The Montenegrin Orthodox Church rarely issues public statements about individuals who attempt to exploit our centuries-long struggle for justice and the freedom of our people for their own personal ambitions. However, for the sake of the faithful in Montenegro, we are compelled—no matter how unpleasant—to occasionally speak publicly. Not for those who already understand what is happening, but for those who may be led astray.

We are faced with the appearance of a self-proclaimed figure—a man who interprets the Church’s fatherly patience and Christian upbringing as weakness, and under the guise of spiritual authority, even donning a white panakamilavka, persists in activities aimed at making himself into something the Church has never entrusted him with.
We are speaking of the defrocked Boris Bojović—a man who betrayed both the one who baptized him and the one who ordained him, believing that his priesthood exists without the grace of God and without the blessing of the Church from which he has willfully separated, or that those whom he now ordains and baptizes will somehow receive what he himself does not possess.

But the Church of God is not a personal improvisation, nor a private project. It is not an Instagram profile, nor a stage for petty performances with imaginary “church councils” in Romania, Spain, and Bulgaria. The Church is not something established without the people, without conciliarity, without sacrifice, and without the Holy Spirit.

And that is why it is so grave that this individual, without any canonical blessing, without holy chrismation, and without apostolic succession, proceeds to baptize people.
And for the sake of those people—who, in good faith, approach God, unaware that this man’s priestly acts lack both validity and blessing—we must speak the truth:

Boris Bojović has no right to serve, no right to baptize, and no right to present himself as a priest—let alone as a bishop. He is not a part of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church.

What he does is not merely lawlessness—it is a great curse. As the Apostle said: “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Yet here we are reminded of the story by Leo Tolstoy, in which a bandit disguised himself as a bishop and came to a remote convent. The nuns, unaware of the deception, received him with great honor, washed his feet, and washed themselves with the same water, and a miracle of healing occurred. For the faith of those sisters was sincere.
Likewise, we believe that those whom Bojović baptizes will not suffer if they approach God in true and honest faith—not seeking him, but seeking Christ. But we must still affirm the truth: what he does does not belong to the Church. That is not the Montenegrin Orthodox Church.

And that is why we appeal: do not support this deception. Do not grant significance to one who has none. Do not help to destroy what we have built for decades through suffering, endurance, humiliation, and hope.
Even a misguided child can burn down a house. Destruction requires neither great intellect nor strength—only that one places himself in the hands of the devil and serves him. Which, tragically, is exactly what Boris Bojović is doing.

There is no courage or heroism in this. It is pride and vanity—the gravest spiritual fall. It is mortal sin.

And if this man—like the bandit in Tolstoy’s story—were to break down within himself, to weep, to feel shame, to confess that he is not what he claims to be, but a fugitive from both the law and the Church—everything would be different.
Then we could all embrace as brothers and seek forgiveness together.

But as long as this deception endures, we must clearly say:
The Church is conciliar. The Church is apostolic. Without unity with her, there is no future, no grace, and no eternal life—especially not for those who trample on the holy for the sake of personal glory.

For we shall all—both in silence and in public, both united and divided—one day stand before the dreadful Judgment Seat of Christ. And there it will not be asked how many followers you had, but how many brothers you kept in the love of the Church.

These are difficult times. But difficult times are no excuse to destroy with our own hands what we have labored to build for decades—least of all for the sake of a failed ambition and selfish pride.

Lord, have mercy on us all.

Cetinje, June 10/23, 2025

Archbishop of Cetinje and
Metropolitan of Montenegro

† Mihailo