In Cetinje, on the feast day of Saint Luke the Evangelist and Saint Peter of Cetinje the Wonderworker, the regular annual Lučindan session of the Holy Archiereian Synod of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church has begun. The session is addressing matters within the competence of the Holy Synod, and the public will be informed of its conclusions upon the completion of several days of deliberations.

Among the first decisions adopted was the decision to launch an initiative for concluding an Agreement on the regulation of matters of common interest between the Montenegrin Orthodox Church and the Government of Montenegro. Accordingly, an official letter has been sent to the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr. Milojko Spajić, together with a proposed draft of the Agreement. The proposal provides that the Agreement should be concluded in the same substantive form as those previously signed with other religious communities, especially regarding the preamble affirming the historical continuity of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, the right to use Orthodox churches built before 1918, the matter of restitution of church property, and other issues essential for ensuring the equal status of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church and the full affirmation of its religious rights and freedoms in Montenegro. The Holy Synod expects the Government, in accordance with its constitutional obligation to guarantee full equality of religious communities, to approach this matter responsibly and in the interest of the common good of society.

The feast of Lučindan was liturgically celebrated in the Chapel of Saint Peter of Cetinje in the Episcopal Residence in Cetinje, where the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served by His Beatitude the Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro, with the concelebration of His Grace the Bishop of Argentina–Nikšić and Ostrog, Gorazd, together with clergy and the faithful.

During the Liturgy, Deacon Igor Belkin from Ukraine was ordained to the priesthood. In his homily, the Metropolitan called upon the faithful and all citizens of Montenegro to look to our saints in these times of great trials and divisions — saints who responded to the weight of history, to hardships and challenges, with spiritual effort, patience, and the strength to spread God’s love, peace, and goodwill among people. “Saint Peter of Cetinje and Saint Luke the Evangelist show us the way – not to return to old wounds, but to renew fraternal trust, to heal what has been hurt, and to be those who build, not destroy,” the Metropolitan said.

Cetinje, on Lučindan
October 31 / October 18 according to the Old Calendar

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