Speaker of Montenegro Parliament discusses the church situation with Phanar

Aleksa Bečić and Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr

On January 16, 2022, Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament Aleksa Bečić met with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on the Phanar, Vima Orthodoxias reports.

A large delegation from Montenegro, headed by the speaker of parliament, discussed "the general ecclesiastical situation in Montenegro during and after the enthronement of the current Metropolitan Joanikije" with the head of Phanar.

Aleksa Bečić also told Patriarch Bartholomew "about the current situation in his country, notably with regard to laws on religious freedoms and church property."

At the end of the visit of the Montenegrin delegation, the head of Phanar, as reported in the media, "conveyed the blessing of the Mother Church to the MPs and all the people of the country."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the head of the so-called "Montenegrin Church" said that his structure would receive a tomos from the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Later, during the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, riots were organized, which, according to the bishop, testify to the deliberate incitement of hatred and division among the citizens of Montenegro.

At the same time, the ROC believes that the unrest in Montenegro and the attacks on the UOC come from one center.

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