"The Montenegrin Games"

The upcoming elections in Serbia are having a significant impact on the church as well.

Over the past few weeks, Aleksandar Vučić has made several high-profile statements that have caused a major stir in Montenegro. In particular, he raised the issue of Podgorica’s desire to worsen relations with Belgrade, as well as previous plans to establish an “independent church” in the country. Regarding the latter point, the Montenegrin Metropolis was even compelled to issue an official statement criticizing the Serbian president’s remarks.

According to experts, an experienced politician like Aleksandar Vučić did not make these statements—which create tension in relations with Podgorica—without good reason. The reason for this move is the upcoming elections, which promise to be quite challenging for the Serbian head of state. In this regard, Vučić is extremely interested in mobilizing his electorate. And this, according to experts, is precisely achieved by playing the “church” and “patriotic” cards, as well as by creating the image of an “external enemy.”

Unfortunately, the Serbian Orthodox Church is bearing the brunt of this. Given the current situation, its opponents have begun to fan the flames by reviving the old claim that the Serbian Orthodox Church allegedly wishes to establish the Boka Kotorska Diocese (at the expense of the Montenegrin Metropolis). The essence of this provocation is simple: to pit Patriarch Porphyry against Metropolitan Ioannikios, to worsen relations between the Serbian Orthodox Church and Podgorica (at present, the Montenegrin authorities are taking a balanced stance toward the Serbian Orthodox Church), and to foster negative attitudes toward the Church in Belgrade among the clergy of the Montenegrin Metropolis.
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