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The Montenegrin Orthodox Church ( Montenegrin : Crnogorska pravoslavna crkva , Црногорска православна црква; abbr. MOC , CPC or ЦПЦ) is a canonically unrecognized Eastern Orthodox Church . It was formed in 1993 and registered as a non-governmental organization. Antonije Abramović was appointed as its first metropolitan. It claims succession to an older and autocephalous Montenegrin Church , which operated until the unification of the Kingdom of Serbia and Kingdom of Montenegro , later to join the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918.

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85-694: The Montenegrin Orthodox Church has been recognized as a religious organization by the Government of Montenegro since 2001. According to a 2020 poll conducted by CEDEM, approximately 10 percent of Montenegro's Eastern Orthodox Christians have opted for the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, while approximately 90 percent have opted for or stayed with the Serbian Orthodox Church in the canonical or widely-known Eastern Orthodox Church . Notably,

170-528: A baptismal certificate in which in the column "nationality", instead of an "Orthodox Serb " will be changed to "Orthodox Montenegrin ." Following continued ethnic tension, in 2021, Montenegrins and Serbs clashed over leadership in the Serbian Orthodox Church within Montenegro. On September 3, 2023, which marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, a major split in

255-469: A cross necklace that is worn for the rest of their life as a "sign of the triumph of Christ over death and our belonging to Christ" (though it is replaced with a new cross pendant if lost or broken). This practice of baptized Christians wearing a cross necklace at all times is derived from Canon 73 and Canon 82 of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (Synod) of Constantinople , which declared: ...all

340-573: A neologism unknown in the Septuagint and other pre-Christian Jewish texts. This broadness in the meaning of baptízein is reflected in English Bibles rendering "wash", where Jewish ritual washing is meant: for example Mark 7:4 states that the Pharisees "except they wash (Greek "baptize"), they do not eat", and "baptize" where báptisma , the new Christian rite, is intended. Two nouns derived from

425-435: A body, He would hand over these bodiless gifts as naked [gifts] to you. But because the soul is closely linked to the body, He hands over the perceivable ones to you with conceivable things. (Chrysostom to Matthew, speech 82, 4, c. 390 A.D.) 2. The removal of clothing represented the "image of putting off the old man with his deeds" (as per Cyril, above), so the stripping of the body before for baptism represented taking off

510-404: A link between baptism and regeneration, but insist that it is not automatic or mechanical, and that regeneration may occur at a different time than baptism. Churches of Christ consistently teach that in baptism a believer surrenders his life in faith and obedience to God, and that God "by the merits of Christ's blood, cleanses one from sin and truly changes the state of the person from an alien to

595-591: A liquid dye) or "perishing" (as in a ship sinking or a person drowning), with the same double meanings as in English "to sink into" or "to be overwhelmed by", with bathing or washing only occasionally used and usually in sacral contexts. The practice of baptism emerged from Jewish ritualistic practices during the Second Temple Period , out of which figures such as John the Baptist emerged. For example, various texts in

680-500: A morsel held in the hand into wine or of a finger into spilled blood. A possible additional use of the verb baptízein to relate to ritual washing is suggested by Peter Leithart (2007) who suggests that Paul's phrase "Else what shall they do who are baptized for the dead ?" relates to Jewish ritual washing. In Jewish Greek the verb baptízein "baptized" has a wider reference than just "baptism" and in Jewish context primarily applies to

765-584: A person is initiated, purified, or given a name. Martyrdom was identified early in Christian church history as " baptism by blood ", enabling the salvation of martyrs who had not been baptized by water. Later, the Catholic Church identified a baptism of desire , by which those preparing for baptism who die before actually receiving the sacrament are considered saved. In the Methodist tradition, Baptism with

