President Jakov Milatović awarded today the posthumous Order of the Montenegrin Great Star, the highest state honor that Montenegro can award to its citizen, Metropolitan Amfilohi of Montenegro for his enormous contribution to strengthening the country's international reputation, as well as preserving spiritual traditions, building social peace and shaping one of the most important chapters of our modern history.
"Today, we remember a man who left a deep, indelible mark in the history of our country. A man whose voice, strength and wisdom still resonate among us today - Metropolitan Amfilohi of the Montenegrin littoral. By awarding the Order of the Montenegrin Great Star to Metropolitan Amfilohi, Montenegro acknowledges his enormous contribution in strengthening the international reputation of the country, as well as in preserving spiritual traditions, building social peace and shaping one of the most important chapters of our modern history. Born in Morača, educated in Belgrade, Bern, "To Rome, Paris and Athens, Metropolitan Amfilohije was more than a church dignitary," President Milatović said.
He said that Metropolitan Amfilochia was a bridge between spirituality and knowledge, between East and West.
"Through his education, authority and dialogue with representatives of other churches and religions, he contributed to the international reputation of Montenegro and showed that the strength of a small country is measured by the size of its great people. As President of Montenegro, in meetings with numerous religious dignitaries in Montenegro and around the world, I listened with pride to how they spoke with special respect and appreciation about Metropolitan Amfilohi", said President Milatović.
He added that the metropolitan was a spiritual colossus whose word was firm and staunch, "just like this Montenegrin karst of ours from which he sprung and which he loved the most."
"In complex historical moments for Montenegro, when emotions were strong and divisions deep, his call for peace and dignity was a voice of reason that contributed to Montenegro preserving dignity and common faith in a better future. During challenging social processes, such as the referendum in 2006, he made an immeasurable contribution to preserving peace and stability, always calling for unity, reason and mutual respect. These are the values ​​with which we are building a better Montenegro today Goru", said President Milatović.
He pointed out that, in the last years of his life, Metropolitan Amfilohije stood at the head of the people, side by side with the current Metropolitan Ioanniki.
"It was a symbol of spiritual resistance and moral consistency. During litias in 2019 and 2020, they led the people in the fight for freedom, equality and justice, for the values ​​that were taken from us. With him at the head, rivers of Montenegrin citizens walked the streets of Montenegro in those days and months, believing in a better tomorrow. Thanks to his leadership, litias became a symbol of peaceful civil resistance and an expression of people's need for their dignity to be heard and respected. That was a moment when it was shown that Montenegro can change itself without violence, in the spirit of democratic awareness and responsibility. And it was this strength of the people, guided by faith, and dignity, that opened a new chapter in Montenegrin history. Without that change, without that peaceful, dignified and democratic movement, Montenegro would not look at its European future with optimism. without violence Metropolitan Through his work, Amfilohije showed that these values ​​are woven into the very being of our Montenegro. That is why today, on behalf of the state of Montenegro, with deep respect and gratitude, I posthumously award the Order of the Great Star of Montenegro to Metropolitan Amfilohije for: contribution to the preservation of the spiritual and cultural traditions of Montenegro, advocacy for peace and unity in crucial historical moments, contribution to democratic changes without which Montenegro could not become part of the European family of nations, and for continuous, lifelong commitment to strengthening the international reputation of Montenegro. Metropolitan Amfilohi is no longer with us, but his message and his work remain to remind us: that Montenegro defends itself with truth, faith and reason, that it changes through dialogue and not conflict, and that the strength of a nation is not in divisions, but in unity. And I will end this speech with the verses of our famous and great Njegoš, which carry a timeless message, and which fit perfectly with the life's work of Metropolitan Amfilohi: "Blessed is he who lives forever, has plenty and is born!", President Milatović concluded in his address to the audience.

The ceremony was attended by the brother of Metropolitan Amfilohije Pavić Radović on behalf of the Radović family. The Order was presented, at the request and with the consent of the family, to Metropolitan Ioaniki of Montenegro and the Littoral, who thanked the President for awarding the Order and for "seeing and recognizing the great merits of our late Metropolitan Amfilohi".

"As a man of great education, great charisma and great reputation, he was gladly seen and received in the main centers of all Orthodox countries and much wider. It is no coincidence that the blessed Metropolitan Amfilohije is awarded the Order of the Great Montenegrin Star. It reminds us of Njegoš's light, of Njegoš's star, of the light of God that Njegoš sang about, eternal and imperishable, and which Metropolitan Amfilohije carried in his soul and that illuminated both his people and his homeland with light, and that light will shine beyond the territory of Montenegro", said Metropolitan Joanikije.

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