- Title: Protesters block roads to stop enthronement of Montenegro's top cleric
- Date: 4th September 2021
- Summary: PEOPLE IN FRONT OF MONASTERY PORFIRIJE WALKING ON STAND TO ADDRESS PEOPLE (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) PATRIARCH OF SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, PORFIRIJE, SAYING: "Everybody is invited to be our brothers. In that key - the key of Christ, in His mirror - we do not have enemies, even if, stirred by the powers of this world, driven by selfish and transient interests, some may see the church of Christ, even the Christ Himself and us, the Orthodox Christians, as enemies.†CETINJE, MONTENEGRO (SEPTEMBER 4, 2021) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) PEOPLE IN FRONT OF CETINJE MONASTERY HOLDING LIGHTS, WAVING FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) PATRIARCH OF SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, PORFIRIJE, SAYING: "Is Metropolitan Joanikije worthy to sit on the throne of Saint Peter of Cetinje?" PEOPLE APPLAUDING, SHOUTING IN APPROVAL (Serbian): "Worthy! Worthy!" VARIOUS OF STAGE IN FRONT OF MONASTERY, PORFIRIJE GREETING JOANIKIJE II VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN FRONT OF MONASTERY SINGING, WAVING FLAGS OF MONTENEGRO AND SERBIA, LIGHTING UP FLARES
- Embargoed: 18th September 2021 20:59
- Keywords: Montenegro Orthodox church Serbia Serbian Orthodox Church
- Location: CETINJE, MONTENEGRO
- City: CETINJE, MONTENEGRO
- Country: Montenegro
- Topics: Europe,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA003ETAZ9DL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Several thousand protesters used tyres, rocks and vehicles to block roads leading to the city of Cetinje in southwest Montenegro on Saturday (September 4) in a bid to stop the Serbian Orthodox Church holding an enthronement ceremony for its new top cleric.
The protests reflect tensions in the Balkan country, which remains deeply divided over its ties with Serbia, with some advocating closer ties with Belgrade and others opposing any pro-Serb alliance.
Montenegro left its union with Serbia in 2006 but its church did not get autonomy and remained under the Serbian Orthodox Church, making it a symbol to some of Serbian influence.
Opponents of the enthronement of Joanikije II to the top clerical position, known as the Metropolitan of Montenegro and Archbishop of Cetinje, pushed through police barricades on Saturday, taking control of roads leading to the city.
At one point police used tear gas but this failed to disperse the protesters who said they would hold the barricades through the night.
Protesters also took down a fence the police had put around the monastery in Cetinje where the enthronement is supposed to take place on Sunday morning.
"We are on the barricades today because we are fed up with Belgrade denying our nation, and telling us what are our religious rights," protestor Andjela Ivanovic told Reuters. "All religious objects (churches) built in Montenegro belong to people here and to the state of Montenegro."
By contrast, in capital Podgorica, thousands gathered to greet the Serbian Patriarch who arrived on Saturday afternoon
(Production Branko Filipovic, Hedy Beloucif) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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