Metropolitan Joanikije at the opening of the twelfth Cyrillic Square: The Square of Spiritual Salt has also been transformed into a Cyrillic Square
Last night, the 12th Cyrillic Square was opened at Kanli Kula in Herceg Novi.
The blessing for the beginning of the twelfth edition of this cultural and spiritual manifestation, which is dedicated to the preservation of spirituality, the Serbian language and script, was given by His Eminence, Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije.
The Metropolitan recalled that the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stefan is the glory of the Nemanjić dynasty and that King Tvrtko Kotromanić, the heir of the Nemanjićs through the female line, founded Herceg Novi after his coronation in Mileševa, dedicating it to the Holy Archdeacon Stefan, thus continuing the Nemanjić tradition.
"Therefore, this city, according to the idea of its founder, should be a partaker of God's glory, to be crowned with an imperishable wreath of God's truth, God's grace and love, because Stefan means one who is crowned with the glory of God."
Drawing attention to one of the anniversaries to which this year's Cyrillic Square is dedicated - 200 years since the arrival of Petar II Petrovic Njegoš to the school on Topla, Metropolitan Joanikije said that Herceg Novi is also crowned with a wreath of Njegoš's poetry and Njegoš's thought.
“We can only guess what he learned here, in a year and a half. It’s not that much, but he saw a lot. And as a talented, receptive person, with such a soul, such gifts, we can only imagine how impressed he was by this city on the seashore. And we can see that from one of the verses from the “Mountain Wreath” that he dedicated to this beautiful city. Truly magnificent verses. So, Herceg Novi is doubly crowned – with the wreath of the holy protomartyr Stephen, but also with the wreath of Njegoš’s poetry and Njegoš’s thought.”
Emphasizing the importance of the Cyrillic Square, the Metropolitan said that the Salt Square, as Herceg Novi was originally founded, was transformed into the Cyrillic Square through spiritual salt.
“It is also important to note that Herceg Novi was founded as a Salt Square, and salt is a symbol of spirituality, and that Square from spiritual salt also transformed into the Cyrillic Square. And indeed, the cultural and spiritual programs of this significant event affect our minds, our memories, our experiences of contemporary problems, like spiritual salt that protects us from every quagmire and that protects the taste of the entire country”, concluded Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral His Holiness Joanikije.
The twelfth Cyrillic Square was officially opened by the Mayor of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, Mr. Stevan Katić.
He said that the anniversaries and jubilees to which this year’s Cyrillic Square is dedicated remind us of the greatness and richness of the existence of our people, from, as he said, “Saint Sava and Njegoš, the construction and renovation of the chapel on Lovćen, to Ivo Andrić and Rajko Nog.
"We are honored that our city was home to two greats of our and world history – Bishop Njegoš and Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić. In Topla, we still cherish their memory today through cultural monuments such as the "Njegoš School" museum and the "House of Nobel laureate Ive Andrić". I am very pleased that in cooperation with the Church Municipality of Topla and Herzegovina, we are implementing another very important project, which is the construction of the Topla Community Museum. "This will allow the entire museum complex next to the Church of the Holy Savior, together with the Njegoš School, to round off an important historical period and make it accessible to all visitors," said Katić. Recalling that in its six-century history, Herceg Novi has produced many famous figures, including Saint Cyril of Bezdinski and Dalmatian-Bokelj and Saint Sebastian of Jackson and Sasojević, he said that it is a task and an obligation to show this wealth of spirituality to the world, but also to remind our own people of these values. "Man is prone to forgetfulness, and forgetting can bring nothing but the loss of our own identity, our glorious history and traditions. For 12 years, the Cyrillic Square has had this missionary role - to remind, teach, refine and protect the cultural and spiritual being of the people. That is why Herceg Novi will once again be visited by distinguished speakers of spirituality, culture and art. In this way, we show that Herceg Novi is the flagship of Montenegrin culture. And not only culture. Since its inception, it has also been the flagship of freedom and loyalty to tradition, with respect and appreciation for all peoples, extolling the importance of coexistence with friends of other faiths.”
With gratitude to the organizers and participants of the rich program of this year’s Cyrillic Square, the Mayor of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, Mr. Stevan Katić, said that the Municipality of Herceg Novi will continue to support programs that preserve the Serbian language, script and tradition.
“Njegoš made us have an eternal spiritual connection with Lovćen. He made us worthy of the place where the bishop and ruler studied, he inscribed us on the map of impermanence. He sang our Novi in the “Mountain Wreath”. "The Cyrillic Square continues along such paths, teaching our descendants the greatness and sacrifice of our ancestors, awakening their cultural being, aware that all evil is defeated by the light of the mind and spirit," concluded Katić, welcoming everyone to the Cyrillic Square.
The opening of the 12th Cyrillic Square, in addition to numerous locals and their