Protest prayers in Montenegro gather tens of thousands of believers

A prayer procession in Podgorica. Photo: the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral of the SOC

Tens of thousands of Orthodox believers in Montenegro went out to protest prayers on January 16, 2020, reports the press service of the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral of the SOC.

“Prayer services to the Most Holy Theotokos and litiyas are held throughout Montenegro today in defenсe of shrines from plunder and lawlessness, which the Montenegrin government legitimizes with the help of a discriminatory law on religious freedom. Tens of thousands of believers prayerfully resist this intention of the authorities," says the statement of the Metropolis.
The most massive protests took place yesterday in Podgorica, the cities of Berane, Tivat, Spuzh, Bar, Bijelo Polje, Zabljak, etc.

We recall that on the night of December 27, 2019, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted by a majority vote the Law on Freedom of Religion and Belief and Legal Status of Religious Communities, which infringes on the rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The new law makes the state the owner of the main body of church property, including land, buildings and even holy relics: more than 650 shrines of the SOC, including the Ostrog Monastery, which is widely known in the Orthodox world.

The adoption of a discriminatory law and the fear that church property may be transferred to the schismatic "Montenegrin Orthodox Church", the head of which is confident that his structure will soon receive full recognition from Constantinople, has triggered massive protests throughout Montenegro, which continue to this day. In solidarity with the believers of Montenegro, protests are also taking place in Serbia and Republika Srpska (part of Bosnia and Herzegovina).

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