850-517: A saint of the church. Dedeić sharply rejected the declaration of the assembly, calling it "a failed political rally," and stating that "street rallies cannot change the metropolitan and elect a new one next to a living and healthy leader." In October 2023, Dedeić's proposal was rejected by the basic court in Cetinje that asked to prohibit Bojović from performing religious services in MOC churches. On June 24, 2024,

935-474: A similar recognition; however, this was denied by Patriarch Bartholomew, who stated that ""we will never give autocephaly to the so-called 'Montenegrin Orthodox Church'" and that its leader Dedeić was suspended by Constantinople for adultery and embezzlement. In December 2022, Mihailo was granted an audience with Pope Francis at the Holy See . Political parties in Montenegro that so far officially stated support of

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1020-662: A time when Montenegrin fascists and collaborators led by Sekula Drljević gathered under the auspices of the Ustaša regime in the Independent State of Croatia . During 1943 and 1944, under the influence of the clerical-fascist ideology of the Ustaša movement, Drljević formulated a thesis on the diversity of Montenegrin Orthodoxy not only in relation to Serbian Orthodoxy, but also in relation to Orthodoxy in general. On that occasion, he coined

1105-401: A translation of both verbs. Zodhiates concludes that the washing of the hands was done by immersing them. The Liddell–Scott–Jones Greek-English Lexicon (1996) cites the other passage (Luke 11:38) as an instance of the use of the verb baptízein to mean "perform ablutions", not "submerge". References to the cleaning of vessels which use βαπτίζω also refer to immersion. As already mentioned,

1190-510: Is Cyril of Jerusalem who wrote "On the Mysteries of Baptism" in the 4th century (c. 350 AD): Do you not know, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His death? etc... for you are not under the Law, but under grace. 1. Therefore, I shall necessarily lay before you the sequel of yesterday's Lecture, that you may learn of what those things, which were done by you in

1275-677: Is a requirement for salvation and a sacrament , and speak of " baptismal regeneration ". Its importance is related to their interpretation of the meaning of the "Mystical Body of Christ" as found in the New Testament. This view is shared by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox denominations, and by churches formed early during the Protestant Reformation such as Lutheran and Anglican . For example, Martin Luther said: To put it most simply,

1360-497: Is a sacrament of initiation into the life of the children of God ( Catechism of the Catholic Church , 1212–13). It configures the person to Christ (CCC 1272), and obliges the Christian to share in the church's apostolic and missionary activity (CCC 1270). The Catholic holds that there are three types of baptism by which one can be saved: sacramental baptism (with water), baptism of desire (explicit or implicit desire to be part of

1445-422: Is almost universally the practice today, baptismal robes. These robes are most often white, symbolizing purity. Some groups today allow any suitable clothes to be worn, such as trousers and a T-shirt —practical considerations include how easily the clothes will dry ( denim is discouraged), and whether they will become see-through when wet. In certain Christian denominations, the individual being baptized receives

1530-528: Is always with him/her, it reminds the child that Jesus died on the Cross to save him/her, that Jesus Christ is our Only Savior and the True God. By wearing a cross the child feels the love of God and gives the child hope and strength to overcome any obstacle in his or her life. There are differences in views about the effect of baptism for a Christian. Catholics, Orthodox, and most mainline Protestant groups assert baptism

1615-496: Is extremely common among Christian denominations, some, such as Quakers and The Salvation Army , do not practice water baptism at all. Among denominations that practice baptism, differences occur in the manner and mode of baptizing and in the understanding of the significance of the rite. Most Christians baptize using the trinitarian formula "in the name of the Father , and of the Son , and of

1700-556: Is immerse/immersion, it is not true that the words can simply be reduced to this meaning, as can be seen from Mark 10:38–39, Luke 12:50, Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16, and Corinthians10:2." Two passages in the Gospels indicate that the verb baptízein did not always indicate submersion. The first is Luke 11:38, which tells how a Pharisee, at whose house Jesus ate, "was astonished to see that he did not first wash ( ἐβαπτίσθη , aorist passive of βαπτίζω —literally, "was baptized") before dinner". This

