Today, November 7, His Eminence the Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Joanikije, together with the clergy and the faithful, celebrated the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Perast, marking the 170th anniversary of the commencement of the construction of this holy temple.

Following the prayer behind the ambo, Metropolitan Joanikije served a memorial service (*parastos*) for the *Mitrovdan* All Souls' Saturday (*Zadušnice*), offering prayers in remembrance of all departed Orthodox Christians—the founders, donors, and benefactors of this holy site in Perast.

Addressing the gathered faithful, the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral... Joanikije recalled the history of this church and its builders, among whom the late Đorđije Đuranović stands out in particular:

"We are celebrating 170 years since the erection of this holy temple. By reading the records concerning this church, we see that while its construction required long preparation, it was completed in less than a year. This demonstrates the great determination of your ancestors to establish this sacred site here. And, naturally, they built it not merely for themselves—so that they might pray to God within it, receive Holy Communion, marry, and have their children baptized—but also for future generations: for us, for those who will come after us, and for times yet to come."

His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije particularly highlighted the immense effort invested by the Orthodox inhabitants of Perast at that time to construct a church that was, for that era, both large and beautiful. In doing so, they left us a brilliant, exceptional example of their faith, piety, and love—love for the temple of God, for the holy Orthodox faith, and for their own people. "And so, it is by God’s providence that we mark this wonderful jubilee precisely on a day of commemoration for the departed (*Zadušnice*). This is an opportunity to remember all those who prayed in this holy temple—especially those who built it and adorned it," the Bishop said in his sermon.

Reflecting on the history of the church, he emphasized that for 170 years, holy divine services have been celebrated within its walls. He noted that God’s mercy, grace, and love have warmed the hearts of all who came to pray to God here and to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ—to be nourished by the Heavenly Bread and to live a new life.

"Dear brothers and sisters, today—on the occasion of the *Zadušnice* (commemoration of the departed) following the feast of St. Demetrius—we have prayed to God for all our departed loved ones: those we know and remember, as well as those whose names are unknown to us. They constitute a vast, countless multitude—those who now dwell in the heavens and pray for us before the throne of God. We pray for them, and they pray for us; the same Spirit of God permeates both us and their souls. Whether here on earth or in heaven, the same Spirit of God enlightens the souls of the faithful—both those who have departed (who now live a new life in the Kingdom of Heaven) and those of us who remain here on earth, as part of the Church Militant, striving for salvation and the Kingdom of Heaven." He went on to speak about the upcoming feast days of St. Demetrius and St. Michael the Archangel, as well as the Nativity Fast—the sacred fast preceding the Nativity of Christ—emphasizing that all of this points to the need for constant effort, a continual ascent, as if climbing a spiritual ladder toward the Kingdom of Heaven.

"For in preparing for the holy service of God, a person performs an act that is most beautiful, most necessary, and most sublime for their own salvation. And the greatest and most joyful experience is participating in the holy liturgy, when we glorify the name of God together—with one voice, one heart, and one sentiment. Gathered together in the temple of God, we stand before the face of God as a single organism, glorifying the Most Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. May the souls of the departed find rest in the Kingdom of Heaven; may the Lord gather them all into His eternal kingdom—all our ancestors, our parents, our relatives, and our loved ones for whom we pray to God. May the Lord take them all into His life-giving and life-sustaining embrace, and may He, through their prayers, have mercy upon us as well," said His Eminence.

Having taught those gathered that our ancestors rejoice in heaven when we remember their souls—as well as their virtuous deeds—the Bishop once again recalled the honorable Đorđije "Đuro" Đuranović, who contributed greatly to this holy temple, emphasizing that our people and our ancestry include many such meritorious individuals. "May they serve as an example to us of how to please God, how to labor in this life, and how to show love toward one’s Church, one’s fatherland, and one’s people—and especially toward one’s own descendants. May it be for the health and salvation of all, and for many blessed years! May this wonderful jubilee be a joyous one," said His Eminence Joanikije, Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, at the conclusion of his archpastoral address.

Following this, the gathered faithful were addressed by Priest Jovan Vasić, parish priest of Orahovac and Perast. He expressed his gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije, his brother concelebrants, and all those who had gathered to share in the joy of this day—a day in which both the heavens and we here on earth rejoice:

"Thank you, Your Eminence; may this be for your health and a blessing—to you and to all your associates and co-laborers. You are always in our prayers, just as we are in yours. In that spirit, please accept a small, symbolic token of our regard—a liturgical spear—as a memento of this great jubilee."

The gathering continued with a meal of Christian love. The history of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Perast bears witness to the perseverance and deep faith of the Orthodox inhabitants of Perast. Despite their small numbers, in the mid-19th century, they succeeded in realizing their long-held desire to build an Orthodox church in their town.

As recorded in the *Serbian-Dalmatian Magazine* (*Srpsko-dalmatinski magazin*) for 1864, a significant share of the credit for the construction of the church belongs to Đorđije Đuranović, who personally appealed to the monarch in 1849 to request permission for its building. After overcoming numerous obstacles, the Orthodox residents of Perast received a favorable decision.

Construction of the church began on January 14, 1856, on land donated by Đuranović. The foundation was laid on January 30, and the work was completed on July 14 of the same year. The church was consecrated on July 15, 1857—with the blessing of the hierarch—by Archimandrite and Vicar-General I. Popović.

The church was built and furnished through the efforts and contributions of the Orthodox residents of Perast, with the assistance of the Serbian Orthodox communities in Trieste and Budva. The greatest benefactor was none other than Đorđije Đuranović, who, in addition to land, contributed significant financial resources and construction materials, and also gifted his own house to the church to serve as a residence for the priest.

Regarding his act of endowment, the following is recorded in the aforementioned historical source: “The Church of Perast shall remember his name for all eternity, as the name of its principal founder and an exceptional benefactor.”

Today’s liturgical gathering and prayerful commemoration served to further preserve the memory of those ancestors who, despite numerous hardships, built this holy place through their faith, sacrifice, and love.

Photographs Фотографије

Vesna Dević

Historical source: *Serbian-Dalmatian Magazine for the Year 1864*