Students of the third, fourth and fifth grades of the Seminary of Saint Peter of Cetinje, were on a pilgrimage trip in recent days. The group was led by the rector, Archpriest Blagoje Rajković, class leaders and professors: Archpriest-staurophor Nemanja Krivokapić, professor Apollon Aleksejevich Mishchenko, Archpriest-staurophor Dragan Stanišić and professor Milivoje Bakić.
They were accompanied during the trip by deacon Ognjen Boričić, monk Venijamin from the Dajbaba monastery, as well as novice Miloš from Ostrog.
The journey of faith and Christian unity began in Albania, where the students and professors visited the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana. There they were warmly welcomed by local priests, and the pilgrims attended the Holy Liturgy and learned about the life and renewal of the Orthodox Church in this country. During their stay in the Cathedral, Father Blagoje Rajković celebrated the commemoration of the late Archbishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Anastasius.
After Tirana, the journey took them via Jerisos to the greatest Serbian shrine, the Imperial Lavra of the Hilandar Monastery. At the entrance to this ancient spiritual fortress, the Cetinje theologians were greeted by the deputy abbot, Father Teodosije. The students shared their impressions of the beauty and holiness of this place with great enthusiasm, and the next day they attended the Holy Liturgy, which was concelebrated by Father Rector Blagoje, Father Nemanja and Father Dragan. During their stay on Mount Athos, the pilgrims also visited the Esphigmen Monastery.
Immediately after Hilandar, the pilgrims visited the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon. The journey then continued to the Athonite capital of Karelia, where they visited the Lent of St. Sava and the cell of St. Paisios the Athonite (Panaguda), as well as the nearby monastery of Kutlumush. Then they headed to the St. Andrew's Skete, where they spent the night. After the Eucharistic assembly and the Liturgy in the skete, the students said goodbye to the Garden of the Most Holy Theotokos and arrived in Thessaloniki via Ouranopolis.
Thessaloniki, the city of St. Demetrius, welcomed them in all its historical and spiritual fullness. In addition to visiting the city's landmarks, the central event was the Holy Liturgy in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, at which our clergy concelebrated. During their stay, Cetinje theologians also paid homage to other great city shrines, the temples of St. Gregory Palamas, St. Sophia and St. Theodora.
The last stop on this God-blessed journey was the ancient city of Ohrid. After arriving and spending the night, the morning was dedicated to visiting the pearls of Slavic literacy and spirituality, the churches of St. Clement of Ohrid, St. Sophia and St. John the Theologian at Cana. The students crowned their beautiful moments of unity with a short boat ride on Lake Ohrid.
Spiritually strengthened, full of unforgettable impressions and blessings of the great shrines of the Balkans, the professors and students headed back to Montenegro, ready for new theological and life victories.
Vuk Bakić and Dušan Burić,
graduates of the Cetinje Theological Seminary