Department for External Church Relations
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Monuments to St. Alexander Nevsky installed in two Montenegrin cities
DECR Communication Service, 11.12.2023.
On December 6, the monuments to the Holy and Right-believing Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky were unveiled in the Montenegrin cities of Andrijevica and Nikšić. The busts are a gift of Mr. Aidyn Zeynalov, sculptor and academician of the Russian Academy of Arts and the Florence Academy of Fine Arts, to the Diocese of Budimlja and Nikšić of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Bishop Metodije of Budimlja and Nikšić consecrated the monuments. Many Montenegrins came to attend the ceremony.
Among those taking part in the event were H.E.Vladislav Maslennikov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Montenegro, and Mr. Yevgeny Baranov, director of the Russia House in Belgrade, who actively promoted the project, Telegram channel of the Russian Embassy in Montenegro reports. Attending the ceremony were also Mr. Željko Culafić, head of the municipality of Andrijevica, Mr. Vuko Todorović, head of the municipality of Berane, and Mr. Marko Kovačević, the mayor of Nikšić.
In his address, Ambassador Maslennikov said that the monuments to the Russian saint unveiled in Andrijevica and Nikšić confirmed the centuries-old historical, spiritual and cultural affinity between the peoples of Russia and Montenegro. Website of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church reports that the Russian ambassador called it symbolic that the monument to Alexander Nevsky, who is widely venerated in Montenegro, is installed right near the magnificent cathedral church of St. Basil of Ostrog built almost one hundred and thirty years ago with funds donated by the Russian Emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II.
The diplomat is convinced that the affinity and sincere friendship between the peoples of the two countries are strong and no transient geopolitical circumstances would ever change them. He added: “Prince Alexander Nevsky went down in history not only as an outstanding leader who had protected Russia from foreign invasion, but also as a wise politician and diplomat. The monument to him is of particular importance to the Russian Embassy in Montenegro because he is the patron saint of the Russian diplomatic service.”
The Russian ambassador thanked Aidyn Zeynalov for his excellent work and called the gift he presented to Montenegrin friends an invaluable contribution to the strengthening of friendly ties between the peoples of Russia and Montenegro.
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