His Eminence
Archbishop of Cetinje and
Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral
Mr. Joanikije
Cetinje
Your Eminence,
Dear brother and co-celebrant in the Christ Child,
The gift of life is a priceless value, since every human being, by the wisdom and love of God, is called into this world. Therefore, we feel a deep need to convey to Your Eminence the expression of Our prayerful condolences and paternal concern to the faithful people there and to the relatives of the victims.
With you and our brother hierarchs of Our Holy Church, we share great concern over the fact that this is one in a series of very tragic events that have recently taken place in a narrower, fraternal and close, geographical area. These pre-Christmas days indicate to all of us that only a fundamental return to Christian values ​​and a way of life, which is embodied in Cetinje by the ancient Lavra of St. Peter, can bring spiritual peace and reliable judgment in moments of personal and general crises and trials.
In this terrifying torrent of sorrow, we pray for the repose of the souls of the innocently suffered children of God, while Our prayerful eyes remain fixed on the faces of the families of the victims. May Christ comfort and strengthen their grieving hearts, and illuminate the souls of the departed with the light of His imperishable Kingdom and grant them eternal rest.
AEM and Serbian Patriarch
Porphyrije
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church