Belgrade’s “Novosti” has called on the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), Joanikije, to retract his endorsement of a letter that labels students protesting in Serbia as “Serbian Ustashas.”

Many Serbian tabloids aligned with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić featured an article from the lesser-known portal Sunčanik, which is affiliated with the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The article asserts that Joanikije has joined a public smear campaign against Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and Metropolitan David of the Kruševac Serbian Orthodox Church, aligning himself with “those who do not wish well for the Serbian people and Serbia.”

The context recalls that Porfirije and David, “risking their lives amid a challenging security climate due to blockades around Cetinje,” had traveled to Cetinje by helicopter from the Army of Montenegro to formally enthrone Joanikije at the Cetinje Monastery.

Additionally, it was pointed out that Joanikije “overlooked the crucial role” played by Porfirije during the finalization of the Fundamental Agreement between Montenegro and the Serbian Orthodox Church in 2022 before signing the letter.

Concerns have also been raised regarding “non-canonical interference in another’s canonical jurisdiction,” which seems aimed at achieving political objectives.

Three days prior, the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral released a statement on its website asserting that the Serbian Orthodox Church does not equate “our students with Serbian Ustashas.” This statement was signed by various metropolitans, including Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Grigorije of Germany, Justin of Žič, Dimitrije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral, as well as Archbishop Maxim of Western America and Bishop Irinej of Eastern America.

This statement followed an article by Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitan David on the website of the Kruševac Diocese titled “Zduhači, Manitoši and Ljudi od veresije,” in which he denied that the term “Serbian Ustashas” was directed at the students of Belgrade University.

“Many are taken aback by the fact that Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, together with Metropolitan Grigorije of Germany, Metropolitan Justin of Žič, Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, Archbishop Maxim of Western America, and Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, signed a letter against the Serbian Orthodox Church and its Patriarch Porfirije,” reads the piece published by “Novosti.”

This surprise is attributed to several factors.

“Metropolitan Joanikije should not have been among those signing against the Serbian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Porfirije, particularly in order to maintain the unity of the Serbian Orthodox Church both generally and within Montenegro. Strong relationships between the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral and the Serbian Patriarch are crucial for the unity of the Church. The Metropolitan’s voice carries significant weight in the Serbian Church and society, and he must consider this responsibility carefully. The concerns of the clergy, monastic community, and faithful of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral must never be subordinate to the interests of those perceived as disruptors of Church unity,” it further states.

Joanikije needs to remember that he was enthroned as Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral on September 5, 2021, “solely due to Porfirije’s steadfast resolve” that the enthronement ceremony shall occur at the Cetinje Monastery.

“It is vital to note that on the eve of September 4, during late hours, several indecisive figures, whom Metropolitan Joanikije is well-acquainted with, suggested postponing his enthronement. However, Patriarch Porfirije, with unwavering faith and confidence in God’s assistance, rejected this suggestion. His commitment to proceed to Cetinje for the sacred ceremony, regardless of the circumstances, remains well-documented. Patriarch Porfirije and Metropolitan David, risking their lives under perilous conditions due to the blockades around Cetinje, journeyed by helicopter to carry out Joanikije’s enthronement. Joanikije had no grounds to participate in a public attack against Patriarch Porfirije and Metropolitan David at such a sensitive time in Serbia, particularly through a letter laden with attributed words that were never spoken,” the article articulates.

Furthermore, Joanikije must acknowledge the support received, predominantly from Serbia, as well as “from other Serbian regions,” during the efforts to defend holy sites in late 2019 and throughout 2020.

“That support has only intensified over time, and the faithful people of Montenegro will never forget, despite Metropolitan Joanikije’s regrettable actions. It is important for him to acknowledge that the then Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana, now Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, was a vocal supporter of the just cause championed by the late Metropolitan Amfilohije, the then Bishop Joanikije, the clergy, monastic community, and faithful in defending the sacred sites of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro,” it continues.

As noted, Joanikije had a “human and priestly obligation” to publicly extend support to Porfirije and to reciprocate the brotherly love, especially during a period fraught with provocations for civil unrest in Serbia instigated by irresponsible figures within the Serbian Orthodox Church outside of Serbia. “It was anticipated that Metropolitan Joanikije would accompany his letter of support to Patriarch Porfirije and the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Serbia by condemning the shameful campaign against the Church and the Patriarch, primarily waged through Nova.rs, N1, and various social media platforms, rather than aligning with an insidiously crafted letter circulated among a divided Serbian public via decidedly non-church outlets,” it states.

This anticipated act of peace from the throne of Cetinje was conspicuously absent.

“Metropolitan Joanikije, prior to signing the letter, failed to acknowledge the significant role of Serbian Patriarch Porfirije in the finalization of the Fundamental Agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church, harmonized and signed on August 3, 2022, in Podgorica. Joanikije needed to recognize that Patriarch Porfirije consistently responded positively to invitations to visit the Metropolis of Montenegro, thereby supporting Joanikije, the hierarchs, clergy, monistic community, and faithful and underscoring the unity of the Church among the Serbian people.”

“Moreover, Joanikije had to be aware that he holds no canonical authority outside of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and that he lacks the right to, through Nova.rs and N1, interfere in the canonical jurisdictions of the Serbian Patriarch and other bishops within Serbia. Such non-canonical intrusion serves political ends. While anyone may have signed that letter, it should not have been Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral,” the article concludes.

It is further noted that Joanikije “should have considered” that students from the informal group “Kamo śutra,” after a tragic shooting on January 1 in Cetinje, protested with “nearly identical slogans and symbols” in Podgorica. Nevertheless, Joanikije has not made any pronouncements regarding those protests or students within his canonical jurisdiction, yet has chosen to comment on protests and students in Serbia, an area where he holds no authority.

“Metropolitan Joanikije, before endorsing the letter against the Serbian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Porfirije, should have scrutinized who is backing the protests in Serbia from Montenegro. Many of them are known adversaries of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and of the Serbian people. Joanikije overlooked that Albin Kurti openly supported these protests to fan the flames of civil discord in Serbia, not to mention the backing from Croatia, blaring with Ustasha and neo-Ustasha symbols that Joanikije seemingly chose to ignore. No one could have imagined, even in their wildest nightmares, that Metropolitan Joanikije, initially seen as a steadfast pillar of the Serbian Church in Montenegro, would align himself with those who do not seek the best for the Serbian people and Serbia,” the text argues.

A clear apology is now being sought.

“There are more reasons to assert that the name and signature of Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral should have been omitted from a letter that does not serve the aim of preserving the unity of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people. It is not yet too late for Metropolitan Joanikije to withdraw his signature from the letter against Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and to publicly apologize while seeking forgiveness during the days of the Lenten season.”