Milo Djukanovic initiates criminal proceedings against priests
Montenegro celebrates next anniversary of secession from Serbia last week. Car Races Held Across the Country, Albanian flags could be seen on the streets.. In my time (2006) Albanian Diaspora voted for separation of Montenegro from Serbia. This time, the Albanians drove through the streets of the city to songs about the terrorist tribesman Adem Yashari, founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
To match these anti-Serb speeches were the latest statements by the President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, which boasts, what opened "New, Montenegro’s European Perspective. Now he undertakes to “renew” the Serbian Church.
“We have updated the state, so we have to renew and the church, Says Djukanovic. – We proposed the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) take part in solving the problem of rebuilding an independent Orthodox church in Montenegro, what she was before 1918 of the year. They refused this offer… In this case, it remains to be the national church of the Serbs in Montenegro, and we will have to create a national church of Montenegrin Montenegro… All, what was taken from Montenegro, will be returned! No religious community, even the Serbian Orthodox Church, does not have the right to appropriate another's property, resist court audits of cadastral records of church property!»
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic challenges the Serbian Orthodox Church
so, Dzhukanovich wants to get his "national church". In Orthodoxy, this heresy is called ethnophyletism, she was convicted at the Council of Constantinople 1872 of the year. The ruling of the council read: "We reject and condemn tribal division, i.e. tribal differences, feuds and disagreements in the Church of Christ, as contrary to the gospel doctrine and the sacred laws of our blessed fathers, on whom the Holy Church is approved and which, decorating human society, lead to divine piety ”.
New Law on Religious Freedom, adopted in Montenegro, It requires, so that every religious denomination proves its right to own property "before the occupation" (so the authorities call the union of Serbia and Montenegro). According to this law, authorities can “nationalize” the property of the TWS.
Believers of the Serbian Church responded with lithiums (services) protest and religious processions, but declared due to a viral infection this was put to an end. Then the authorities went on the offensive. Started with interrogation calls. first, who was interrogated, became popular among the people, Archpriest Momchilo Krivokapich, recently deceased rector of the Church of St. Nicholas in Kotor. At the end of March, police arrested a priest and ten parishioners, praying in the monastery of Rezhevichi in the vicinity of Budva, for "Violation of sanitary rules".
Archpriest Momchilo Krivokapich. A photo: pravoslavie.ru
12 April on the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) detentions occurred in the capital Podgorica; a priest and ten parishioners in Kolasin were detained. Amphilochius, metropolitan of Montenegro and Primorsky, who was brought to the site, had to be explained to the police, why believers after blessing kiss his hand ...
Metropolitan of Montenegro and Primorsky Amphilochius during interrogation. A photo: Svetigora / rs.sputniknews.com
To the Serb revered Djurjevdan (feast of St. George the Victorious 6 May) after the service, the brethren of the monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi went through the traditional procession procession along the main street. Believers, keeping the required distance, joined the monastic procession; criminal proceedings brought against monks. The same thing happened again 12 May, when the memory of the Montenegrin St. Basil of Ostrog was celebrated. In the Niksic Cathedral, the priesthood led by Bishop Ioanniky of Budimlyansko-Niksic entered the procession, numerous believers joined him. Police arrests occurred, Vladyka Ioanniky and the priests after interrogation were sent to prison 72 o'clock. Street exploded in protests. The next day, believers blocked the Berane - Andrievitsa - Plav highway, the police dispersed them, three were arrested. In Niksic, Berane, Pleven believers took to the streets, demanding the release of priests. Police used batons and tear gas. Arrests followed again, among the victims were children and adolescents. "Ustashas!"- protesters shouted to law enforcement officers.
Police disperse believers, blocked the highway Berane - Andrievitsa - Plav
“On behalf of the Episcopal Council, we sent a message asking the state authorities to immediately release the innocently imprisoned Bishop Ioannicius and the priests, - Metropolitan Amphilochius responded to these events ... - However, this, Unfortunately, didn’t happen ... If someone should be tried for something, what is happening in Montenegro, it's me. I am ready to go to court and, if necessary, get a verdict ”.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Bishop Ioannikius and the priests for “non-observance of health rules during the fight against a dangerous infectious disease”; envisaged sanction - a fine or a year in prison.
"Of course, we do not want to break the rules, but can we, while before 10 thousand people visit markets daily, do not allow believers to enter temples and light candles? - says Bishop John ... “We will also fight for the freedom to conduct services.”.
The title photo: March against the new "religious" law in the capital of Montenegro Podgorica, REUTERS/Stevo Vasiljevic
Alexey TOPOROV
