Primate of UOC сongratulates Metropolitan Joanikije on his enthronement
His Beatitude noted that Metropolitan Joanikije took upon himself the archpastoral care of renewing church life in Montenegro at a very difficult time.
The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, congratulated Metropolitan Joanikije on his enthronement, reports the official website of the Montenegrin-Littoral Metropolitanate.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry wrote that the election of Metropolitan Joanikije to the post of head of the Montenegrin-Littoral Metropolitanate was made "by the will of the Holy Spirit and the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church".
The Primate of the UOC noted that Vladyka Joanikije, being an associate of Metropolitan Amfilohije, “took upon himself the archpastoral care of renewing church life in Montenegro at a very difficult time, when the Orthodox population of Kosovo, Metohija, and other Serbian countries endured terrible suffering”.
“And the present time, when by God's providence you are determined to head the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, is full of trials and temptations. Obeying the will of God, you took upon yourself this by no means an easy duty, hoping for the true help of God and the support of the entire Church. Know, dear Right Reverend Bishop, that the Orthodox people of Ukraine are prayerfully with you," Metropolitan Onuphry emphasized.
He assured the head of the Montenegrin-Littoral Metropolitanate of prayer support on behalf of the fullness of the fraternal Ukrainian Orthodox Church and wished that "the Lord would protect and strengthen you with good physical and mental health for many good years".
As reported, the delegation of the UOC congratulated Metropolitan Joanikije on his enthronement.
