Information Service of PROTEST LODGED BY THE MINISTRY OF
RELIGIONS The Ministry of Religions of the Republic of Serbia lodged a protest to the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Belgrade stating its most severe disapproval of the unsubstantiated arrest of His Eminence Jovan Metropolitan of Veles-Povardarje, Exarch of the Serbian Patriarch in the Archdiocese of Ochrid, and further disallowance of any contact with him. The protest also relates to the prevention of clergymen (there including several bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church), that is to the conditioning of clergymen, to enter the territory of the Republic of Macedonia by taking their habits or some other characteristic insignia off, in spite of the fact that those persons have had regular documents and have met all the requirements for unhindered continuance of travel through the Republic of Macedonia. His Eminence Metropolitan Jovan has not by any of his deeds given any reason for the application of sanctions. In addition to being unsubstantiated, the action of the state organs of Macedonia stands as continuation of the persecution of the Churches and religious communities in communism. Such behaviour of state organs in Macedonia which has been lasting for several years and has been intensified in the past couple of years represents the act of discrimination and the deepest humiliation and jeopardy of the integrity of bishops, priests and the faithful. It expresses the general attitude of support of the state of Macedonia to the canonically unrecognised Orthodox Church of Macedonia. Such a support is adverse to the standards generally accepted in international relations forbidding the intervention of the State in religious and organisational issues of Churches and religious communities. Apart from that, the support is rendered in the manner which represents violation of basic human rights of the members of certain religious organisations, in this case - the Serbian Orthodox Church. Considering the historical role of the Serbian Orthodox Church in preservation of the statehood of the Republic of Serbia, and considering the affiliation of the majority of citizens of Serbia, the described activities of the Macedonian authorities are improper to cooperation, friendly and good neighbour relations of the two countries. |