1785-452: Is only partly dipped in water; they thus speak of immersion as being either total or partial. Others, of the Anabaptist belief, use "immersion" to mean exclusively plunging someone entirely under the surface of the water. The term "immersion" is also used of a form of baptism in which water is poured over someone standing in water, without submersion of the person. On these three meanings of

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1870-505: Is practiced in several different ways. Aspersion is the sprinkling of water on the head, and affusion is the pouring of water over the head. Traditionally, a person is sprinkled, poured, or immersed three times for each person of the Holy Trinity , with this ancient Christian practice called trine baptism or triune baptism . The Didache specifies: This is how you should baptize: Having recited all these things, [the first half of

1955-635: Is practiced in the Orthodox and several other Eastern Churches. In the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, baptism by submersion is used in the Ambrosian Rite and is one of the methods provided in the Roman Rite of the baptism of infants. It is seen as obligatory among some groups that have arisen since the Protestant Reformation , such as Baptists . The Greek-English Lexicon of Liddell and Scott gives

2040-579: Is the executive branch of state authority in Montenegro . It is headed by the prime minister . It consists of the prime minister, the deputy prime ministers as well as the ministers. Milojko Spajić is the current Prime Minister of Montenegro and the Head of Government. The current members of the cabinet were elected on 31 October 2023, by the Parliament of Montenegro . Each minister of each ministry reports to

2125-483: Is the passage that Liddell and Scott cites as an instance of the use of βαπτίζω to mean perform ablutions . Jesus' omission of this action is similar to that of his disciples: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash ( νίπτω ) not their hands when they eat bread". The other Gospel passage pointed to is: "The Pharisees...do not eat unless they wash ( νίπτω ,

2210-503: Is worn for the rest of their life, inspired by the Sixth Ecumenical Council (Synod) of Constantinople . Outside of Christianity, Mandaeans undergo repeated baptism for purification instead of initiation. They consider John the Baptist to be their greatest prophet and name all rivers yardena after the River Jordan . The term baptism has also been used metaphorically to refer to any ceremony, trial, or experience by which

2295-515: The Church (Sunday) School children [must] wear a cross knowing how spiritually beneficial it is for them. By wearing a cross the child is protected from evil forces, it invites the grace of the Holy Cross of Christ, it brings His Divine blessing upon the child, it gives the child a sense that he or she belongs to Christ, that he or she has a special identity, that of a Christian, it is a reminder that Christ

2380-593: The Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) corpus at Qumran describe ritual practices involving washing, bathing, sprinkling, and immersing. One example of such a text is a DSS known as the Rule of the Community , which says "And by the compliance of his soul with all the laws of God his flesh is cleansed by being sprinkled with cleansing waters and being made holy with the waters of repentance ." The Mandaeans , who are followers of John

2465-462: The Early Middle Ages infant baptism became common and the rite was significantly simplified and increasingly emphasized. In Western Europe Affusion became the normal mode of baptism between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, though immersion was still practiced into the sixteenth. In the medieval period, some radical Christians rejected the practice of baptism as a sacrament. Sects such as

2550-561: The Holy Spirit " (following the Great Commission ), but Oneness Pentecostals baptize using Jesus' name only . The majority of Christians baptize infants ; many others, such as Baptist Churches , regard only believer's baptism as true baptism. In certain denominations, such as the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, the individual being baptized receives a cross necklace that

2635-590: The Orthodox Church in Italy . The MOC had original support of the then-unrecognized Macedonian Orthodox Church , which was later withdrawn as the Macedonian Church entered negotiations for restoration into communion. Following the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I , rumor spread that the Montenegrin Orthodox Church may soon receive

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2720-651: The Teaching , "The Way of Life and the Way of Death"] baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in running water. If you do not have running water, then baptize in still water. The water should be cold, but if you do not have cold water, then use warm. If you have neither, then just pour water on the head three times in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both

