Written by: Catechist Branislav Ilić
Since in this year of our Lord’s goodness, 2025, it marks 195 years since the repose of Saint Peter I, Metropolitan and Wonderworker of Cetinje, it is fitting once again to recall the significance of this God-pleasing servant from our own kin.
To speak about Saint Peter of Cetinje is not easy, for his entire life was a great miracle through which the Lord manifested His grace by means of His servant. This God-bearing saint of the Lord was a hierarch of the Serbian Church—Metropolitan of Montenegro, Skenderija, and the Littoral—a fiery ascetic, a tearful intercessor for the whole world, a most pure virgin, a great miracle-worker, a God-illumined prophet, a gifted writer, a sublime poet, a courageous commander, a skilled diplomat, a wise reconciler of feuding brothers, a merciful feeder of the hungry, a most gentle consoler of the afflicted and sorrowful, a resolute unifier of the Serbian lands, a self-taught polyglot, a talented historian, a profound mystic, and a skillful practitioner of life in God in all its dimensions—from a mystic celebrant in the Holy Eucharist to a diligent gardener in the episcopal garden—a wondrous gift of Heaven to the entire Serbian people.
The exact year of his birth is not known, yet it is most likely that he was born in September 1748. Saint Peter of Cetinje was born in the village of Njeguši, near Cetinje, to devout and pious parents—Marko Damjanov (Petrović) and Marija (née Martinović). His grandfather Damjan was the brother of the renowned Montenegrin Metropolitan Danilo. When Peter was ten years old, Metropolitan Sava Petrović, the uncle of Peter’s father Marko, brought him to the Cetinje Monastery for his education. By divine providence, which mysteriously called him to the Lord’s service, Saint Peter received the monastic tonsure at the age of twelve, and at fifteen he was sent to Russia for further studies. Hieromonk Peter returned to Cetinje in 1766, and soon afterwards Metropolitan Sava ordained him into the holy priesthood.
After the blessed repose of Metropolitan Sava in 1781, his successor was Arsenije Plamenac, his nephew, who remained on the throne only for three years. The successor to Metropolitan Arsenije Plamenac was Archimandrite Peter Petrović. His episcopal consecration took place in 1784 in Sremski Karlovci, performed by Metropolitan Mojsije Putnik. The archpastoral zeal, care, and love of Saint Peter were immense, especially manifested in his efforts to curb blood feuds among the Montenegrin tribes. Since he was also a national leader, he drafted the first written code in 1796—the so-called Stega—as well as the History of Montenegro up to the Year 1711.
We must not forget that Saint Peter of Cetinje authored over 260 archpastoral epistles, which remain an invaluable treasure. Everything he wrote—as a faithful servant of God and a gifted writer—was never composed for human praise or for the sake of idle reasoning. According to the testimony of many, the epistles of Saint Peter are in spirit closest to those of the Holy Apostle Paul. Every word he wrote was steeped in his prayerful tears and archpastoral love for the flock entrusted to him. From his renowned epistles shines forth the truth that his entire ministry was a continual crucifixion for his people, and thereby a co-crucifixion with Christ, Who in due time crowned him with the unfading crown of sainthood.
“Therefore, I beseech you, remember and direct your deeds and your thoughts towards the path of obedience and concord, by which you may deliver yourselves from every misfortune and evil that self-will or disobedience brings. And reflect upon your being and your condition, and do not forget that proverb which teaches you, saying: ‘He who is to be entreated should not be angered” (From the Epistle to the Njeguši, 1822).
Sharing the fate of his people and remaining constantly among them and with them, Saint Peter, as a national leader, took part in two battles that occurred in 1796. The first battle took place at Martinići, in the month of July, where both Mahmut Pasha Bushatli and Saint Peter of Cetinje were wounded. The second battle was at Krusi, in the month of September, where—contrary to all historical logic and military strategy—a small band of poorly armed Montenegrins defeated the Turkish army, which was visibly larger and better equipped. These battles did not hinder Saint Peter, even in those painful moments, from spreading the word of God’s love, never ceasing to be a Christ-like peacemaker and tireless preacher of divine truth and justice.
The truth of these words is confirmed by the well-known story of his conversation after the battle of Martinići: “Saint Peter, after the battle, pleaded with Mahmut Pasha not to endanger his poor flock. ‘When you went to wage war against the Bosnian vizier,’ he told him, ‘I let you pass in peace. Do not now rise up against us; it is better that we live in peace and love.’ But Mahmut Pasha did not heed Saint Peter; instead, he gathered his army. Saint Peter then sent him another message, saying: ‘Mahmut, if justice is on your side, may the first bullet fired strike me. But if justice is on our side—on my side,’ he did not say, ‘may you perish,’ but rather, ‘then may God judge between us.’”
After forty-six full years of archpastoral service in exceedingly difficult times, on the Feast of Saint Luke the Apostle and Evangelist, in the year of the Lord 1830, Saint Peter of Cetinje fell asleep in the Lord at the Cetinje Monastery. When, four years later—on the Feast of Saint Luke in 1834—his tomb was opened, the holy relics of the bishop Peter were found entire and incorrupt. The devout faithful, who had already recognized their archpastor as a saint during his lifetime, always calling him “the Holy Bishop,” hastened from all directions to Cetinje to venerate his sacred relics. Both then and now, the Cetinje Monastery remains a spiritual centre and a place of great gathering for God’s people around their saint, who, through love and prayerful intercession before the Lord, warms our cold hearts and, by his incorrupt relics, bears witness to the power of the Resurrection.
The Life and Service of Saint Peter of Cetinje were written in 1893 by Metropolitan Mihailo of Belgrade, based on historical sources and the oral accounts of Metropolitan Mitrofan Ban of Cetinje.
Towards the end of this humble tribute, offered to the glory of God and in honour of Saint Peter of Cetinje, it is fitting to recall the re-vesting of his incorrupt relics on October 31, 2010, when the 180th anniversary of the repose of the Wonderworker of Cetinje was celebrated. On that occasion, the Cetinje Monastery was visited by the late Patriarch of Serbia, His Holiness Irinej, who stated in his patriarchal address that everything Saint Peter of Cetinje accomplished in life was a great work of God—a work of a holy man. Everything he did and spoke was seasoned with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he ended his holy life as one of the most sanctified figures in the history of the Church of Christ.
“Our great consolation,” said Patriarch Irinej, “is that in our godless time, in this age of people estranged from the Church, men are returning to God, returning to their Church. That is what strengthens us, what restores our faith and hope that the Lord will not abandon us, both for our sake and for the sake of the Saints, such as Saint Peter of Cetinje, Saint Basil of Ostrog, that great and wondeorking saint, and many others.“
O great Saint and servant of Christ, Wonderworker of Cetinje, shepherd and intercessor of the entire Serbian and Orthodox people—by your prayers and by the heavenly grace of the Holy Spirit, preserve the flock entrusted to you, and all Christian cities, villages, and lands, from famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, slaughter, invasion, fratricidal war, and malice. Deliver us from every injustice, falsehood, and deceit, from impiety, unbelief, heresy, and schism. Implore for us from Christ our God both personal and national repentance, for we are all your kin, both by flesh and by spirit.
O great and heavenly God, Alpha and Omega of all that exists, Source and Fulfillment of our faith, life, and being, receive the prayers of Thy holy servant, the Sainted Bishop, who intercedes before Thee for us—sinful and unworthy as we are. For though we have greatly sinned against Thee, we have not departed from Thee, the only living and true God and our Saviour, to Whom be, from us and from all creation, all glory, honour, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.