You cannot kill your brothers and build future on this! - Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro (VIDEO)

Montenegro prays daily for the salvation of afflicted Ukraine, Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral said, "At every liturgy, at every proskomedia, we make a special prayer for both the blessed Metropolitan Onuphry and all Ukrainians who keep true Orthodox faith," he said to a UOJ correspondent.

"I am very worried about these events in Ukraine, this fratricidal civil war. I say this: you can strive to defend your state, but you cannot participate in a fratricidal war! You cannot kill your brothers and build the future on this! " said Bishop Amfilohije.

"Some will say: since he is Metropolitan of Montenegro, then let him deal with the affairs of his metropolia, his people. But I said at my enthronement: although I am the bishop of the Montenegrin Church, I am also the bishop of the local autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church. And at the same time I am the bishop of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church of Christ. Therefore, Metropolitan Onuphry and I are in the same Church, - Metropolitan of Montenegro continued. – His Beatitude Onuphry is a humble man. His Church is being crucified now. And thank God, without this there is no Kingdom of Heaven. This is how bishops should be saved. I feel that he has a really deep, ecclesiastical understanding of the situation. He supports both his country and his Ukrainian people, but he does not put himself in opposition to the Russian Orthodox people either.

And here you can see the commonality with the position of the head of the Georgian Church. When there was a conflict between Russia and Georgia, Patriarch Elijah, the spiritual father of today's Georgia, met with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church and helped resolve the situation.

No contradictions can be solved with the help of the methods that we, unfortunately, observe in Ukraine. How a Montenegrin cannot build their own happiness on hatred of a Ukrainian or Russian, so a Ukrainian cannot build their future on hatred of their brothers with whom they share home, on hatred of Russians and other nationalities.

And here church hierarchs need wisdom. And Metropolitan Onuphry has such wisdom, thank God. He points out that the only way out of any conflict is repentance, love of the Lord and brotherly love. During Great Lent we must cultivate in ourselves such brotherly love. Only it will solve all the problems," concluded the bishop.


Read also

Festivities to honor St. Anthony of the Caves begin at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

On the eve of the feast of the founder of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry led the All-Night Vigil at the Church of St. Agapitus.

Zhytomyr Eparchy pilgrims meet Patriarch Theophilos in Jerusalem

Pilgrims from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church venerated the holy sites of the Holy Land and received the blessing of the Primate of the Jerusalem Church.

Deaths outnumber births nearly four to one in Ukraine – official data

During the first half of the year, 73,000 children were born in Ukraine, while nearly 260,000 people died.

Odesa marks feast of uncovering of St. Gabriel of Athos’ relics

Metropolitan Agafangel celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Odesa’s St. Elijah Monastery on the feast of the uncovering of the relics of the monastery’s founder.

Hearing in DESS lawsuit against UOC's Kyiv Metropolis postponed

The court postponed consideration of the DESS lawsuit seeking the dissolution of the UOC’s Kyiv Metropolis until September 10.

UK appoints first Catholic prime minister

Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, was raised in a Catholic family, attended Catholic schools, and has spoken publicly about his faith on numerous occasions.