At the invitation of His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, the Chairman of the Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Miodrag Linta attended the patron saint day of the monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi (The Tracts of Saint George), 5 – 6 May 2019 in Berane, Montenegro, the day of the Holy Martyr and Victorbearer George, in the year of a great jubilee of the Serbian Orthodox Church 1219-2019.
The day of the Holy Martyr George was celebrated with holy mass and breaking of bread at the monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi, one of the oldest monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Mess was held by Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic and Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany of the Russian Church Outside Russia, with the help of the clergy of the diocese.
The traditional St. George Day afternoon procession through the centre of Berane was followed by, among others, a speech by the Chairman of the Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Miodrag Linta.
“The Serbian people in Montenegro are in a difficult position because their national and human rights are being violated in many areas”, said Linta, stressing that Serbs in Montenegro do not have the status of a constituting nation.
“The Serbian language and Cyrillic script have been eliminated from official use, the Serbian Orthodox Church suffers constant pressures and threats, historical events are revised in the public and schools, famous Serbian writers and poets are cut out of schoolbooks”, said Linta adding that Serbs also have difficulty getting employment in public services.
“Serbia is helping its people in Montenegro, but it needs to do more to make sure the Serbian people survive on the territories they had occupied for centuries and preserve their national and cultural identity”, said Linta, adding how pleased he was to see so many children and young people among the attending.
“Be proud of your Serbian name, language and orthodox faith”, said Linta.
The monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi in Berane was the endowment of Stefan Prvoslav (1174-1244), son of the great County Prefect - duke Tihomir, oldest brother of Stefan Nemanja, whose grave is located within the monastery. The monastery was completed in 1213. In 1219 St. Sava established the Budimlje Diocese and enthroned the first Bishop of Budimlje, Jakov, in the church.