2805-654: The Tondrakians , Cathars , Arnoldists , Petrobrusians , Henricans , Brethren of the Free Spirit and the Lollards were regarded as heretics by the Catholic Church. In the sixteenth century, Martin Luther retained baptism as a sacrament, but Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli considered baptism and the Lord's Supper to be symbolic. Anabaptists denied the validity of the practice of infant baptism, and rebaptized converts. Baptism

2890-552: The Trinitarian formula , which is done in most mainstream Christian denominations, is seen as being a basis for Christian ecumenism , the concept of unity amongst Christians. Baptism is also called christening , although some reserve the word "christening" for the baptism of infants . In certain Christian denominations, such as the Catholic Churches, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Assyrian Church of

2975-477: The Baptist , practice frequent full immersion baptism ( masbuta ) as a ritual of purification. According to Mandaean sources , they left the Jordan Valley in the 1st century AD. John the Baptist , who is considered a forerunner to Christianity, used baptism as the central sacrament of his messianic movement. The apostle Paul distinguished between the baptism of John, ("baptism of repentance") and baptism in

3060-521: The East, and Lutheran Churches , baptism is the door to church membership , with candidates taking baptismal vows . It has also given its name to the Baptist churches and denominations . Certain schools of Christian thought (such as Catholic and Lutheran theology) regard baptism as necessary for salvation , but some writers, such as Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531), have denied its necessity. Though water baptism

3145-521: The Greek verb baptízein does not exclusively mean dip, plunge or immerse (it is used with literal and figurative meanings such as "sink", "disable", "overwhelm", "go under", "overborne", "draw from a bowl"), lexical sources typically cite this as a meaning of the word in both the Septuagint and the New Testament . "While it is true that the basic root meaning of the Greek words for baptize and baptism

3230-467: The Holy Spirit , has referred to the second work of grace, entire sanctification ; in Pentecostalism, the term Baptism with the Holy Spirit is identified with speaking in tongues . The English word baptism is derived indirectly through Latin from the neuter Greek concept noun báptisma (Greek βάπτισμα , ' washing, dipping ' ), which is a neologism in the New Testament derived from

3315-482: The MOC as a tool in their quest for Montenegrin sovereignty. At that time, the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) maintained close ties to Slobodan Milošević 's administration in Serbia, and therefore the initial activities of the MOC were very sporadic. After the death of Metropolitan Antonije, he was replaced by Metropolitan Dedeić. Most liberals did not approve of this change, and their support for

3400-588: The MOC have been: the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro and minority Croatian Civic Initiative , officially proposing it to be mentioned in Montenegro's new Constitution, which eventually did not mention it with its adoption in late 2007. The Initiative invited representatives of both the Montenegrin and Serbian churches to a special municipal meeting in Tivat , sparking a boycott among local Serbian politicians. During

3485-542: The MOC in Cetinje on January 6, 1997, Metropolitan Mihailo was chosen by traditional public acclamation the Head of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. In the Church of St. Paraskeva in Sofia , on March 15, 1998, he was ordained as bishop by Bulgarian Alternative Synod 's head Patriarch Pimen and seven metropolitans and bishops of his synod . He was enthroned to Metropolitan of Montenegrin Orthodox Church in Cetinje on October 31, 1998, in

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3570-675: The Montenegrin Orthodox Church. Services are held in the Australian state of New South Wales as well as in the Argentine province of Chaco, which is the base of Archimandrite Gorazd Glomazic and the Montenegrin Church of Saint Nikola in the colony of Machagay. In April 2007 the "President of the Council for the promotion" of the MOC, Stevo Vučinić, was quoted as saying the "we [the MOC] will retake of all

3655-539: The Prime Minister. Ministries in the current 44th composition of the Government of Montenegro (2023–present): List of governments of Montenegro (independent country, 2006–present) Baptismal certificates Baptism (from Koinē Greek : βάπτισμα , romanized:  váptisma , lit.   'immersion, dipping in water') is a Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with

