Protest in front of Reževića in Paštrovići

April 15, 2015. ‘The latest attack on Paštrovska monastery in Reževići, by already tried and tested means, Directorate for Protection of Cultural Goods, once again showing hatred towards everything that is Serbian. “Paštrovići residents are ready to stand in defence of their sacred sites. A recent ‘invasion’ of inspectors of the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Goods to Rezevici monastery complex was an affront to their spiritual and moral being, as reports the diocese of Montenegro and Littoral of Serbian Orthodox Church.

Villagers lodged a protest in the courtyard of Reževići monastery as the inspector of the Administration for Inspection Affairs stopped the work which, as reported to the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Goods, have been performed illegally in the monastery, a cultural heritage under state protection.

‘This is an attack on Reževići monastery in Paštrovska, by already tried and tested means, Administration for the Protection of Cultural Goods, once again showing hatred towards everything that is Serbian. Those living in Paštrovići are Serbs, and Reževići monastery belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church. The fact that this does not comply with the policy of persecution of the Serbian people, Serbian church, Serbian history, Serbian language and culture of the Serbian people in Montenegro, does not mean that this policy can sow seeds of evil everywhere. Paštrovići people will not tolerate it. They did not even give up in front of the Diocletian and Venetian doges, Turks, French, Austrian and Italian occupiers, and will not give up now,’ said Ilija Vukovic.

He said to the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Property that Paštroviće Church, built by their ancestors and renewed by them, does not represent mere ‘museum exhibits or dead ruins of the past.’

‘Churches are our daily living and vital need. There are people, monks and priests in the monastery, who perform rituals that are an integral part of our lives. Liturgy is served there and people come and spend time in prayer. To allow this, there must be a setting for this, and not only a historical exhibit. Bones of our ancestors have been buried around the monastery and the church since time immemorial. As to the authorities and institutions, they must serve people and their needs, and not be tyrants, “said Vukovic.

He added that the abbot of Reževići monastery, Archimandrite Chrysostomos Nesic is loved by the people of Pastrovici and enjoys their full support for what he does in the monastery.

‘He is an exemplary host of our monastery and takes care of every detail. He revived the monastery and it became livelier and cleaner than ever. There are also fresco painting and carving ateliers, ‘said Vukovic

He wondered how to understand ‘the unannounced incursions of inspectors in the house of God in a time of the great and honourable lent, when the brotherhood of the monastery is in strict fasting and constant prayer.

‘Paštrovići people define this as an attack on their spiritual and moral being. We will not allow that to happen and will not stop defending our holy sites. All well-meaning people are welcome in our churches and monasteries, especially professional service of the State responsible for the preservation of cultural heritage, but also collaborators and cultured people who know that the church antiques are not just a bunch of rocks, but they are living a life that is being reborn spiritually and morally today as it was in the past centuries, ‘said Vukovic.

Resident Pero Radjenovic said that Reževići monastery is left by Nemanjići dynasty to Paštrovići people for safekeeping.

‘We are protecting and will continue to protect it. Today, as centuries back, this is a working monastery, full of faithful, tourists, Christians of the Orthodox world coming especially from our brotherly Russia. We pray especially for those who have an impact on some events that are now intended to calm passions, ‘said Radjenovic.

Abbot Chrysostomos said that the monastery is made up of people who live in it.

‘I invite all the people of Montenegro to keep our peace and brotherly love, to forgive each other to allow ourselves to await resurrection in joy and gladness and to build our future together. May God bless Montenegro, her power, all Orthodox Christians who live in it and the people of Paštrovićki, and let us all forgive all transgressions. It is easy to condemn, but difficult to work with. And he who makes efforts makes mistakes, ‘said Chrysostomos.

Photo documents from the diocese of Montenegro and Littoral