Montenegrins Clash With Police Ahead of Head of the Inauguration of the Head of Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

Metropolitan Joanikije II. Pic – SPC.rs

OCP News Service – 5/9/21

Montenegro: Thousands of nationalist Montenegrins protested and clashed with Police a day ahead of the enthronement of the Head of Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, Bishop Joanikije. He is expected to be enthroned on the 5th of September 2021 at Cetinje, Montenegro’s former capital.

“This is not Serbia!” and “Long live Montenegro!” shouted the protesters, according to a report by BBC news. Protesters accuse that Belgrade is reluctant to recognise Montenegro as a free state. They also argued that all religious institutions built in the country belong to Montenegrins.

Metropolitan Joanikije Responds to the Protest Over His Inauguration as the Head of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

Montenegro separated from Serbia in 2006. Pro-nationalists advocate for a separate Orthodox Church independent of the Serbian Church. However, the Serbian Church remains one of the largest religious institutions in the country. Around 30 per cent of the population identify themselves as Serbs. Since 1993, an unrecognised Montenegrin Orthodox Church exists side by side with the Serbian Church in the country.

Source:
OCP News Service