, thus provoking animosity of the left-wingYugoslav Partisans. In 1944, whenYugoslav Communists took the power, he had to flee, but was arrested and executed without trial in 1945. In 2001, he was sanctified as ahieromartyr by theSerbian Orthodox church.
Under theYugoslav Communist rule (1944–1989), the Metropolitanate suffered constant repression at the hands of the new regime. Persecution was particularly severe during the first years of Communist rule (1944–1948) The new regime exerted direct pressure on the clergy in order to crush all forms of anti-communist opposition.[55] In the same tame, many church properties were confiscated, some under the provisions of new laws, while other were taken illegally and forcefully. Several churches and even some minor monasteries were closed, and their buildings turned into police stations and warehouses.[56] In the same time, newMontenegrin nation was proclaimed, as distinctive and separate fromSerbian nation.[57] In 1954, MetropolitanArsenije Bradvarević (1947–1960) was arrested, tried and sentenced as an enemy of the communist regime. He was imprisoned from 1954 to 1958, and then kept under house arrest until 1960.[58][59] He was succeeded by MetropolitanDanilo Dajković (1961–1990), whose activities were also monitored closely by state authorities.[60][61] In 1970–1972, the communist regime destroyed the Lovćen Church, dedicated toSaint Petar of Cetinje, and desecrated the tomb of metropolitanPetar II Petrović-Njegoš, who was buried there, replacing the church with a secular mausoleum.[62][63]
In 1990,Amfilohije Radović was elected new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral. By that time, the communist regime in Yugoslavia was collapsing, and first democraticelections in Montenegro were held in 1990. In 1992, theFederal Republic of Yugoslavia was created, consisting of Montenegro and Serbia. Under theConstitution of Montenegro (1992), freedom of religion was restored. Political changes were followed by a period of church revival.[64] The number of priests, monks and nuns, as well as the number of the faithful, increased and many monasteries and parish churches were rebuilt and reopened. For example, from only 10 active monasteries with about 20 monks and nuns in 1991, Montenegro now has 30 active monasteries with more than 160 monks and nuns.[65] The number of parish priests also increased from 20 in 1991 to more than 60 today.[66] In 2001, diocesan administration in the region was reorganized: some northern and western regions were detached from the Metropolitanate, and on that territory newEparchy of Budimlja and Nikšić was created.[67][68]
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In the spring of 2006, theindependence referendum was held, and Montenegro became a sovereign state. In the same time, theBishops' Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church decided to form a regional Bishops' Council for Montenegro, consisted of bishops representing dioceses on the territory of Montenegro. By the same decision, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral was appointed president of the regional Bishops' Council.[69] In the autumn of 2007, due to illness and advanced age of Serbian PatriarchPavle Stojčević, Metropolitan Amflohije Radović of Montenegro was appointed administrator of the Patriarchal Throne, by theHoly Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Old Patriarch Pavle died in 2009, and Metropolitan Amfilohije continued to administer the Patriarchal Throne until the election of new Serbian PatriarchIrinej Gavrilović in 2010.[70]
Since Montenegro became a sovereign country in 2006, after a narrowindependence referendum, relations between state authorities and the Metropolitanate became increasingly complex. As a strong supporter ofSerbian-Montenegrin unionism, Metropolitan Amfilohije was seen as an opponent to newly proclaimed Montenegrin independence, and thus a new political dimension to several ecclesiastical disputes was added.[71] One of those disputes was related to claims and activities of a separateMontenegrin Orthodox Church, that was created in 1993 by a group of Montenegrin nationalists, but never recognized as canonical.[72][73] During the following years, various disputes arose, mainly over the question of historical and canonical legitimacy and effective control over some church objects and properties.[74]
In 2019, relations with the state further deteriorated as authorities adopted a new legislation on religious organisations, which was interpreted by the Serbian Orthodox Church as aimed at potential confiscation of church properties. Prolongedmass public manifestations ensued in support for the Metropolitanate[75] that lasted until theparliamentary election in August 2020 and theDemocratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) losing power.[76]
On 5 September 2021, the new head of the diocese,Joanikije Mićović, who had been the administrator of the Metropolitanate from 30 October 2020, was enthroned in the Cetinje Monastery by the Serbian PatriarchPorfirije Perić. The Serbian Orthodox Church's intention to hold the ceremony at a historic monastery in the town ofCetinje, the country's former capital, further exacerbated political and ethnic tensions in Montenegro and provokedviolent protests in Cetinje.[77][78][79]
Svetigora (Serbian: Светигора, English: the Holy Mountain) is a periodical journal of the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, founded in 1992 by MetropolitanAmfilohije Radović, and its currently published and edited by "Publishing and Information Institution of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral". Contains mostly the church teachings, poetry, lectures, spiritual lessons, reportages, news and chronicles from the Metropolitanate, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the all other Orthodox churches. During 1998, Metropolitan Amfilohije also started nationwide radio stationSvetigora.
The Metropolitanate has the following monasteries:[80]
