The Podlastva Monastery in Grblje celebrated the temple slava today, on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Holy Hierarchical Liturgy was served by His Eminence Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Eminence Joanikije, with the concelebration of the clergy, clergy and the participation of the faithful. At the beginning of the Holy Liturgy, Metropolitan Joanikije tonsured a former novice of this holy family, Sister Jelenko, giving her the monastic name Jefimija. The Metropolitan also blessed a new novice, Brother Nikola.
After the prayer from the ambo, the slava offerings were blessed and the slava cake was broken.
After the dismissal of the Holy Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Eminence Joanikije, addressed the congregation with a sermon.
Speaking about the joy and hope that the birth of a child brings, the Metropolitan recalled that childlessness among the ancient Jews was considered a great evil and curse, but that it happened, as the Holy Scripture testifies, that this childlessness was according to God’s providence. “Anna was childless, the mother of the holy prophet Samuel, who had him in her late years, the mother of the judge Samson, and many others. But the birth of the Most Holy Theotokos, which also occurred from elderly, previously childless parents, is something special and exceptional. Every such birth, such as the birth of Samuel, or the judge Samson, or Isaac, the son of Abraham, or some others mentioned in the Holy Scripture, if it was according to God’s special providence, pointed to the birth that would occur first of all, the birth of the Most Holy Theotokos, who brought salvation and deliverance to the human race.”
The Metropolitan said that the joy that filled Her parents with Her birth was transmitted to the entire world.
"The Most Holy Theotokos, as the Mother of our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, is glorified as more exalted than all creation, and than the Archangels and Angels, the Cherubim and Seraphim, and all the saints. It is sung about her that her pure virginal womb became wider than the heavens, because heaven and the heavens above the heavens cannot contain the Lord, and cannot contain Him within themselves. But out of His love for the human race, out of His love for humanity, the Lord diminished Himself for our sake and dwelt in the womb of the Most Pure Virgin Theotokos. He whom the entire space of the universe cannot contain or contain, because of His condescension, settled in the womb of the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos and received human nature from her in order to become man, in order to bring His divine love to this world, to would reborn us, to sanctify us, deliver us and save us, and usher us into His eternal Kingdom. That is why we glorify the Most Holy Theotokos,” emphasized His Eminence the Metropolitan.
He added that whoever prayed fervently to the Most Holy Theotokos, as he said, “did not return ashamed.”
“We Christians address the Most Holy Theotokos as our most begotten Mother, and more than as our own Mother, because she is the Mother of all mothers. She is the mother of all Christians, of all those who have united with her Son and Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, through holy baptism, through holy chrismation, who are united with Christ through the holy mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, who come to the holy liturgies, who repent of their sins, who want to do good and who strive to do good. She is a helper and a strengthening and inspiration to all, and a deliverance from all temptations.”
The Metropolitan wished that today’s feast, which, as he said, “is celebrated by both heaven and earth,” would bring joy to everyone.
“May the Most Holy Virgin Mary be an advocate for all, that she may lead us all into the arms of Christ, into the arms of God’s eternal love and mercy and eternal life. Through Her we are sanctified and enlightened and immortalized.”
The Bishop emphasized the importance of participating in divine services, but also of recognizing our shortcomings and mistakes, and the necessity of repentance and correction.
“We are obliged, as Christians, to overcome all this, to reconcile, to love, to forgive, to help each other, to meet each other with joy, and to work not only on our own salvation, but also to care for the salvation of our neighbors and all those we encounter.”
Metropolitan Joanikije thanked Father Justin and his brotherhood for the effort and love they invest in the life of this sanctuary. He added that today, Sister Efimija, who has been ordained, is one of those who has invested a lot of her efforts in the Church of God, but that she is one of those who do not talk about it.
“She restored a church in the farthest corner, somewhere above Orahovac. I did not even get there, the Church of Saint Nicholas. She wanted to restore another church there, but I asked her, together with Father Justin, to come here to take care of Mother Dorothea, who was infirm. And believe me, her attention to Mother Dorothea is no less a deed than the restoration of the Church of Saint Nicholas. And I think that the Lord will reward her especially for that.”
The Bishop finally thanked everyone who participated in the restoration of this sanctuary, the meeting place of Grbljani.
"I thank all the people of Grbljani who gather here, who love and help this sanctuary. May God abundantly reward them for this, both them and their homes and their descendants. 

Amen, God grant! May there be many and blessed summers!”, wished His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije.

O. B.