3740-740: The SOC). In September 2008, Serbian Orthodox locals attempted to launch a blockade in the Nikšić area to prevent the MOC from building a church there. Sixty-five people were arrested for violating public order. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church has support from a number of likewise non-canonical or unrecognized Eastern Orthodox churches: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate , the Bulgarian Alternative Orthodox Church (founded by patriarch Pimen), and its Italian-based branch,

3825-554: The Supreme Administrative Court of Montenegro issued a judgment ordering the Ministry of Justice to recognize Metropolitan Boris as the head of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. This decision ended the ongoing administrative crisis resulting from the Ministry's refusal to register Metropolitan Boris as the new leader of the Church. The court found that the ministerial rejection of the request was unjustified, taking into account

3910-515: The West, this method of baptism began to be replaced by affusion baptism from around the 8th century, but it continues in use in Eastern Christianity . The word submersion comes from the late Latin ( sub- "under, below" + mergere "plunge, dip") and is also sometimes called "complete immersion". It is the form of baptism in which the water completely covers the candidate's body. Submersion

3995-407: The amount of water was inconsequential and defended immersion, affusion, and aspersion practices (Epistle 75.12). As a result, there was no uniform or consistent mode of baptism in the ancient church prior to the fourth century. By the third and fourth centuries, baptism involved catechetical instruction as well as chrismation , exorcisms , laying on of hands , and recitation of a creed . In

4080-458: The apparently new rite of báptisma . The Greek verb báptō ( βάπτω ), ' dip ' , from which the verb baptízō is derived, is in turn hypothetically traced to a reconstructed Indo-European root * gʷabh- , ' dip ' . The Greek words are used in a great variety of meanings. βάπτω and βαπτίζω in Hellenism had the general usage of "immersion", "going under" (as a material in

4165-583: The area of Montenegro's royal capital, Cetinje, as well as a church in Kotor. Open-air services are held across Montenegro for Christmas and Easter. The MOC officially opened a new shrine in the old town of Kotor in 2006, following the referendum on independence. Construction of the first MOC churches abroad, the Holy Church of Righteous Ivan Crnojević , was planned to take place in Lovćenac , Vojvodina , Serbia , with

4250-462: The baptism "λοχείαν", i.e., giving birth, and "new way of creation...from water and Spirit" ("to John" speech 25,2), and later elaborates: For nothing perceivable was handed over to us by Jesus; but with perceivable things, all of them however conceivable. This is also the way with the baptism; the gift of the water is done with a perceivable thing, but the things being conducted, i.e., the rebirth and renovation, are conceivable. For, if you were without

4335-413: The borders of Montenegro. Serbia originally refused to allow the MOC to be registered as an organization, as all canonical Eastern Orthodox churches have also refused to recognize the MOC. However, on appeal, the Serbian Supreme Court ruled this position unconstitutional, overturning the refusal and paving the way for a potential permission to register. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church has offered to issue

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4420-587: The church founded by Jesus Christ), and baptism of blood ( martyrdom ). In his encyclical Mystici corporis Christi of June 29, 1943, Pope Pius XII spoke of baptism and profession of the true faith as what makes members of the one true church, which is the body of Jesus Christ himself, as God the Holy Spirit has taught through the Apostle Paul: By contrast, Anabaptist and Evangelical Protestants recognize baptism as an outward sign of an inward reality following on an individual believer's experience of forgiving grace. Reformed and Methodist Protestants maintain

4505-629: The church in 1995. After becoming Metropolitan of the MOC in 1997, he was fully excommunicated by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople from the Eastern Orthodox Church . On January 11, 2007, the MOC created its own holy synod and proclaimed its first decree. This holy synod is constituted by archpriests of the church, led by the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. This synod divided Montenegro in five eparchies —Cetinjska, Dukljanska, Primorska, Ostroška and Beranska. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church currently holds its regular services in several chapels in

