Regarding the frequent attacks on Metropolitan Methodius, the Diocese of Budimlje-Niksic and the Serbian Orthodox Church, the clergy, monastics and faithful of the Diocese of Budimlje-Niksic have issued a statement which we are publishing in its entirety.

We, the clergy, monastics and faithful of the Diocese of Budimlje-Niksic, inform the public about the hasty and rigid reactions of the prosecutor's office and criminal prosecution authorities, and regarding the circumstances of the events of August 8 in the village of Gornje Zaostro, we express our protest, deep dissatisfaction and concern about the selective and discriminatory treatment.

It is incomprehensible that at the moment when we learn that the statute of limitations has expired in numerous cases for the most serious crimes, the prosecutor's office, for the second time in the last month, has summoned Metropolitan Methodius for questioning at police stations, has detained the clergy, and has detained two believers of our Diocese for thirty days, while an atmosphere of political persecution and intimidation is being created in the public. As always, we also join in this public condemnation of any violence and attempts to incite intolerance and hatred on any basis. The Serbian Orthodox Church is the most representative example of a victim that has been constantly exposed to violence and hatred for the past ninety years, and the way in which Metropolitan Methodius has been treated by institutions and parts of the media and the public in recent times is proof of the above.

Namely, Metropolitan Methodius, as the head of our Diocese, has been clearly the target of some power centers that are following his every step, his every word, since December 2019. Moreover, his most vocal critics have never participated in the prayer meetings in which the essence of Metropolitan Methodius's work lies, and if they had, they would have seen for themselves that Metropolitan Methodius, at all services, calls for peace, love, unity, solidarity, in a word, for the truth. It is therefore completely unacceptable that Metropolitan Methodius is not only permanently exposed to public and media lynching, but also a constant subject of interest of criminal prosecution authorities, and that the reason for this interest is the mentioned media lynching. In this sense, the Metropolitan's statements are falsified, maliciously interpreted, or acts that were not even committed are attributed to him.

We believe that in this way, Metropolitan Methodius, and indirectly, the clergy and monastics, are being denied and threatened the basic human and civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Montenegro. At the same time, we express the hope that the eventual criminal, civil or any other liability of all those detained will be determined objectively, impartially, in accordance with the law, and not according to the dictates and media, but rather according to a previously prepared verdict. We also expect that the criminal prosecution authorities will do everything possible to process and determine the liability of all those who, in recent days, through media platforms and other means of public advertising, have stigmatized Metropolitan Methodius and the clergy and faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church and have incited and provoked religious and national intolerance and hatred.

Therefore, following the call of Metropolitan Methodius, we unanimously call on all citizens of Montenegro to reconcile with one another, in the spirit of brotherly love and truth, and we pray to the All-Merciful Lord to grant everyone the spirit of love and prudence.

Source: Diocese of Budimlje-Nikšić