Today, September 26, on the Fore-Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Cross Day, marks the fourth year since His Eminence Bishop of Budimlje-Niksic, Mr. Methodius (now Archbishop and Metropolitan of Budimlje-Niksic), was enthroned in the Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery. He was elected by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church at its session held in May 2021 as the successor to the then Bishop Mr. Joanikije.
Bishop of Budimlje-Niksic, Mr. Methodius, was solemnly installed on the ancient, sacred throne of the bishop of this Holy Sava Diocese by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Mr. Porfirije.
The solemn act of enthronement of the Bishop of Budimlje-Nikšić, His Holiness Methodius, began with the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy, celebrated by the Serbian Patriarch, His Holiness Porfirije, with the concelebration of several hierarchs, clergy and monastics of our Church, and with the prayerful participation of a large number of faithful people gathered from all over Montenegro.
After the Holy Patriarchal Liturgy, His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch addressed the assembled congregation, and then addressed Metropolitan Methodius.
“Viceroy, dear Methodius, by the will of the Holy Spirit, the grace of the Holy Spirit and the Council Fathers of our Local Church, you have been elected Bishop of the Budimljan-Nikšić Diocese. You are the son of people whose roots are here in these areas, but you were born in Sarajevo and a place where people and faiths intersect, but in a place where, although there are different and distinct peoples, God is present. And then you grew up again in this climate, spiritually maturing at the feet of the blessedly departed great shepherd and father of the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral, the great Orthodox hierarch Metropolitan Amphilochius,” said Patriarch Porfirije, recalling that Bishop Methodius was educated in other Local Churches and resided in Western countries, which is an addition to the seed that exists within him as a driving force, a landmark of life – faith. into the living Christ, the Son of God who came into this world.
He taught Bishop Methodius about the significance of the service he had received, stating that he knew well that the Church is not of this world, but is in this world.
“Because this world does not exist without the Church, that is, it has no meaning. Those who are bothered by the Church, that is, the system of values, would like to declare the Church to be what it is not or to present it as different from what it is, and sometimes they would like to drag the Church into their earthly mud. The Church is not of this world, it is in this world to transform it into the Church. We are citizens of cities and villages, but we are also residents of the upper Jerusalem, residents of the Kingdom of Heaven,” said His Holiness Patriarch Porphyrios.
With his blessing, the decision of the Holy Council of Bishops on the election of Bishop Methodius as Bishop of the God-saved Diocese of Budimlje-Niksic was read by His Eminence Metropolitan of Dabro-Bosnia, Mr. Chrysostom, after which Bishop Methodius was solemnly installed on the throne of the Bishops of Budimlje-Niksic. In his introductory speech, Bishop Methodius thanked God for His gift and this God-given day, the Church, the Serbian Patriarch, Mr. Porfiry, from whose hands he received the bishop's scepter as a symbol of spiritual authority in the management of the Diocese of Budimlje-Niksic entrusted to him, and all those gathered, prayerfully calling upon the entire fullness of the Church of Christ for spiritual, filial and brotherly help.

“At this moment I want to say: Pray for me so that I may love the Lord even more, pray for me so that I may love you, the people entrusted to me, even more, pray for one another and bear one another’s burdens so that the Lord may always know us as His own. In the Church, every work is a collective work and we are all responsible for everything and all are called to the community of saints, to be witnesses and bearers of the eternal Light and truth of God. A person renewed in Christ lives in his faith and the Church, and is never alone. This community that is given to us does not extend only to our contemporaries, but also to those who preceded him and who will follow him, because a person in Christ is included in the community of believers that transcends the boundaries of space and time, of earthly life and death,” said Bishop Methodius.
He recalled the great church fathers, teachers, and blessed recluses: Metropolitan Amphilochius, Bishop Athanasius, and Serbian Patriarch Irinej, as well as the inspiring episcopal work, in this holy place, of his predecessor, the current Metropolitan Joanikije, “whose work, like Light, shines in the darkness[1] and illuminates this solid stronghold of the knights of faith and freedom for two decades[2], who renewed the cultural and spiritual life of the diocese and more than 60 shrines, churches, and monasteries.
“My sacred duty and obligation is to continue the holy and bright work of my predecessors, preaching the same faith, witnessing the same Light, and leading people to the knowledge of God and life in fullness, from this same throne of one Shepherd and one flock, for more than 800 years. The only program that I am allowed to present to you today is that, to the extent that I am capable, everything that makes me a personal man in me be submitted to the risen Lord Jesus, and that by His grace and love He may lead and govern me, bringing me continually to Himself and guiding me to the organic unity of the Church and the salvation of the whole world.”
He said that the Gospel message is always contemporary and universal, addressed and intended for all people and every era, and that it breaks down national boundaries and opens access to all who wish to belong to the people of God.
“From this place today, I extend a call to unity to everyone because we are all equally needed, we are all together and one, we are all part of God’s plan and children of God, and we are all called to grow continually through virtues and the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. Let us build peace and raise the Cross of love first within ourselves, because by building peace within ourselves, we will truly build it around us. May the God of infinite love grant that we always leave the deceptions and vanities of this world on the Cross of the Resurrection and set out, guided by the mysterious memory of the heart and soul, to the Father’s house and unclouded joy,” he said, among other things, in his introductory speech. Bishop Methodius.
By the decision of the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, during its session in May 2025, His Eminence Bishop of Budimlje-Niksic, Mr. Methodius, was elected His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan of Budimlje-Niksic.
May Your Eminence, Bishop, live long and prosperous lives!

Source: Diocese of Budimlje-Niksic