June 16, 2018 - On this day in 1845, the construction of the Njegoš’s Chapel on Mount Lovćen began, which Bishop Rade dedicated to his uncle Saint Petar Cetinjski and intended it to be his place of eternal rest.
Peter II Petrović Njegoš built a church in 1845 at Mount Lovćen, at Jezerski vrh (English: Lake Peak), and dedicated it to his uncle St. Petar Cetinjski. During his lifetime, and just before his death, Njegoš expressed his desire to be buried in this church. Njegoš died on October 19th, 1851. Out of fear that the Turks would be able to sneak out on Mount Lovćen at night and behead Njegoš, he was buried in the Cetinje monastery, and sometime later, on August 27th, 1855, his bones were transferred to Mount Lovćen, according to his wish.
Knowing the significance and symbolism of Njegoš's Chapel and Mount Lovćen, during the First World War, the Austrians bombed the church. After the capitulation of Montenegro, the occupying Governor Veber ordered the Exhumation of Njegoš’s bones from the church. The Venerable Chapel was demolished and they wanted to build a monument in this place as a sign of the Austrian conquest of Mount Lovćen. The exhumation took place on August 12th, 1916. Njegoš's remains were transferred to Cetinje monastery after which Njegoš's church was demolished. The idea of a monument has not been implemented because Austria lost the war. By the decision of the Holy Archbishop's Council and the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on the proposal of the Metropolitan of the Montenegrin-Littoral Gavrilo Dožić from November 14th, 1920, Njegoš's Chapel was restored. Five years later, the vow of Njegoš was fulfilled for the second time, and it was executed by King Aleksandar Karađorđević, the grandson of Montenegrin King Nikola Petrović Njegoš. Njegoš's chapel was restored on September 10th 1925 and consecrated on September 12th. The sanctuary was performed by the Metropolitan of Montenegro and Primorska Gavrilo Dožić with the assistance of four priests. The day of the solemn celebration was marked on September 21st, 1925. On this occasion, Patriarch Dimitrije Pavlović arrived, and he personally served the Service in the significance of Njegoš. Right at noon on September 21st, the case with Njegoš's clothing arrived at Lovćen. In the restored Chapel, King Aleksandar Karađorđevic, members of the Government, and Metropolitan Gavrilo entered the restored chapel with the bishops of Bitola, Timoc and Czechoslovakia. Njegoš was buried there for the second time and a military guard was placed around his grave.
The renovated Chapel was made of stone brought from the mine "Zlatica", from Mount Lovćen. Everything that was left out of the old Chapel was built in the newly renovated Chapel. The size and shape of the old and new Chapels were the same, and the area around the new Chapel was slightly enlarged. Around the Chapel, a fence with stairs of tight stone was built. On the top of the chapel is a cross from marble from the Venetians. The interior is made entirely based on the old Chapel’s appearance. The chapel and the altar are covered with plates. The interior of the Chapel is made from marble slabs with the initials of Petar Petrović Njegoš. In the marble plaque, the engraving in gold letters says: "We, Aleksandar I, King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, the grandson of Karađorđe Petrović, the leader and founder of the liberation of Serbia, the grandson of Prince Alexander Karađorđević, and the son of Peter I of the great liberator and unity of our people, and Knjeginje Zorka Petrović Njegoš, renewed this holy temple, which was built at Lovćen near Cetinje chosen by our ancestor Petar Petrović Njegoš, the bishop and master of Montenegro, the great patriot, the poet of freedom of Montenegro, the devotee, Hero of Topola Karađorđa immortal and the apostle and poet the unity of our people, which was destroyed in the war for liberation and unification in 1916. Let peace be on his ashes, his holy blessing, let him come to our home and people, through all ages. Amin. On Mount Lovćen, 21.09. 1925."
