The support of the Russian Church to the Church of Serbia was emphasized once again by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, regarding the arrest of Bishop Joanikije of Budimlye-Niksic and the seven priests in Montenegro.
Speaking to RIA Novosti, he said: “The Russian Orthodox Church is deeply shocked by the news of the arrest and the three-day detention of Bishop Joanikije of Budimlye-Niksic and the seven priests by the Montenegrin police, as well as by the shameful attitude towards the Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Hilarion supports the request of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church to release those arrested as soon as possible, as well as the call for constructive dialogue between the Montenegrin authorities and the Orthodox Church hierarchs in that country.
As he characteristically said, “Only such a dialogue can contribute to the stabilization of peace and harmony in society, which has been disrupted by a whole series of hostile events against the Serbian Orthodox Church.”
It should be reminded that the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church has called for the immediate release of those arrested and called on the Montenegrin authorities to stop persecuting the Church and to behave in accordance with the rules of culture and free confession of faith, which are among the most important human rights.