Russian Church sends envoy to reconcile Podgorica and SPC
Željka Jevtić
20/7/2011
Two main topics on agenda of the highest level talks in Belgrade and Podgorica shall be position of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) in Montenegro and whether Montenegrin authorities support non canonical church of Miras Dedaic.
As ‘Blic’ learns the second man of the Russian Church , the Littoral Head Ilarion is coming to Belgrade and after talks with Serbian Patriarch Irinej he shall travel to Podgorica today to meet with Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic and Foreign Minister Milan Rocen.
At the same time Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic on the first official visit to Belgrade shall talk at the Patriarchy with Serbian Patriarch Irinej and members of the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. After that he shall meet with Serbian President Boris Tadic and other officials.
The fact that the Littoral Head Ilarion is traveling by private plane only speaks how important for Moscow is his visit to Montenegro is since he shall leave for Podgorica immediately after talks in Belgrade.
The talks between Ilarion and Montenegrin top officials are of special gravity because of the role of the Russian Littoral Head Ilarion in Moscow but in the Orthodox Church as well. Ilarion shall also meet with Montenegrin Prime Minister Luksic immediately upon his return from Belgrade.
The highest church diplomat in the Orthodox Church shall be on two-day visit to the region and shall be the guest of the Montenegrin-Coastal Littoral Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church. This fact alone is sufficiently clear message regarding the stance of the Russian Church over relation by Montenegrin top officials towards the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.
As ‘Blic’ learns the Moscow Patriarchy wants to get official and clear stance of Montenegrin authorities regarding the non canonical church in Montenegro including reply to question if the actual power is behind its acting. The reason for this is in very close relations between Dedaic and the self-proclaimed Patriarch of Ukraine Filaret Demisenko. He was earlier one of the leading littoral heads of the Russian Church. When he failed as a candidate for the Russian Patriarch he proclaimed himself the Patriarch of Ukraine and separated a part of the territory of the Russian Church.
Few days ago Dedaic met with Filaret in Ukraine.
‘One thing is certain: Ilarion is not to convey the official stance of the Russian Church only, but the official stance of Moscow as well’, ‘Blic’ source says.
