Serbian Orthodox Church

Serbian churches in Montenegro ringing bells every two hours until Nativity following adoption of anti-Church law

A number of events will be held in the Montenegrin Metropolis of the Serbian Church in connection with the adoption of the anti-Church law that empowers the government to confiscate property from the Serbian Church.

Among them, all the parishes of the Serbian Metropolis of Montenegro will ring funeral bells every two hours until the feast of the Nativity, reports the Metropolis’ website, noting that by adopting the law, the Montenegrin Parliament “buried law and justice.”

Service of supplication and procession in Bijelo Polje

Following a prayer of supplication (moleban) served on Sunday, December 29, 2019, by the clergy of the church community of Bijelo Polje at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, there was a procession through the town of Bijelo Polje to St. Nicholas church in Nikoljac, thus protesting against the Law on Freedom of Religion.

Metropolitan Amfilohije: Churches belong to the people, not to the ungodly ones!

His Eminence Amfilohije, Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral,  and Their Graces Bishops Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, Atanasije of Mileseva, Dimitrije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and retired Atanasije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina celebrated the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy  with the prayerful participation of many faithful believers at Holy Apostolic Church in Podgorica  on Sunday, December 29, 2019.

At the end of the Liturgy Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral blessed this Assembly on behalf of the Lord, the Assembly, as he said, begins here on earth, and it continues in eternity, the eternal Kingdom of God.

Bishop Irinej of Backa leads a protest walk in support of the defense of the rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro

His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa together with His Grace Bishop Isihije of Mohacs and the clergy as well as monastics of the Diocese of Backa attended at the Republic Square in Novi Sad, on December 30, 2019, a protest organized against the adoption of the discriminatory "Law on Freedom of Religion (!) and the Legal Status of Religious Communities" in Montenegro, thus providing full support for the defense of the rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

Through a peaceful walk from Republic Square to City Hall, the citizens of Novi Sad led by their Bishop, expressed a determined opposition to the forceful seizure of churches and monasteries and prayed to the Lord to grant reason to representatives of the authorities in Montenegro to end the violence and usurpation of the assets of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

Montenegrin police beat Serbian bishop, faithful protesting adoption of anti-church law

Despite strong protests from the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the majority religion in the country, the Montenegrin Parliament adopted the anti-Church law “On Freedom of Religion and Belief and the Legal Status of Religious Communities” yesterday.

Patriarch received Serbian ambassador to Montenegro

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej received in audience His Excellency Vladimir Bozovic, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Montenegro, at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade on December 25, 2019.

Ambassador Bozovic thanked the Serbian Patriarch for a reception during which they discussed some ongoing problems facing the dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro. His Holiness is deeply disturbed by current developments concerning the draft Law on Freedom of Religions or Beliefs and the Legal Status of Religious Communities, and he fervently prays to the Lord of peace for peace in Montenegro and harmony between state authorities and Church dignitaries for the benefit of all peoples, regardless of religion or nationality in that country.