Joanikije Mićović, Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral
In an interview for “Diplomacy & Commerce Montenegro” magazine, Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Joanikije Mićović, discusses the profound role of the Serbian Orthodox Church in shaping Montenegro’s cultural and spiritual identity. Amid the challenges of economic inequality, youth migration, and the pressures of modernization, the Church continues to act as a pillar of tradition, tolerance, and community support. Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikije reflects on the Church’s efforts to preserve Montenegro’s historical heritage, foster interfaith harmony, and inspire the younger generation to contribute to their homeland’s future.
Montenegro has a rich and diverse history. How does the Serbian Orthodox Church contribute to preserving Montenegro’s cultural and religious identity while respecting its multiculturalism?
The Serbian Orthodox Church preserves the spiritual identity of Montenegro precisely by carrying out its centuries-old evangelical mission. It teaches and nurtures people in the values on which Montenegro was founded and has endured. These are the values of eternal life, philanthropy, humane action, faith in God and people, and preservation of God’s creation. At the core of the Church’s teaching is understanding towards dissenters and other spiritual directions. Orthodoxy in Montenegro, since it has existed as a separate denomination from Roman Catholicism, has fostered religious tolerance towards those different from itself. This is evidenced by the tolerant attitude towards Roman Catholics in Nemanjić-era Zeta, and later in the states of the Crnojević and Petrović dynasties in Montenegro. This tradition has continued to this day. The respectful and considerate attitude towards members of the Islamic faith represents a particular civilizational value, especially in the time after Montenegro was liberated from Ottoman occupation. Thus, the multiculturalism of Montenegro, among other things, is fundamentally based on the spiritual life and presence of the Serbian Orthodox Church in society.
In addition, preserving the spiritual identity of Montenegro is unimaginable without the simultaneous preservation, restoration, and functional use of the numerous Orthodox churches in Montenegro, which are at the same time places of worship for the Serbian Orthodox Church, for which purpose they were precisely built. Caring for these churches and the monumental heritage of Orthodoxy in Montenegro is among the primary intentions and activities of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Montenegro faces challenges such as economic inequality and the migration of young people. How does the Church address these problems, particularly through supporting local communities and encouraging young people to stay in the country?
At all levels of life, from the personal, within the pastoral care of priests, to the social, through church appeals, proclamations, and the initiation of social actions, the Church strives to bind the youth to the social life here. Christian ethics is closely related to the concept of positive engagement in organizing family and social life, in one’s street, city, and country. This is a kind of obligation before God; in biblical terms, it is the “multiplication of talents”, meaning the use of the gifts that God has given us for the common good. Of course, the response to this challenge does not fall exclusively within the Church’s responsibility. Primarily, it is a political issue, but the Church does not shy away from motivationally involving itself in solving it. Moreover, the Church, as much as it can by providing a personal example of engagement in the organization and improvement of society here and now. It also does this by inviting many of our people from abroad to return to the country in some way, through their economic presence, investments, and the like.
Precisely on this issue, the Church establishes contact and cooperation with wealthy individuals of sound spirit, who help in the implementation of projects such as soup kitchens, educational institutions, and homes for the youngest and the elderly.
The launch of the Orthodox High School “St. Sava” in Podgorica, as practically the second high school institution in the Montenegrin capital, represents a stimulating move for the local youth and the idea of their staying here.
Many significant Orthodox monasteries and churches are located in Montenegro. What steps does the Church take to preserve and protect these spiritual and cultural monuments despite the pressures of modern development?
The Church has its own expert team that monitors the condition of the mentioned structures and proposes measures for their protection. This team consists of competent individuals who are well-versed in the conservation culture trends of the 21st century. Based on the suggestions of these experts and the reports from priests responsible for services in these religious objects, our Church initiates proposals to state authorities to plan and start the process of adequately securing them from damage and decay, as well as promoting them as much as possible in the religious, cultural, and touristic presentation of Montenegro to the world. Specifically, over the past fifty years, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) has patiently and expertly restored the Skadar Lake monastery complex, known as the SkadarHoly Mountain, following all procedures prescribed by positive state regulations. The monasteries of Stanjevići and Podmaine have been restored from ruins. Numerous village and town churches have been restored and built, including two grand cathedrals in Podgorica and Bar, which, although the youngest sacred buildings in Montenegro, embody the spirit of tradition and, as you mentioned, the cultural identity of Montenegro. I would add that they also represent the continuous spiritual heritage of the Peć Patriarchate in this region.
Recently, we have been calling on the state and the public for the need to restore Njegoš’s mausoleum on Lovćen, which, aside from its significance, was a monument protected by state laws at the time when the state itself demolished it. The fight for the restoration of this chapel also represents our struggle to preserve the authentic spiritual identity of Montenegro.