They can write whatever they want in the Basic Agreement, but they cannot stop Montenegro or the Montenegrin Orthodox Church (MOC). Our Holy Montenegrin Orthodox Church will not prevent it from being recognized by the majority of Orthodox Churches, as it has been recognized and respected for several centuries. For us, everything that they eventually bring and adopt, and be against the interests of Montenegro and the MOC, will be null and void. Then they will understand what the exclamation “It is not our Government” means, said Bishop Boris Bojović in an interview for Aktuelno.
Aktuelno: The basic agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) has almost been signed, and the Montenegrin public, even the political one, is not familiar with the content of the document. The media speculated about the disputed members, that, among other things, the contract stated that no religious Orthodox building could be built in Montenegro without the consent of the competent archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. What kind of possessions for Montenegro and its sacral heritage can this have?
Bojović: Could anyone normal accept this absurdity to ask the bishops of another church and another state, where and when we will build Montenegrin temples. If some in the Balkans had to ask for permission from the Ottoman government for the construction of their churches for centuries, Montenegrins did not, so even now they will not ask for permission from Serbian bishops. To all those involved in this betrayal: from the clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, to politicians and state officials, may God forgive, but history and Montenegro will never. They should always be mentioned that in the first Constitution of Montenegro from 1905, Article 40 reads: “… The Montenegrin church is autocephalous. It does not depend on any side of the Church… ”
Aktuelno: It is mentioned that Article 19 of the Serbian Law on Religious Communities can also be found in the agreement. According to that article, “a religious organization whose name contains a name that expresses the identity of a church or organization that has already been registered or has previously submitted a request for registration cannot be entered in the register.” If this article is in the contract, what would it mean for MOC?
Bojović: I am of the opinion that they can write whatever they want in the agreement, but neither Montenegro nor the Montenegrin Orthodox Church can be stopped. I cannot prevent our homeland from being a full member of the EU. Our Holy Montenegrin Orthodox Church will not prevent it from being recognized by the majority of Orthodox Churches, as it has been recognized and respected for several centuries. Let us remind them and many others who have forgotten that only the MOC was free in the whole Balkans for a long time. For us, everything that they eventually bring and adopt, and be against the interests of Montenegro and the MOC, will be null and void. Then they will understand what the exclamation “It's not our government” means. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church was renovated in 1993, by the will of God and the Montenegrin Orthodox people. She reported her renewal only in 2000, because until then they prevented us from applying according to the law. So, to point out, the renewal of the MOC as a Church (i.e., a religious community) has been reported. MOC has never been registered as a non-governmental organization! According to the new law (before unconstitutional changes), the MOC was registered in 2020 in the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.
Aktuelno: What does the abolition of the Episcopal Council mean for the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and Joanikije?
Bojović: That Episcopal Council has no foundation in the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and it was a camouflage for the non-existent “autonomy” of the dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro. It was a “carrot on a long stick” for everyone who thought they could turn the Serbian Orthodox Church into a non-existent church organization in Montenegro, under the name “Orthodox Church in Montenegro”. There is no need for any camouflage anymore, but they still admitted that they are the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.
Aktuelno: How do you assess the open interference of the Serbian Orthodox Church in political events in Montenegro? Were you surprised by the fact that the religious organization managed to abuse the feelings of the faithful for political purposes?
Bojović: The Serbian Orthodox Church has only returned to its centuries-old positions, because it has always been an important factor for all authorities through the centuries, from collecting taxes for the Ottoman Empire to today's interference in almost all political events in the region. The top of the Serbian Orthodox Church has long been abusing spiritual and religious feelings, manipulating and using religious rites, liturgies and almost all gatherings that its clergy attend for national political purposes. One example is when e.g. SOC priest preaches “Greater Serbia” program at funerals in Montenegro. Not everyone is like that, there are a lot of real clergymen and honest people in the Serbian Orthodox Church, but they cannot express themselves.
Aktuelno: How do you assess the earlier statement of Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić that the Basic Agreement should be signed in Cetinje?
Bojović: As a very deliberate provocation! According to that plan, the Serbian patriarch should come and sign together in the middle of Cetinje that the Cetinje monastery and all other monasteries and churches are no longer Montenegrin but the Serbian Orthodox Church. Only slowly! I think they can try, but don't forget that we Montenegrins are gone too. See for yourself what is the response of the people of Cetinje and Montenegrins to the works that are being performed without permission at the Cetinje Monastery.
Aktuelno: How do you, as the Bishop of the MOC, see Krivokapić's speeches in public appearances from greetings “for many summers”, the story of the otherworldly world… ?
Bojović: There is a state protocol, so there is a church protocol… and maybe the Prime Minister wants to tell us that he knows the Church Slavonic language. He should be constantly reminded that Montenegro is a secular state, regardless of the fact that his election was made in a church (under someone else's administration).
A. Šofranac