On the occasion of the beginning of the new school year, His Eminence Archbishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije, sent a message to children, parents, educators, teachers and professors.

We are transmitting the message of Metropolitan Joanikije in full.

Dear parents, dear children and students,

Another school and academic year is ahead of us. It often reminds us of new obligations, the rush, the crowd that we need to get used to again. It obliges us to adequately prepare and equip our pupils and students with new clothes and shoes, books, and school supplies. We should not ignore the excitement and delight of children's reunion with their friends, teachers and professors, with the uncertainty and fears of the new and unknown. Before you, dear children and dear students, is a new challenge, a chance and an opportunity to enrich yourself with new knowledge and gain new experiences.

Our blessed Metropolitan Amfilohije, as one of the most educated people of our time, as a long-time successful professor and lifelong educator of human souls, taught us that for the normal growth and development of a child, both modern pedagogical upbringing incorporated into the education system and spiritual upbringing and education are important. In the meaning of these two words upbringing and education lies the foundation and meaning of the entire human life. Man is a being who is not born as a blank slate, but as a God-like personality endowed with many talents. Hence, every child is a potential that needs to be nurtured (fed) with the right food with a lot of attention, feeling and love in order for it to become truly educated. And here the responsibility of parents and teachers is the greatest, because if the child is not raised on a healthy and blessed foundation, all these gifts and talents, no matter how great, can easily become destructive – to turn against him or her and against the entire community.

True education is inextricably linked to true education. The word education reveals to us the eternal truth that man is created in the image of God, and therefore the basic goal of education is to affirm, nurture and preserve the image of God in man. Thus, spiritual, ethical and moral principles are of essential importance for the upbringing and education of a child. We are aware of the crisis and problems that today's civilization is facing. Alienation, lack of love, spiritual and moral weakness, the constant pursuit of material goods, the enormously accelerated development of technology and engineering are just some of the challenges facing today's man. All of this affects the most vulnerable, purest and most sensitive among us - children and young people. Therefore, all upbringing and education must begin with ourselves. If we adults live in peace, love, truth, freedom and responsibility, then this will be transmitted to children. The more good parents, educators, teachers, professors, priests there are, the more healthy, smart and good children there will be. By acquiring knowledge and skills from many fields, by learning foreign languages, cultures and customs of numerous peoples, we broaden our horizons, learning to accept and respect others and those who are different. In order to be able to do this, we must first of all study our own. First of all, our most sacred duty is to preserve and nurture the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script. Without them, we can hardly understand our glorious history, culture, tradition and spirituality. Everything we are and have was created on them. If we renounce the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script, we will also renounce our glorious ancestors who have cherished them, preserved them and created the most magnificent works on them for centuries.

You, dear children, are our future and our hope for a better, more beautiful and blessed tomorrow. We are sure that among you are future top scientists, professors, doctors, writers, artists, priests, craftsmen, hardworking hosts. We are obliged to help you succeed on this path of growth and maturation.

On the occasion of the new school year, from the throne and from the life of Saint Peter of Cetinje, we send prayers and a fatherly blessing to all children, parents, educators, teachers and professors, that God may grant them health, patience, love and a good mood for reading, learning and improving, both in knowledge and in virtue and every good deed.