SAINT PETAR OF CETINJE

Saint Peter of Cetinje, Metropolitan and ruler of Montenegro, uncle of the great Njegoš, comes from the Petrović family, which gave the Serbian Orthodox Church five bishops. He devoted his entire life to God and his Serbian people, whom he loved fatherly. He reconciled the warring Montenegrin tribes and defended the people from invaders. After victories over the army of Mahmud Pasha, he united Montenegro and the Highlands, and he won victories over Napoleon’s powerful army in Dalmatia and Boka. He is also known for the anathema he pronounced against those who would rise up against the Orthodox brothers, the Russians, from whom he received the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky. His holy relics are kept in the Cetinje Monastery.