To avoid directly targeting the influential Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, Podgorica’s mayor filed a criminal complaint against unknown perpetrators, who were “dressed like priests”, for holding a mass on disputed property.
The Serbian Orthodox service led by bishop Amfilohije on Sunday. Photo: mitropolija.com
The mayor of the Montenegrin capital Podgorica, Slavoljub Stijepovic, filed a criminal complaint alleging a violation of the municipality's property rights after Serbian Orthodox priests held a mass in a disused marketplace to mark the start of construction of a new church.
The public mass was attended by hundreds of people in the fenced-off open-air marketplace which, according to the local media, both the municipality and the Serbian Orthodox Church claim.
The mayor’s criminal complaint said that unknown perpetrators broke in to the former marketplace in the Konik neighbourhood, trespassing on municipality land.
"The unknown perpetrators were dressed in clerical robes," the mayor’s press statement said.
The Serbian church held a mass on the disputed site on Sunday, led by leading bishop Amfilohije and also attended by representatives of the Catholic and Muslim communities.
A church statement said it marked the start of construction of the temple of St. Basil of Ostrog.
In March, over 6,500 people living in the neighbourhood signed a petition for the construction of an orthodox church at the old marketplace in Konik.
The Serbian Orthodox Church said it has asked the city to give it the land for the construction of the temple, and that the urban plan for the area envisions the construction of religious buildings.
However the Serbian church and the state have been at odds over property and other issues for years.
The Serbian Orthodox Church has been accusing the government of discrimination against what it claims is the most populous religious community in Montenegro, depriving some of its priests with Serbian citizenship from preaching in Montenegro.
In 2006, the church opposed Montenegrin independence, and it champions close national as well as religious ties to Serbia.
The church also alleges that its ownership of some properties has been erased from the land register.
Over the years, its priests have repeatedly urged top politicians to stop the seizure of property owned by the church and to allow it to enjoy the same rights as other religious communities in the country.
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