During the continuation of their visit to Montenegro and the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Davit Bagrationi Mukhranbatoni, Head of the Royal House of Georgia, had the honour of being received at the Parliament of Montenegro, the country’s highest legislative and constitutional body.
At the Parliament in Podgorica, His Royal Highness was warmly welcomed by parliamentary staff and received by Slaven Radunović, Member of the Parliament of Montenegro, President of the Democratic Front Parliamentary Group, and Vice-President of the political party New Serb Democracy.
Mr Radunović was the highest-ranking parliamentary representative of the largest political force within Montenegro’s ruling coalition, reflecting the importance attached to the visit of His Royal Highness during such sensitive circumstances and on such an important and historic occasion.
The entourage accompanying Their Highnesses consisted of Aleksandar Đurđev, Vice-Rector of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Serbia and a member of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; the Reverend Deacon Hadži Nenad M. Jovanović, Chaplain of the Georgian Royal Orders in Serbia; Goran Milenković, Assistant Minister for Rural Welfare in the Sector for International Cooperation, European Integration, and Projects of the Government of Serbia; and Henri Durand de Grossouvre, Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The meeting provided an opportunity to become better acquainted and to advance mutually beneficial initiatives intended to bring the two peoples and countries closer together. Mr Radunović briefed His Royal Highness on the origins of the problems contributing to divisions within Montenegro, as well as the principal currents in the historical development of the Serbian people and their Church in Montenegro.
His Royal Highness, in turn, informed his distinguished interlocutor about the status of the Royal House in Georgia and its significance in the history of universal Orthodoxy. He particularly recalled the warm relationship that he had developed with the late Serbian Patriarch Irinej.
Both interlocutors expressed concern about the possibility of unrest and rising political tensions surrounding the enthronement of His Eminence Joanikije II, Metropolitan of Montenegro, the Littoral, Zeta, Brda, and Skenderija and Exarch of the Holy Throne of Peć.
His Royal Highness reiterated his support for the canonical Church in Montenegro and informed Mr Radunović of his gracious decision to confer upon Metropolitan Joanikije the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the occasion of his enthronement.
Mr Radunović warmly welcomed the decision, both as a leading parliamentary representative of Montenegro’s ruling coalition and as a faithful member of the Serbian Orthodox Church.