HONOR IS MORE IMPORTANT TO US THAN LIFE: “Novosti” among Kuci, in the Serbian tribal land in Montenegro, where the liturgies started

Home is coming! In front of two thousand of them, who walked almost twenty kilometers, a human corridor opened in silence. Let them go to the place of honor. Until the very entrance of the church. Two chairs, just two chairs in front of the red doors, were intended for Pavle Milić, his nephew and the eldest of them, Kuči, and 95-year-old Svetozar Pavićević. There were few among tens of thousands who did not shed a tear even before this biblical scene. And they, without tears. No cramps. No sobs. They look at the doors of the temple, marching, as if they were young.

THEY are the descendants of Marko Miljanov. Descendants of an ancient tribe that suffered for the Orthodox faith and preserved it. They were the first to raise the lithium flag. They persevered through the snowstorm to be confirmed and built in the decisive battle for the defense of the saints.

– We have taken the vow of chivalry and heroism, the moral imperative of Miljanov, we are governed by that – says Miloš Radonjić. – History is written in our blood. We don’t want to write it that way in the future. For this reason, with our Metropolitan, we have raised the flag of peace and freedom here. Peace, especially between us. Between the brothers. So as not to repeat ourselves in 1856 when the family hit the family. The Metropolitan reconciled us and went among the saints. It is up to us to keep the peace, but if necessary we will return to lithium. It is a message for all those who were beheaded by the devil, so they lost God’s grace by stepping on one foot and not even stepping on the other. Let it calm down. Do not fall into eternal hell.

Milos Radonjic from the priest’s family / Photo by Dragan Milovanovic

UBLI, twelfth kilometer from Podgorica. The first largest town, on this side, from which we arrived. A sad and impenetrable silence slides from the metaphysical blue of the sky and disappears among the gray rocks. The rocks appear to be attached to the heavens themselves. He looks like a bird to man. Because the worst is so high. And down, so deep. This is how Kuchi lives. Like birds. When God looks at you and sends you light, it is easier for you. When harsh winters press … They say: we are used to harsh weather and people.

But the heat is, here, in every home. A slight smile on the faces of the mountaineers, come and come. “And we’ll see how we do it.”

– Every house here is open to good people – Aleksandar Prelević greets us, a young man with memories of famous ancestors, grandparents who are inscribed in the history of chivalry and heroism according to Marko Miljanov.

At first glance, it seemed like we knew this guy from somewhere. The riddle came quickly: he was securing the access road in front of the temple in Podgorica, on the day of the Metropolitan’s funeral.

And, immediately, the local hosts wanted to receive guests. Mladjan Rasovic, Mirko Pavicevic … Bojovic, Lazovic, Radonjic … A few words about glorious history and heroic ancestors. Dogs are not prone to bragging. They have no need to explain why the Kuchi tribe are so special. Dear all. What a heart that, in all the previous months, even in these days, beats and strengthens the vacillating.

The FATE determined them to defend brother to brother in these days, as well as in the tragic year of 1856, when blood wrote the history of the House.

– Then the message came: “Do not kill a Serb, Montenegrin brother” – we are listening to a story in Ubli. – At that time, our ancestors did not defend themselves from taxes and levies, but we defended our faith. That truth has been burning for a long time, it is slowly burning.

Veselin Lazović adds to this:

Jelena Bojović shows photos, To the houses of loved ones / Photo by Dragan Milovanović

– We are, now, little ants compared to our dukes and Marko Miljanov. But the metropolitan restored our confidence in ourselves. Said everything about us, when people started to march.

From somewhere behind Komovi, the sun is heating up. The first day is without metropolitan. The dogs sue and cry. The stories about the evil when the news of the end of his earthly journey came are shocking. And as they talk about that unfortunate morning, it is as if night is falling.

– Nothing will ever be the same – Miloš Radonjić holds his forehead with his fist.

– It depends on us – Mladjan Rasovic cuts the sentence.

– We are eternal sufferers, but suffering did not bend us. We were exalted – says Miloš Radonjić. – My grandfather Zarija Radonjić, Čejović, held a funeral for King Alexander. We had three more priests in the house. Pope Vlado, parish priest of Mostar, was assassinated by the Ustashas in 1941 and thrown into the well of Prebilovac. I light a candle for everyone in our new church, our beauty Spasovdanska. At the end of May, Metropolitan Amfilohije and Bishop Joanikije were here. The Metropolitan said: “I have been everywhere, but nobody receives me like you.”

The town of Ubli is infinite. If we had time to visit all the places where the Dogs maintain the ancient tradition and original faith, hey, it would take days and days. Let’s hear their story. And here the fire burns only in 125 homes. And that is only part of the 300 square kilometers in which, under Komovi, there will be 15,000 people. They renew the faith and the soul of the brave, their own.

The infinite village of Ubli in Kuci / Photo by Dragan Milovanović

PABLO, SLOBO, MOMO

CASA Bojovića, restaurant in the center. Jelena, daughter-in-law of the family, born in Užice, awaits us. He clung to and hugged his Kucani. In this house they keep photographs of the patriarchs Pavle, Radovan and Ratko, Milosevic, Mom and Pavle Bulatovic and Giska Bozovic.

– I remember Moma, he liked to pass. He sat there under the Sloba photo and stayed late into the night, Jelena says. – Not far from here, he was buried next to his son, who died at the age of 21. Hit by her death, Momo never recovered.