Podgorica, Montenegro, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

Podgorica, Montenegro, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

Meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro

A delegation of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), headed by the IAO Secretary General, Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, held an official visit to Montenegro, from 26th to 29th March 2024, on the occasion of the presentation of the Volume “Hagia Sophia: The Churches of the Wisdom of God around the World”. The event was realized in collaboration with the National Library of Montenegro, “Radosav Ljumović”, in Podgorica.

The delegation was consisted of the Polish President of the IAO General Assembly, Mr. Eugeniucz Czykwin, the member of Parliament of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Ilias Myrianthous, and the IAO Advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis.

Podgorica, Montenegro, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

The presentation of the Volume

In his speech, the Secretary General emphasized that “Our presence here, undoubtedly strengthens our relations with your friendly country, a country of the Western Balkans, which we consider a member of the European family and support its European perspective, as we believe it will consolidate peace and security in the long-suffering Balkans. And this is extremely critical at a time when war has returned to Europe, for three years now in Ukraine, in such a painful dimension for the first time after World War II”.

Moreover, he stressed that «unfortunately, Ankara shows complete indifference and contempt for the principles and values advocated by the international community for cultural monuments. It is no coincidence that within the Church of Hagia Sophia, which is included in the official list of UNESCO’s protected world cultural heritage sites, war symbols are demonstrated by religious officials with similar threats against ‘enemies’ and ‘infidels’”.

The Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches was presented by the State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro, Mr. Dragan Bojović, Professor of the Orthodox School of Theology of St. Basil in Ostrog, Mr. Darko Ristov Đogo, Professor of the University of Montenegro, Mr. Boris Brajovic and the researcher of the Institute of Ethnography of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Mr. Mikonja Knežević.

Podgorica, Montenegro, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

Meeting with the President of the Parliament of Montenegro

The IAO delegation held a meeting with the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Mr. Andrija Mandić. During his address, the head of the inter-parliamentary organization underlined that “Montenegro is a small but important country of the Western Balkans, with a strong Orthodox imprint. We expect our meeting to be the starting point for closer cooperation between Montenegro and our Organization”.

The President of the Parliament of Montenegro showed a special interest in the campaign of the IAO for the awakening of international public opinion about Hagia Sophia Church, in order to receive the due respect, being one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, which together with the Holy Sepulcher are the highest symbols of Christianity. In addition, the possibility of appointing an official parliamentary delegation of Montenegrin parliamentarians to participate as full members in the IAO was discussed, given that the Christian Orthodox account the vast majority of the country’s population. In fact, he invited the President of the Parliament of Montenegro to address participants of the next IAO General Assembly, which will take place this coming summer.

The IAO Secretary General offered the President of the Parliament, who expressed the gratitude of the Slavic peoples towards the Greeks for sharing the Christian Orthodox faith, silver coins with fighters of 1821 revolution, issued by the Hellenic Parliament for the 200th anniversary since the Greek Revolution.

Podgorica, Montenegro, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

Celebrations for the Anniversary of the Greek Revolution

The IAO Secretary General and the members of the IAO delegation had the opportunity to participate in special events dedicated to the anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution. The IAO Secretary General laid a wreath on the statue-bust of Vasos Mavrovouniotis-Brajovic, Montenegrin Fighter, who fought on the side of the Greeks. The statue-bust was erected in a central part of Podgorica in 2003, with Greek sponsorship.

The event was honoured by the presence of the President of the Republic of Montenegro, Mr. Jakov Milatović, who laid a wreath with the Ambassador of Greece to Montenegro, Mr. Panagiotis Partsos. The President of the Municipal Council of Podgorica, Mrs. Jelena Bojović, also laid a wreath, in presence of the Adjutant of Defense, Captain Evangelos Ekatommatis. The ceremony was honoured by a military parade led by Major Nemanja Drobnjak.

The IAO delegation was invited by the Greek ambassador Mr. Panagiotis Partsos and attended the reception of the Greek Embassy for the National Anniversary of the Revolution of 1821. The reception was attended by, among others, the President of the Republic of Montenegro Mr. Jakov Milatović, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Mr. Kostas Fragkogiannis and the Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro, Mrs. Irena Radović.

Podgorica, Montenegro, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

Podgorica, Montenegro, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

Meeting at the Governorate of Podgorica

Finally, in the context of the visit to Podgorica, the IAO delegation was warmly welcomed by the President of the Municipal Council of Podgorica, Mrs. Jelena Bojović. The IAO Secretary General informed Mrs. Bojovic about the IAO initiatives, undertaken to highlight the decisive contribution of Christian values to the shaping of Europe.

Podgorica, Montenegr, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

Podgorica, Montenegro, 26 – 29 March 2024. Presentation of the Volume on Hagia Sophia Churches

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