All those who love Montenegro want to see it as a democratic society based on the rule of law and respect for agreed (contracted) principles. Without such principles, every society is condemned to numerous difficulties and is prevented from expressing all its potentials. That's what we, Orthodox Christians and priests, think too - who see ourselves as equal citizens (neither privileged nor subordinate), with other residents of Montenegro. And if the local government doesn't think so, then we have a big problem.
Because, a Christian is obliged to respect state norms and principles, but he does not have to love them - as the French philosopher Rousseau would say: "A Christian is never fully and completely tied to any earthly state, because he basically feels like a member of the Heavenly Kingdom." . And so it is, from Christ until today. However, from Christ to this day, the Lord's principle is also valid: "For the king, the king's, and for God, God's"! That principle leaves no doubt as to whether Christians will be orderly and loyal subjects of the earthly state.
On the other hand, modern state authorities swear that they respect, but also love the principles of legality, justice and principles. And that is so normal, because state institutions and those who personally perform political functions are instructed to create and strengthen the democratic norms by which society lives. That is why I say that it is problematic when our Montenegrin government is tempted to violate the democratic, legal and secular character of the state and society with its behavior.
Today, there are three religious schools in Montenegro - two madrassas (in Tuzi and Rožaje) and one seminary in Cetinje. The madrasa in Tuzi began construction in 2000 as "the first Islamic school in Montenegro", while the madrasa in Rožaje was opened in 2001 as a branch of the madrasa in Novi Pazar (Serbia). The latter is registered only in Serbia. I use this opportunity to wish the administrations of both religious Islamic schools every happiness and progress in their work. I would like them to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their successful work, as the Cetinje seminary celebrated this year. My emotions, as a Christian and a believer, are always and only positive towards Muslim believers and their religious institutions. I consider anyone who "fears Allah" to be close to me.
However, I am confused by local politicians, whose religious beliefs I am not familiar with (and I am not - because it is, among other things, a matter of human intimacy), but I am bothered by their unprincipled behavior in the field of civil norms and governance of a secular state. Here's what it's all about.
These days we organized the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Cetinje Seminary in 1863. This is not an opportunity for a broader historical retrospective, but I would like to remind you of the basic facts:
The school was founded by Prince Nikola, with the help of Archimandrite Nićifor Dučić and the future Metropolitan Ilarion Roganović. It worked successfully, with certain interruptions (Montenegro-Turkish War 1876-78; World War I; World War II and the time of communism). It has changed statuses and statutes, names, plans and programs... but it has always been and remains a place of education primarily for the Orthodox clergy in Montenegro, and in addition, for a time as a theology-teacher school, it produced numerous teachers, civil servants and national champions. Among professional theological subjects, and those of a general linguistic, philosophical and historical nature, subjects such as: Serbian language or, say, Serbian history with geography, were studied in it from the beginning! I mention this as a notorious historical fact, with which I will clarify the question that opens before us. Likewise, since the establishment of this only and oldest church school in the Principality (and then the Kingdom) of Montenegro, its patron and protector was Saint Sava, the first Serbian archbishop. That is why, when today, in the renovated Cetinje seminary (which has been operating continuously from 1992 to 2013), in addition to numerous other subjects, we teach students the Serbian language and literature, or when we teach them the history of Christianity or the history of the Serbian Church and when we celebrate Saint Sava, we do nothing else - except what Prince Nikola and Montenegrin church educators did from 1863 to 1918.
So, to this celebration of the oldest high school in Montenegro, the school from which other high schools and gymnasiums grew, and in a way the modern Montenegrin University, we invited representatives of the Montenegrin authorities. We invited them to join us in organizing the celebration or at least to be guests who will attend the celebration. They refused! I won't name individuals, but I will say that they used the following views: The Cetinje seminary is not part of the educational system of Montenegro; the celebration falls on the days of the pre-election campaign in Cetinje; and imagine - they are not sure whose interests the Seminary of St. Peter of Cetinje serves! Is it the interests of Montenegro, or someone else's?
Now, Mr. Igor Lukšić (whom, for the sake of truth, we did not personally contact about the seminary, but we did contact other people from the Government, the ministers responsible for this topic), last year, in 2012, visited the madrasa in Tuzi twice - in the capacity of Prime Minister. Once in the spring during graduation ceremonies at that school, and the second time in October, on the eve of the parliamentary elections themselves. On neither occasion nor on another occasion was the mentioned madrasa part of the state education system. (And let him be, I regret that he didn't have time to go a few more times - because the madrasa deserves it.) That madrasa is named after the Turkish Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, a man who, as the occupier of the Balkan Christian lands, significantly influenced the medieval Montenegro to lose its independence. What would some local artists say - that man influenced Montenegro (Zeta) to "disappear"! (And let it bear such a name, it is the full right of the local Muslims to give their schools the names they want.) At the graduation ceremony in Tuzi, together with Lukšić, the vice president of the Turkish government, Mr. Bekir Bozdag. Lukšić's speech, and everything that was said at that academy, was simultaneously translated into Turkish!!! (I repeat – so be it. Let people celebrate and talk as they want!)
I just wonder, as a citizen, as a priest and as the rector of the Theological Seminary of St. Peter of Cetinje, why the same principles that apply to a young and promising madrasa do not apply to the oldest Montenegrin high school?! Why is the name of Saint Peter of Cetinje less suitable than "Mehmed Fatih"? Why are the financial resources from Turkey (which in the form of aid receives the madrasa in Tuzi - and may it receive, God grant that they do not lack anything), cleaner than those from Serbia (which, among other aid from Montenegro, receives the Cetinje seminary)? Why is the presence of the state of Turkey and the use of the Turkish language less of a problem for the state of Montenegro than the participation of the state of Serbia and the use of the Serbian language in the Cetinje seminary? Why is it necessary to go to a madrasa before some elections, but not to a seminary? Who cares about the name and presence of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Cetinje, but does not mind the presence of the representative of the Islamic Community in Turkey, Dr. Ali Erbas, or, say, the director of the Turkish government agency for the diaspora, Kemal Jurtnac - in Tuzi? I repeat for the hundredth time, these Turks do not bother me. What's more, they came to us well, but what kind of double standards are the Montenegrin authorities?
The answers to these questions are much more important for the health and future of Montenegrin society than for the survival of the Cetinje seminary, because with God's help and the prayerful intercession of Saint Peter the Wonderworker of Cetinje, we are preparing for the next 150 years of life and work, for the good of the Universal Church. and for the advancement of its age-old educational, spiritual and moral mission in Montenegro.
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