The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, Onuphry congratulated Metropolitan of Montenegro-Primorsky Ioanniky on the enthronement. The text of the congratulation was published by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

“On this solemn day, archpastors, clergy, monks and believing children of the Orthodox Church gathered in the Cetinje Monastery to celebrate the Sacrament of the Sacraments – the Holy Eucharist – and offer fervent prayers for Your Eminence, whom the heavenly Creator and Provider of peace by the will of the Holy Spirit and the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops Serbian Orthodox Church appointed Metropolitan to the high office.

You were a worthy ascetic of your blessed predecessor, His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilochius, an extraordinary archpastor and theologian who left us all an example of a life entirely dedicated to God. Together with him, you took upon yourself the archpastoral care of the restoration of church life in Montenegro in a very difficult time, when the Orthodox population in Kosovo and Metohija and other Serbian countries suffered terrible suffering.

And the present time, when by the providence of God you are full of determination to head the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and Primorye, is filled with trials and temptations. Submitting to the will of God, you have taken upon yourself this by no means an easy duty, hoping for the real help of God and the support of the entire Church. Know, dear Eminence Bishop, that the Orthodox people of Ukraine are prayerfully with you.

We pray to the Lord Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd and High Priest of our faith, to give you help in serving the Serbian Orthodox Church and in leading the Orthodox people on the path of salvation, ”the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine expressed his wishes.