The 25th Orthodox Children's Assembly of Montenegro is taking place today in Cetinje under the slogan "I Can Do Anything When I Learn About God."
The Assembly began with the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy at the Cetinje Monastery, officiated by His Eminence Joanikije, Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, with the concelebration of His Grace Paisije, Bishop of Diokleia, along with clergy and monastics, and the participation of numerous believers. Many children and young people—students of religious education classes from the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, their teachers, and parents—took part in the Holy Liturgy, alongside esteemed guests attending this most joyful annual gathering of the Metropolitanate.
Following the Holy Liturgy, the 25th Orthodox Children's Assembly of Montenegro was solemnly opened on the plateau in front of the Cetinje Monastery, and His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije imparted his blessing to the gathered children and all participants. Noting that the gathering was taking place on the Feast of the Miracle of the Holy Archangel Michael at Chonae, the Metropolitan remarked that, just as God’s angels in heaven are gathered around the Holy Archistrategos Michael, children from all directions had gathered today in Cetinje. "I am convinced that wherever children gather, God’s angels come with them, for children possess pure souls, akin to the souls of angels," the Metropolitan said, emphasizing that every baptized person has a guardian angel who guides them through life, plants good intentions and God’s love and mercy in their heart, and protects them from evil and the wrong path.
Speaking on the importance of religious education and the efforts of religious education teachers, His Eminence highlighted that their most important mission is to lead children to Christ.
"The most important thing a religious education teacher can do is to lead children to Christ the Lord, to bring them into the church, and to teach them to love the beauty of God’s House. That is the beauty found within the soul—a beauty that takes up residence in the souls of young children, the youth, and us adults alike," said Metropolitan Joanikije.
He stated that this very beauty is what unites, ennobles, and brings people closer together, giving them the strength to overcome life's hardships and unpleasantness. After expressing gratitude to the religious education teachers, the benefactors of the Gathering, and the children who regularly participate in these assemblies, the Metropolitan particularly emphasized the importance of regular participation in the liturgical life of the Church.
"What matters most is that we attend Sunday and feast-day services regularly, so that we may be true Christians and walk in God’s path throughout our lives—not merely on the single day of the year when we gather here. In this way, we shall always have God’s angels to accompany and guide us, as well as God’s grace to overshadow, warm, and enlighten us all the days of our lives," the Metropolitan stated.
In conclusion, he wished for the great Children's Gathering in Cetinje to be joyful and blessed, invoking God’s blessing and that of Saint Peter of Cetinje upon all the participants.
Following the ceremonial program, the annual "Religious Education Teacher of the Year" award was presented. With the blessing of Metropolitan Joanikije, the Catechetical Board of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral awarded this honor to religious education teacher Zdenka Jovićević. In explaining the decision, the coordinator of the Catechetical Board, Priest Pavle Božović, stated that religious education teacher Zdenka Jovićević is a long-serving educator whose professional career and love for children are naturally enhanced and elevated through her ministry as a religious education teacher.
He highlighted that she has successfully combined her extensive educational experience, love for children, and gift for pedagogy with service to the Church through religious education.
Before coming to the Rijeka Parish, she served with great success in the Komani-Bandići Parish; there, despite the rural setting and a small child population, she managed to gather a significant number of students, demonstrating that religious education can flourish even under such conditions.
Father Pavle noted that, upon arriving at the Rijeka Parish, she immediately began working with children and gathered them around the religious education program—an effort evident at the opening ceremony of this year’s Children’s Gathering, where children from the program greeted the assembled crowd with a song. Speaking about her involvement, he emphasized that through her active participation in numerous activities of the Catechetical Board—such as organizing and conducting creative workshops and attending gatherings of religious education teachers—Zdenka Jovićević has demonstrated a readiness to dedicate her knowledge, experience, and talents to the advancement of religious education.
"With this recognition, we express our gratitude for her efforts, love, and dedicated work to date, while also inviting her to continue her service with the same commitment and perseverance, helping religious education to flourish and develop—especially in areas where the conditions for such work are particularly challenging," said Priest Pavle Božović.
He expressed the hope that this recognition would serve as an encouragement for her continued blessed work—benefiting the children, the Church, and the entire community—and stand as a testament to the fact that love, effort, and dedication in working with the youngest are recognized and bear good fruit.

Fotografije

Fotografije – Boris Musić

Fotografije – Nikola Todorović

Mitropolija crnogorsko-primorska