In front of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church of Saint Peter of Cetinje the Wonderworker, on this evening, on the eve of the most joyous Christian feast, the traditional badnjak (a ceremonial oak log lit on Christmas Eve in the Orthodox Christian tradition) was lit.

The lighting of the badnjak was attended by the faithful and the clergy of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, including the Episcopal Vicar of Kotor and the Coast, Archpriest-Stavrophore Ivan Pajović, Archpriest Branislav Pajović, Priest Stevo Mašanović, and Protodeacon Nebojša Aleksić, Secretary of the Archdiocese of Kotor and the Coast.

After the badnjak was lit, Protodeacon Nebojša Aleksić addressed those present by reading the Christmas Epistle of the Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro, Mihailo, addressed to the brother hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and Orthodox faithful in Montenegro and the diaspora.

“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this holy night of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, when heaven descended to earth and the love of God clothed itself in human nature, we are gathered once again to renew our faith, hope, and responsibility before God and before ourselves. The Nativity of Christ is not merely an event of the past, but an eternal lesson to humanity that darkness is overcome by light, violence by humility, falsehood by truth, and hatred by love. Christ comes among us as a newborn child—unassuming, yet stronger than every injustice,” he emphasized at the beginning.

In the continuation of the Epistle, he reflected on the current situation of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church.

“Sadly, today in Montenegro we are witnessing injustices and discrimination. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church, despite its historical and spiritual foundations, is subjected to denial, humiliation, attacks, and institutional violence. Our clergy and faithful have been placed in the position of second-class citizens,” he stressed, adding that believers are often denied their right to freedom of faith and identity.

The message further emphasized that Christ’s teaching calls for perseverance, dignity, and righteousness, not bitterness and hatred. It was conveyed that the strength of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church and its people lies not in renunciation, but in spiritual renewal and a return to genuine Christian values.

At the conclusion of the Epistle, from Cetinje—the spiritual heart of Montenegro—a paternal message of peace, hope, and blessing was sent forth.

After the lighting of the badnjak, those present were invited to partake in appropriate refreshments, in a spirit of togetherness and Christmas joy, and Christmas gift packages were prepared and distributed for the youngest attendees.

Mihaela Moškov
Source: Radio Kotor