Socalled Montenegro Orthodox Church

The statement was made at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on July 9, 2019 ( Journal No. 71 ). The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church expresses deep concern over the deteriorating situation of the dioceses of the Serbian Patriarchate in Montenegro, where for several years the unity of Orthodoxy has suffered from the divisive activity of the so-called Montenegrin Orthodox Church. In Montenegro, there has been an alarming trend of increasing pressure from the authorities on the canonical clergy and believers. The Bishops' Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church, held on May 9-18, 2019, stated that in modern Montenegro there are "attempts to forcibly remove shrines in favor of the canonically and non-existent" Montenegrin Orthodox Church ", as well as threats of destruction of certain places of prayer worship." Montenegrin President M. Djukanovic at a party rally in Niksic on June 8, 2019 expressed his intention to carry out the “restoration of the Montenegrin Autocephalous Church”. Of particular concern is the draft Law on Freedom of Religion and Beliefs and the Legal Status of Religious Organizations, published by the Government of Montenegro in May 2019, containing a number of discriminatory measures, including the seizure of part of the property of the Serbian Patriarchate, including temples and monasteries. The Bishops ’Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church describes the bill as“ anti-European and anti-civilization ”, aimed at discriminating against the dioceses of the Serbian Patriarchate in Montenegro and representing“ direct interference in the internal affairs of the Church. ” The European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) expressed serious remarks regarding certain provisions of the draft law. Taking with concern the recent initiatives of the Montenegrin authorities, we urge them to stop discrimination and undermine the unity of the Serbian Orthodox Church, raise their voices in her defense, seeing in the spiritual tradition dating back to Saint Savva, the centuries-old historical foundation on which Montenegrin Orthodox culture and statehood were built. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church expresses fraternal support to bishops, clergy and all children of the Serbian Patriarchate in Montenegro, who, following the precepts of the great saints Sava of Serbian, Vasily of Ostrog, Peter the Great and Primorsky Ioanniki of Chernogorsky-Primorsky, fledglingly in spite of all the supporters of the Serbian Orthodox monastery remain faithful to the truth of Holy Orthodoxy. Version: English , Greek