4590-441: The church occurred when Bishop Boris Bojović was proclaimed the new Metropolitan of the church. This decision was made by the MOC general assembly held in Cetinje and was supported by a group of younger priests loyal to Bojović, as well as the hundreds of citizens gathered at the assembly. The assembly also declared the official retirement of former Metropolitan Dedeić, and proclaimed the MOC founder and former Metropolitan Abramović as

4675-406: The church soon started to fade. By 1997, the DPS administration in Montenegro led by Milo Đukanović began to distance itself from Milošević, and started supporting and financing the church, which received support from both the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro and the Social Democratic Party of Montenegro ; however, after 2001 this support seemingly waned. On January 17, 2001, the MOC

4760-403: The churches and chapels in the towns, and of course the village churches, and the monasteries...we expect resistance, but in no case will we give up". On Wednesday, April 18, 2007, the representatives of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church – which has announced that it did not wish to cause an "excessive situation", but that it would enter the Serbian Orthodox Cetinje monastery without regard to

4845-419: The creation of the MOC has been opposed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople . Patriarch Bartholomew has stated that "we will never give autocephaly to the so-called 'Montenegrin Orthodox Church'" and that its leader Dedeić was suspended by Constantinople for adultery and embezzlement . The first ideas about creating a special Orthodox church of ethnic Montenegrins arose outside Montenegro, at

4930-409: The crucifixion of the "old man" of the repentant sinner in preparation for baptism. Changing customs and concerns regarding modesty probably contributed to the practice of permitting or requiring the baptismal candidate to either retain their undergarments (as in many Renaissance paintings of baptism such as those by da Vinci , Tintoretto , Van Scorel , Masaccio , de Wit and others) or to wear, as

5015-480: The early church, many of the writings from the ancient church appeared to view this mode of baptism as inconsequential. The Didache 7.1–3 (AD 60–150) allowed for affusion practices in situations where immersion was not practical. Likewise, Tertullian (AD 196–212) allowed for varying approaches to baptism even if those practices did not conform to biblical or traditional mandates (cf. De corona militis 3; De baptismo 17). Finally, Cyprian (ca. AD 256) explicitly stated that

5100-424: The help of the Association of Ethnic Montenegrins in Serbia Krstaš. A contract for the land on which the new MOC shrine will be built was signed on 5 August 2005. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church also has support from abroad, and it has managed to build several churches and missions in North America, South America, Australia, Western Europe all home to important Montenegrin émigré communities, most of whom also support

5185-534: The inner chamber, were symbolic. 2. As soon, then, as you entered, you put off your tunic; and this was an image of putting off the old man with his deeds. Having stripped yourselves, you were naked; in this also imitating Christ, who was stripped naked on the Cross, and by His nakedness put off from Himself the principalities and powers, and openly triumphed over them on the tree. For since the adverse powers made their lair in your members, you may no longer wear that old garment; I do not at all mean this visible one, but

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5270-404: The lexicographical work of Zodhiates says that, in the second of these two cases, the verb baptízein indicates that, after coming from the market, the Pharisees washed their hands by immersing them in collected water. Balz & Schneider understand the meaning of βαπτίζω, used in place of ῥαντίσωνται (sprinkle), to be the same as βάπτω, to dip or immerse, a verb used of the partial dipping of

5355-414: The masculine Greek noun baptismós ( βαπτισμός ), a term for ritual washing in Greek language texts of Hellenistic Judaism during the Second Temple period , such as the Septuagint . Both of these nouns are derived from the verb baptízō ( βαπτίζω , ' I wash ' transitive verb ), which is used in Jewish texts for ritual washing, and in the New Testament both for ritual washing and also for

