“READY TO STRIKE AT JOANIKIJE”: Porfirije is sending a Commission after him, just as he did with Justin, the real reason being his resistance to Vučić and support for the students!

Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral could soon find himself under an “investigation” by a commission of the Serbian Orthodox Church which, according to the official explanation, is supposed to analyze the way the Metropolitanate operates and determine whether there have been administrative and financial irregularities. However, according to information obtained by Nova.rs, the real reason why the metropolitan is under scrutiny is his public disagreement with the policies of official Belgrade, as well as his refusal to withdraw his signature from the letter of support that he, together with five other bishops, sent to students and citizens protesting in Serbia.

The commission that is supposed to analyze the work of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and the way it is administered by Metropolitan Joanikije will, according to our information, be formed almost identically to the one that was sent to the Diocese of Žiča. We recall that, following that “inspection,” Metropolitan Justin was suspended at this year’s Assembly for what was officially described as disputed material and financial operations.

Sources within Nova.rs, however, claimed that the real reason for the confrontation with Justin was that he was the only bishop based in Serbia who openly supported the student-citizen protests, and that his removal represented a straightforward political order from the very top of the authorities.

How the move against Joanikije was planned

When it comes to the commission that is supposed to examine the finances in Cetinje, the only significant difference compared with the “Žiča case” is that, according to our information, Metropolitan Methodius of Budimlje and Nikšić is not expected to be part of it.

The reason, according to information from Nova.rs, is the assessment by the top leadership of the Serbian Orthodox Church that a direct, frontal attack on Joanikije would provoke a huge public reaction, particularly in Montenegro, given the influence and respect he enjoys among believers there.

As our sources say, the idea is to present the inspection of the finances of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral as a routine, systematic review. Therefore, before arriving in Cetinje, the commission is expected to visit Berane, the seat of Metropolitan Methodius, and inspect the operations of the Diocese of Budimlje and Nikšić.

However, this is where the key maneuver lies.

According to our information, the Diocese of Budimlje and Nikšić was informed in advance about the commission’s arrival so that those responsible for finances could prepare the documentation in time, creating the appearance that the inspections were being conducted merely as a matter of routine, while a trap is being prepared in Cetinje.

Creating a crisis between Belgrade and Podgorica

What could, however, represent a serious obstacle for the envoys of the Serbian Orthodox Church leadership and the implementation of the alleged investigation is the reaction of the authorities in Podgorica. According to Nova.rs sources, there is a genuine fear within the top leadership of the Serbian Orthodox Church that the Montenegrin authorities could directly ban the commission members from entering the territory of their country. Our portal received identical information from sources within Montenegro’s security structures.

Our source recalls the recent warning by Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić that pressure and attacks against that country will become increasingly intense as it approaches European Union membership.

On that occasion, he said that officials from two countries in the region would participate in hybrid activities against Podgorica.

“Sending such a commission is precisely one form of obstruction, because in this way the crisis and political confrontations from Serbia are being exported to the territory of Montenegro. The arrival of a commission with a task politically dictated from Belgrade is, in essence, no different from sending BIA agents with the aim of artificially creating a crisis atmosphere on the ground,” our source explains.

Clash with Vučić and resistance to Patriarchate pressure over the students

Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral is considered one of the few bishops within the Serbian Orthodox Church who have not accepted the unofficial authority of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić over the Church. Since the SNS came to power, there has been talk of the so-called “symphony of Church and state,” behind which critics see an increasingly blatant subordination of the Serbian Orthodox Church leadership to the authorities of Aleksandar Vučić and the SNS.

As one of the closest associates of the late Metropolitan Amfilohije, Joanikije remained among the church dignitaries who openly spoke about problems within the Serbian Orthodox Church and society, regardless of whether this pleased the authorities in Belgrade or Podgorica.

Joanikije incurred particular anger from the Patriarchate leadership and the ruling SNS when he refused to give in to direct pressure and withdraw his signature from a letter of support for students protesting in Serbia, in which the Church’s insulting behavior and the media campaign against young people in the streets were condemned.

Although the Patriarchate issued an explicit request that the bishops not get involved and that the signature be removed from the appeal, the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral stood by his position, effectively putting a target on his own back.

In addition to supporting the students, the conflict was laid bare in early August, when the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral directly responded to Aleksandar Vučić, accusing him of unacceptable interference in Church affairs.

The reason was Vučić’s statements about the litije, as well as his claims that there had been “malicious and dangerous” ideas within the Serbian Orthodox Church about federalizing the Church and creating an “Orthodox Church in Montenegro.” The Metropolitanate responded by saying that Vučić’s claims were “full of ambiguities,” delivering a sharp and unequivocal message to the Serbian president:

“We did not allow politicians to have the final say back then, so we do not believe that politicians have the right to interpret Church events today either. Their uninvited interference in Church affairs does not bring good to either the state or the Church,” the Metropolitanate said at the time.

Methodius as a counterweight and Vučić’s protector

Interestingly, at one point, as a vicar bishop, that is, before being enthroned as head of the Diocese of Budimlje and Nikšić, Methodius was among the bishops who did not attend the “traditional lunches” Aleksandar Vučić hosted at the Presidency of Serbia during the sessions of the Assembly. However, after his move to Berane, the situation changed drastically.

This is also demonstrated by the reaction following the sharp statement from the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, when the Diocese of Budimlje and Nikšić openly sided with the Serbian president.

While Joanikije told Vučić not to interfere in Church affairs, Methodius expressed his “sincere gratitude” to him for his “continuous concern” for the position of the Serbian Orthodox Church, claiming that Vučić’s messages “bring peace among the faithful people of Saint Sava.” The diocese explicitly stated that it did not view Vučić’s statements as political pressure, but rather as “brotherly concern and statesmanlike, responsible strengthening of awareness.”

Precisely because of this demonstrated loyalty to the regime in Belgrade, it is expected that the maneuver by the Serbian Orthodox Church commission and its departure for Berane before Cetinje will be enough to ensure that no one suspects that this is a politically ordered “financial investigation” intended to silence yet another disobedient bishop.

The editorial staff of Nova.rs sent questions to the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Information Service regarding the claims about the formation and arrival of the commission, but received no response.