Montenegro has state, would like church

Ex-Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's statement that there can be only one Orthodox church in Montenegro has surprised many. Analysts say that this is a church issue, not political one. Montenegro has state, would like church The Russian Orthodox Church has also reacted to the statement, pointing out that there is absolutely no doubt that the Montenegrin Orthodox Church is a noncanonical, schismatic organization. Aside from the Russian Orthodox Church, the Serbian government and analysts have also reacted to Djukanovic's statement. The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Assembly is underway and the Church still has not commented on the statement. This weekend Montenegro marks the fifth anniversary since it declared independence. The former prime minister and the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) leader expects the DPS Congress to come out about the issue of two churches on Sunday. He has support of parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapic. “We still suffer the consequences of the events, but every country that suffered such historical denial, deletion, destruction needs time to do this peacefully. It would be good for Montenegro to have a united Orthodox church, but that is a matter of believers, a matter of church. The state needs to do its thing, and that's to enable the return of property rights of all buildings that belong to the state of Montenegro,“ Krivokapic stressed. The flag of Montenegro SPC metropolitan already warned about situation SPC Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije Radovic has warned several times this year that the SPC property has never been more threatened than today. The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral has announced that the DPS's advocating for a united Montenegrin church does not contribute to stability and that it is not in accordance with secular and civil societies' principles. “It is completely out of place and politically harmful that one politicial party that declares itself as civil and socialist, puts open positions about canonical organization of the church in its program now, in the beginning of the 21st century,“ reads the metropolitanate's announcement. Russian Orthodox Church representative Nikolai Balashov says that Orthodox churches around the world have absolutely no doubt that so-called Montenegrin Orthodox Church is noncanonical, schismatic organization. “That is why statements made by the leaders from Podgorica, supporting the organization, are surprising,“ he explained. “Religion ministry won't interfere“ Serbian Religion Minister Srdjan Sreckovic said that he would not interfere with the matter and added that he did not understand the politicians' need to deal with the church work. “The state of Serbia does not want to question the principle of free religious expression and canonical recognition in any way. Our position will be absolutely constructive there because we think that church life should be completely separate from the secular one,“ the minister stated. Analysts are also surprised by Djukanovic's statement. Center for Tolerance and Inter-Religious Relation's Zdravko Sordjen believes that such issues should be solved within the church. “I think that such a statement is a little premature, that the issue should be solved by the two entities first. I think that the SPC, and as far as I know the other side, they are always open for dialogue. That's their moral obligation. And if there is none, it has to initiate it. I believe that it will be initiated,“ he pointed out. “Maybe it just takes a bit more patience. If a problem has existed for decades we won't be able to solve it momentarily like with a magic wand. That's not good,“ Sordjen concluded.

Montenegro has state, would like church

The Russian Orthodox Church has also reacted to the statement, pointing out that there is absolutely no doubt that the Montenegrin Orthodox Church is a noncanonical, schismatic organization.

Aside from the Russian Orthodox Church, the Serbian government and analysts have also reacted to Đukanović's statement. The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Assembly is underway and the Church still has not commented on the statement.

This weekend Montenegro marks the fifth anniversary since it declared independence. The former prime minister and the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) leader expects the DPS Congress to come out about the issue of two churches on Sunday.

He has support of parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapić.

“We still suffer the consequences of the events, but every country that suffered such historical denial, deletion, destruction needs time to do this peacefully. It would be good for Montenegro to have a united Orthodox church, but that is a matter of believers, a matter of church. The state needs to do its thing, and that's to enable the return of property rights of all buildings that belong to the state of Montenegro,“ Krivokapić stressed.

SPC metropolitan already warned about situation

SPC Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije Radović has warned several times this year that the SPC property has never been more threatened than today. The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral has announced that the DPS's advocating for a united Montenegrin church does not contribute to stability and that it is not in accordance with secular and civil societies' principles.

“It is completely out of place and politically harmful that one politicial party that declares itself as civil and socialist, puts open positions about canonical organization of the church in its program now, in the beginning of the 21st century,“ reads the metropolitanate's announcement.

Russian Orthodox Church representative Nikolai Balashov says that Orthodox churches around the world have absolutely no doubt that so-called Montenegrin Orthodox Church is noncanonical, schismatic organization.

“That is why statements made by the leaders from Podgorica, supporting the organization, are surprising,“ he explained.

“Religion ministry won't interfere“

Serbian Religion Minister Srđan Srećković said that he would not interfere with the matter and added that he did not understand the politicians' need to deal with the church work.

“The state of Serbia does not want to question the principle of free religious expression and canonical recognition in any way. Our position will be absolutely constructive there because we think that church life should be completely separate from the secular one,“ the minister stated.

Analysts are also surprised by Đukanović's statement. Center for Tolerance and Inter-Religious Relation's Zdravko Šorđen believes that such issues should be solved within the church.

“I think that such a statement is a little premature, that the issue should be solved by the two entities first. I think that the SPC, and as far as I know the other side, they are always open for dialogue. That's their moral obligation. And if there is none, it has to initiate it. I believe that it will be initiated,“ he pointed out.

“Maybe it just takes a bit more patience. If a problem has existed for decades we won't be able to solve it momentarily like with a magic wand. That's not good,“ Šorđen concluded.