5440-399: The masculine noun baptismós "ritual washing" The verb baptízein occurs four times in the Septuagint in the context of ritual washing, baptismós ; Judith cleansing herself from menstrual impurity, Naaman washing seven times to be cleansed from leprosy , etc. Additionally, in the New Testament only, the verb baptízein can also relate to the neuter noun báptisma "baptism" which is

5525-411: The name of Jesus, and it is questionable whether Christian baptism was in some way linked with that of John. However, according to Mark 1:8, John seems to connect his water baptism as a type of the true, ultimate baptism of Jesus, which is by the Spirit. Christians consider Jesus to have instituted the sacrament of baptism. Though some form of immersion was likely the most common method of baptism in

5610-405: The notion of crnogorоslavlje , putting it in opposition to svetosavlje    [ sr ] . Looking at the Ustaša project of the Croatian Orthodox Church , Drljevic claimed that "the Montenegrin Church has not been in any dependence of any Orthodox Church for all centuries." The Montenegrin Orthodox Church was founded in Cetinje on October 31, 1993, led by Antonije Abramović who

5695-410: The occasion of 2008 Serbian elections, the church had the support of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians which stated it should be a recognized religion in the country. After its 9th Congress, the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro also endorsed the MOC as legitimate Church of Montenegro. According to data of Centre of Democracy in Montenegro from February 2007, the Serbian Orthodox Church

5780-490: The old man, which waxes corrupt in the lusts of deceit. May the soul which has once put him off, never again put him on, but say with the Spouse of Christ in the Song of Songs, I have put off my garment, how shall I put it on? O wondrous thing! You were naked in the sight of all, and were not ashamed; for truly ye bore the likeness of the first-formed Adam, who was naked in the garden, and was not ashamed. 3. Then, when you were stripped, you were anointed with exorcised oil, from

5865-431: The one who is baptized and the one who baptizes should fast beforehand, along with any others who are able, the one that is baptized being told to fast for a day or two. The word " immersion " is derived from late Latin immersio , a noun derived from the verb immergere ( in – "into" + mergere "dip"). In relation to baptism, some use it to refer to any form of dipping, whether the body is put completely under water or

5950-501: The ordinary word for washing) their hands thoroughly, observing the tradition of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they wash themselves (literally, "baptize themselves"— βαπτίσωνται , passive or middle voice of βαπτίζω )". Scholars of various denominations claim that these two passages show that invited guests, or people returning from market, would not be expected to immerse themselves ("baptize themselves") totally in water but only to practise

6035-403: The partial immersion of dipping their hands in water or to pour water over them, as is the only form admitted by present Jewish custom. In the second of the two passages, it is actually the hands that are specifically identified as "washed", not the entire person, for whom the verb used is baptízomai , literally "be baptized", "be immersed", a fact obscured by English versions that use "wash" as

6120-525: The power, effect, benefit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is to save. No one is baptized in order to become a prince, but as the words say, to "be saved". To be saved, we know, is nothing else than to be delivered from sin, death, and the devil and to enter into the kingdom of Christ and live with him forever. The Churches of Christ ," Jehovah's Witnesses , Christadelphians , and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints espouse baptism as necessary for salvation. For Roman Catholics, baptism by water

6205-597: The presence of several hundred believers and supporters of Montenegrin Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Mihailo had worked as a professor for the Serbian Orthodox Church and then as a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church in Italy , where he created a Serbian Orthodox municipality out of the Greek Church, leading after a number of scandals, including adultery and accusations of embezzlement , to his permanent suspension from

6290-544: The primary meaning of the verb baptízein , from which the English verb "baptize" is derived, as "dip, plunge", and gives examples of plunging a sword into a throat or an embryo and for drawing wine by dipping a cup in the bowl; for New Testament usage it gives two meanings: "baptize", with which it associates the Septuagint mention of Naaman dipping himself in the Jordan River , and "perform ablutions", as in Luke 11:38. Although

