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Fifth anniversary of the enthronement of Metropolitan Ioannikios of Montenegrotranslated

September 5, 2026 · 1 min read

Five years have been completed today since the enthronement of the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Montenegro and Parathalassia Mr. Ioannikios. In May 2021, the then Bishop of Vudimlje and Nikšić, Mr. Ioannikios, was elected by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church of Serbia as the successor of the blessed Metropolitan Mr. Amfilochios, and on September 5 of the same year, he was enthroned in the Holy Monastery of Cetinje amid a tense climate and episodes that had incited nationalist circles of Montenegro. He is the 56th Bishop of this historic local Church, which goes back to an old Serbian Diocese that was founded about 800 years ago, as well as the 41st Metropolitan enthroned in the Holy Monastery of Cetinje where today a High Priestly Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the occasion of the anniversary of his enthronement.

During the Divine Liturgy, Archpriest Dusan Bigović referred, on the occasion of the gospel reading, to the need for man to recognize the "Pharisee" who may be hiding in his own heart, emphasizing that the Christian life cannot be based on self-justification and superiority over others, but on humility and ministry.

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency  ·  Read the full story →
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Nicolae Nistor
Let us pray for Metropolitan Ioannikios and for peace in Montenegro. I remembered how he was enthroned in 2021 in the midst of that nationalist turmoil, yet he sat there in Cetinje. Today's liturgy with Father Dušan Bigović who spoke about the Pharisee in our heart seems appropriate to me, this is exactly what we need.
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Andreea Tudor
Yes, Nicholas, I too pray for Metropolitan Ioannikios and for peace in Montenegro. I liked how Father Dušan Bigović talked about the Pharisee in the heart - it's something that each of us should look at more often, especially when it comes to pride. Thank God he got through that turmoil in Cetinje and stayed there.
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Андрей Тарасов
Thank God that Bishop Ioannikiy still stood firm then in Cetinje amid these unrest in 21st. Today at the Liturgy, Father Dusan Bigovich said well about the Pharisee in his heart - this is definitely about all of us. Let's pray for him and for peace in Montenegro.
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Ana Munteanu
I agree with you, Nicolae, the prayer for Metropolitan Ioannikios is necessary especially after those difficult moments in Cetinje. What caught my attention in Father Dušan Bigović's sermon is that he directly linked the Gospel text to the heart of each one of us, not just to others. Do you think that something like this is often preached in our parishes?
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Ana Tudor
Yes, Ana, Father Dušan Bigović's sermon made me also think about the "Pharisee" in my own heart, not just others. In our parish, we rarely talk about it so directly, we usually stick to general advice. Do you think it would help if our priests linked the Gospel to everyday life more often, as he did?
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Любовь Андреева
Thank God that Bishop Ioannikiy stood firm then. And Father Dusan definitely noticed about the Pharisee in his heart; this happens to me too, when I begin to judge others in my mind. Let us pray that the Lord will continue to keep him and all of Montenegro in peace.
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