Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Video: A Vision for Orthodox Christianity’s Future in North America
    • Another Attempt to Break the Silence: Why Orthodox Christians in America Must Stand with the Persecuted in Russia
    • Assembly of Bishops Newsletter – Q1 2025
    • Opinion: The Theological School’s Experiments
    • New Icon of All Saints of North America to Debut at 21st All-American Council
    • IOTA Future Leaders Program
    • Reimagining Orthodox Campus Ministry
    • His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Presides at Services in Anchorage Celebrating the Canonization of the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    • Home
    • OCL
      • About OCL
      • Leadership
      • OCL News
      • OCL Publications
      • Focused Study and Research Topics
      • OCL Archives at DePaul University
    • Orthodox News & Links
      • Orthodox News Stories
      • Headlines & News Archives
      • Governance & Unity
        • Governance Top Stories
        • Governance & Unity Essays
        • Grassroots Unity in Action
      • OCL Forums
      • Orthodox Christian Laity News
      • Web Links
    • Audio & Video
      • Audio Index
      • Video Index
    • Contact
    • Make a Donation
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    You are at:Home»Orthodox News»Serbian Church Urges Montenegro NATO Referendum

    Serbian Church Urges Montenegro NATO Referendum

    0
    By Webmaster on January 5, 2016 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Telegram WhatsApp Copy Link
    Photo:mitropolija.me#sthash.7Y65X1IC.dpuf
    Photo:mitropolija.me#sthash.7Y65X1IC.dpuf

    Source: Balkan Insight

    The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro has urged the authorities to organize a referendum on NATO membership after Russian clerics and political leaders voiced their opposition.

    by Dusica Tomovic – BIRN – Podgorica
    The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro said that it was its “pastoral and civic” duty to ask for a referendum on NATO membership – a call which echoed demands made by Russian politicians and clerics after the Western military alliance invited Podgorica to join last month.

    “It is our duty in the name of the Church that gave birth to Montenegro… to say that it is necessary that such a historic decision, like the decision on independence, is made by all citizens in a free referendum, and not simply by pressure from the ruling clique,” it said in a statement.

    The statement came after the Russian Orthodox Church expressed concern about the situation in Montenegro, where the country’s large Serbian community bitterly oppose membership of the Western military alliance.

    The Serbian Orthodox Church, which wields great influence in the country, has repeatedly criticized the Montenegrin government for its plan to join NATO.

    On the official website of the Montenegrin Metropolitanate, which is part of the Serbian Orthodox Church, an announcement has been posted for a new anti-NATO protest in Podgorica on January 13, where pro-Russian parties and organizations are also celebrating the ‘Serb New Year’, the traditional Orthodox beginning of the year according to the Julian calendar.

    With support from Moscow, most of the opposition parties representing the large ethnic Serbian community say they will try to stop Montenegro becoming the 29th member of NATO without a referendum.

    Mainly Slavic in ethnicity and Orthodox in religion, Montenegrins have a long history of close relations with Moscow, which anti-NATO activists use as an important argument against membership.

    Last week, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill also expressed concern that Montenegro could join NATO.

    Meeting Serbian Interior Minister Nikola Selakovic in Moscow, Kirill said: “We worry about the events in Montenegro as we see that people are against the plan to join and that all the protests are being put down.”

    Russian President Vladimir Putin last week also signed an updated national security paper describing NATO’s further expansion as a threat.

    Moscow has already described NATO’s invitation for Montenegro to join as confrontational, with the Russian foreign ministry claiming it would lead “to further fragmentation of the European security space”.

    In December, Russia urged Montenegro to hold a referendum on joining NATO, arguing that less the half of its population backed joining the alliance.

    The alleged potential for Russian interference in Montenegro was raised in October, when protesters and police clashed in Podgorica during demonstrations against the country’s veteran Prime Minister Milo Djukaonovic.

    Although officials in Moscow denied Djukanovic’s allegations that they orchestrated the protests because many of the protesters were demonstrating over corruption and the state of the economy, speculation about Moscow’s role mounted when the leading Serbian bishop in Montenegro, Amfilohije, publicly lamented the country’s separation from “Mother Russia”.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleCzarist echo? Russian Orthodox Church drives to restore its political clout
    Next Article Info on January 22 DC March, Sanctity of Life retreat now available

    Related Posts

    July 5, 20251 Min Read

    Video: A Vision for Orthodox Christianity’s Future in North America

    July 5, 20259 Mins Read

    Another Attempt to Break the Silence: Why Orthodox Christians in America Must Stand with the Persecuted in Russia

    June 30, 20252 Mins Read

    New Icon of All Saints of North America to Debut at 21st All-American Council

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Register for OCL's Annual Conference - October 11, 2025

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Enter the Slogan Contest

    Share this page
    DISCLAIMER

    All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    Stay Informed!

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT!

    Your donation impacts and helps advance the unity of the Orthodox Church of America.

    DONATE NOW

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

    Upcoming Events
    Jul 16
    12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT

    John Zizioulas’s “Remembering the Future” (Virtual)

    View Calendar
    Recent Comments
    • Lou Gaviras on How will the Female Diaconate Help Prevent Abuse?
    • pERRY tORMAS on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Perry Tormas on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Myron Kaleras on How will the Female Diaconate Help Prevent Abuse?
    • Levantios on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • Jerry Maras on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • John on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • Jupiter's Son on Leading Liturgists Reaffirm the Ordination of Women to the Diaconate
    • Timothy Mulligan on Ethno-Phyletism: A Problem for the American Church
    • Angela Skinner on Orthodox Christian Unity in America – Papers in Support (New: See Paper No. 5)
    OCL Archives Online
    Project for Orthodox Renewal
    renewal-resize
    OCL Digital Newsletter

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    MAKE A DONATION

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Facebook
    Twitter
    YouTube

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2023 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2025 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.