6375-498: The reaction of the Serbian Orthodox Church to their claims and requests – attempted to do so. Special police units prevented their forceful entry and that of several hundred supporters of the MOC. There was some pushing and shoving between the police, and the crowd which had intended to force its way into the monastery. Following this, members of the crowd shouted slogans such as "this isn't Serbia", "whose police are you?" and "Risto, Satan" (a reference to Metropolitan Amfilohije of

6460-584: The religious autonomy of the church and the invalidity of internal statutes that had not been officially promulgated. The new leader was elected in accordance with tradition at the General Montenegrin People's Assembly on September 3, 2023. As of 2024, the Montenegrin Orthodox Church is led by the Archbishop of Cetinje and Montenegro Metropolitan Boris. At a General Montenegrin People's Assembly formed by

6545-474: The trappings of sinful self, so that the "new man", which is given by Jesus, can be put on. 3. As Cyril again asserts above, as Adam and Eve in scripture were naked, innocent and unashamed in the Garden of Eden, nakedness during baptism was seen as a renewal of that innocence and state of original sinlessness. Other parallels can also be drawn, such as between the exposed condition of Christ during His crucifixion, and

6630-449: The use of water. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely, traditionally three times, once for each person of the Trinity . The synoptic gospels recount that John the Baptist baptised Jesus . Baptism is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. Baptism according to

6715-575: The verb baptízō (βαπτίζω) appear in the New Testament: the masculine noun baptismós (βαπτισμός) and the neuter noun báptisma (βάπτισμα): Until the Middle Ages , most baptisms were performed with the candidates naked—as is evidenced by most of the early portrayals of baptism (some of which are shown in this article), and the early Church Fathers and other Christian writers. Deaconesses helped female candidates for reasons of modesty. Typical of these

6800-544: The very hairs of your head to your feet, and were made partakers of the good olive-tree, Jesus Christ. 4. After these things, you were led to the holy pool of Divine Baptism, as Christ was carried from the Cross to the Sepulchre which is before our eyes. And each of you was asked, whether he believed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and you made that saving confession, and descended three times into

6885-449: The water, and ascended again; here also hinting by a symbol at the three days burial of Christ.... And at the self-same moment you were both dying and being born; The symbolism is threefold: 1. Baptism is considered to be a form of rebirth—"by water and the Spirit" —the nakedness of baptism (the second birth) paralleled the condition of one's original birth. For example, John Chrysostom calls

6970-412: The word "immersion", see Immersion baptism . When "immersion" is used in opposition to "submersion", it indicates the form of baptism in which the candidate stands or kneels in water and water is poured over the upper part of the body. Immersion in this sense has been employed in West and East since at least the 2nd century and is the form in which baptism is generally depicted in early Christian art. In

7055-477: Was appointed as patriarch, initially with the support of the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro (LSCG), a pro-Montenegrin independence political party that existed at the time. At the time, Montenegro was part of the federal state with Serbia called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , which was formed a year earlier following a 1992 referendum. LSCG, a party with a pro-independence agenda, is claimed to have used

7140-714: Was officially registered as a non-governmental organization at the local department of the Montenegrin Ministry of the Interior. In the absence of any other relevant and more current piece of legislation, this registration was done by calling on the Law on the Legal Position of Religious Communities from 1977 when Montenegro was a socialist republic within SFR Yugoslavia . In 2007, the MOC attempted to expand its activities beyond

7225-550: Was the most trusted institution in Montenegro by public opinion (coefficient 3.29), while the Montenegrin Orthodox Church was ranked sixth (coefficient 2.35). According to a 2020 poll conducted by CEDEM, approximately 10% percent of Montenegro's Eastern Orthodox Christians have opted for the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, while approximately 90% percent have opted for or stayed with the canonical Serbian Orthodox Church. Government of Montenegro The government of Montenegro ( Montenegrin : Vlada Crne Gore , Влада Црне Горе)

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