– Source: Mediabiro –

Believers of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church (MOC) celebrated Christmas Eve today in the afternoon on main Cetinje Square by laying Christmas Eve Oak on fire. Traditionally, the first Christmas Eve Oak was brought by the representatives of Bajice.

On behalf of that brotherhood, Niko Martinović, with messages of peace, told those gathered to especially greet the unwavering and heroic Cetinje, which, as he said, is the star of all efforts in the fight for the right and honor of a free Montenegro.

“It is the evening of Christ’s birth and the fire on which people’s hopes for salvation, resurrection and eternal life were reflected. Along with Christmas Eve, we also bring you the messages that Christ passed on to us as a testament; love, peace, harmony, fraternal reconciliation and fraternal forgiveness “, said Martinović.

Martinović said that they must not forget that some minds wanted to impose the smell of tear gas instead of the smell of incense.

Bishop Boris Bojović also addressed the present believers, saying that every step on Cetinje is sacred.

“It has been thirty years since the first Christmas Eve Oak after 1918 was laid on fire on this square. We pay tribute to every Montenegrin, woman and man, who has done so on behalf of all generations to come. To be steadfast and to be our own, we have always been able to tell that, as our ancestors did. We need harmony the most, because there is a lot of discord among Montenegrins, for which we must find the strength to overcome it”, he said.

On that occasion, Subdeacon Stefan Marković read a written message in which the Montenegrin Metropolitan Mihailo congratulated everyone present Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Believers of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church and citizens on Cetinje Square diverged after laying on fire the Christmas Eve Oak on the occasion of Christmas Eve.