Regarding the text published today in the printed edition and on the Vijesti portal, and regarding the rumors about the exclusion of Boka from the jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Coast, we are publishing the original response sent to the Vijesti journalist. We believe that this is necessary due to the fact that the published newspaper text is a collage of various opinions, unverified information and journalistic comments.
Response to the Vijesti journalist:
The topic of the separation of Boka Kotorska from the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Coast was not a topic at the sessions of the Holy Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, nor within the Metropolis. We do not know where such a rumor comes from, but it seems to have primarily political motives, because it is certainly not based on the mood and will of the local clergy and faithful people.
The centuries-old seat of the ancient Diocese of Zeta, blessed by Saint Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop, was in Prevlaka near Tivat. It was from this episcopate that the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral arose, and the name “Littoral” is present in its name, not only because of its modern jurisdiction, but also because its first seat was in Boka.
When in the middle of the 15th century the Venetians brute forcefully pushed the Metropolitanate out of the Littoral, the Metropolitans of Zeta/Montenegro fought in every way, against the claims of the Venetian authorities, to retain jurisdiction over Boka, in which they had the loyalty and support of the local Serbian people.
When Austria-Hungary established power in Boka Kotorska, it, already in Njegoš's time, almost completely disabled the jurisdiction of the Montenegrin metropolitans over Boka. In order to reduce the political influence of Vienna, the Orthodox population requested the establishment of a Boka Kotorska bishopric, which the Austro-Hungarian authorities, after a long period of resistance, met.
After liberation and unification, as soon as objective circumstances allowed, Boka Kotorska was quickly returned to the jurisdiction of the Metropolitanate. In this way, the historical injustice done to the Metropolis was corrected, thereby abolishing the ecclesiastical consequences of the Venetian and Austro-Hungarian occupation.
Today, there are no ecclesiastical or pastoral reasons for separating the Bay of Kotor from the Metropolis, especially considering that its deepest roots are precisely in Boka – in the Prevlaka Monastery.
Excluding Boka from the jurisdiction of the Metropolis and thus effectively restoring the Austro-Hungarian creation would be a kind of blow to the historical continuity, centuries-old heritage and integrity of the Metropolis, because such a move would not be guided by reasons for the improvement of church life, which, without a doubt, do not exist at this historical moment.

Orthodox Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral