Metropolitan Amfilohije called Bosniaks people with false faith, justified murders in Montenegro

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, Metropolitan Amfilohije, justified the murders and persecution of Bosniak Muslims in Montenegro at the end of the 17th century, calling it very important for the survival of the Orthodox population in this country, writes the BiH news agency Patria (NAP).

Metropolitan Amfilohije Radović of the SOC said on August 2, 2014, at the St. Elijah's Day gathering on Sinjajevina, as reported by Montenegrin media, that the killing of 1,000 Muslims of Old Montenegro was a significant historical event for him, which, Metropolitan Amfilohije said, was crucial for the survival of the Orthodox population in this country.

The murder and persecution of Bosniak Muslims of then-Montenegro, according to many sources, was led by Bishop Danilo Šćepčević Petrović.

Such a stance by Metropolitan Amfilohije has provoked sharp criticism from the Islamic Community in Montenegro, but also further deepened inter-ethnic tensions in the entire region, especially in Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The genocide against Bosniak Muslims of Old Montenegro occurred at the turn of the 17th to the 18th century, specifically in 1711, on the eve of Christmas Eve. That night, what some Orthodox Christians call the "investigation of the apostates" took place. Approximately 1,000 Muslims were killed, which is how many, according to credible evidence, lived in the area of Old Montenegro at that time, which consisted of only four districts with their seat in Cetinje. Those who were not killed fled to Nikšić and the village of Tuđemile near Bar.

The ideological promoter and strategist of this genocide, which historians call the Second Genocide against Muslims in Montenegro, was the Orthodox Church. There are two irrefutable testimonies for this claim: first – the genocide occurred on the eve of Christmas Eve, the greatest and holiest Christian holiday, and second – the genocide was sung by the bishop, the greatest church dignitary and poet Petar II Petrović Njegoš in "Gorski vijenac" (The Mountain Wreath).

By doing so, he provided an ideologized epic basis and paradigm for all subsequent genocides against Muslims in Serbia, Sandžak, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- Many still object today to how Bishop Danilo conceived it. It is true that it is terrible to kill people, however, spiritual death, which these false people, with false faith, sow around them, is even more terrible. Therefore, thanks to that sacrifice, Bishop Danilo saved Montenegro. If that had not happened, there would be no Orthodox ear in Montenegro today - Amfilohije said in Sinjajevina.

Speaking about this event at the St. Elijah's Day gathering, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro called members of Islam "false people with false faith," and their teachings "spiritual death."

- Many still object today to how Bishop Danilo conceived it. It is true that it is terrible to kill people, however, spiritual death, which these false people, with false faith, sow around them, is even more terrible. Therefore, thanks to that sacrifice, Bishop Danilo saved Montenegro – Metropolitan Amfilohije stated.

This is not the first time that Metropolitan Amfilohije has made insults and shown open hatred towards Bosniaks and Islam, writes NAP.