According to the new Law on Freedom of Religion, which was adopted by the new government after winning the elections, all four dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) in our country were registered in the register of religious communities, so now in Montenegro there are a total of 20 religious communities registered, which are recognized by law.
"When we talk about the religious communities that requested to be registered under the new law, we are talking about four - they are the Metropolis of Montenegrin-Primorska (MCP), the Eparchy of Budamlje-Nikšić, the Eparchy of Zahum-Herzegovina and the Eparchy of Mileševska, which is the last to be registered. Based on that registration and the last four, we now have 20 registered religious communities in Montenegro up to this moment," said Bojan Božović, State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice.
The MCP submitted its application for registration on June 9 and stated in it that it was founded in 1220, that its seat is the Cetinje Monastery and that the authorized person is Metropolitan Joanikije.
According to the data on the website of the Ministry of Justice, the Diocese of Budimljansko-Niššić was also registered in the Book of Registered Religious Communities in June, and the Diocese of Zahumsko-Herzegovina in July. The Diocese of Budimlja-Nikšić also stated that it was founded in 1220. The third diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro - Mileševska - was registered this month.
The other 16 religious communities were registered on the basis of the previously valid Law and they are - Jehovah's Witnesses, Montenegrin Orthodox Church (CPC), Archdiocese of Bar, Kotor Diocese, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Montenegro, Jewish Community, Church of the Gospel of Christ, Eparchy of Podgorica - the Dukljan Orthodox Church of Montenegro, the Christian Adventist Church, the Beacon Christian Center, the Evangelical Church Word of God, the Mosaic Christian Community, the Biblical Christian Community, the Community of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Islamic Community and the religious community called - Baha i Vjera.
In the documentation that the CPC submitted to the Ministry in 2020, there is no information about the establishment of that religious community, but a certificate from the Ministry of Interior from January 17, 2000, when the CPC was reported to the Cetinje police, was attached.
According to the new Law, the Unified Record of Religious Communities, in addition to the Book of Registered Religious Communities, also includes the Book of Registered Religious Communities in which newly founded religious communities are registered.
"Until this moment, we do not have a single registered religious community, although we are in the process of registering several religious communities, which have submitted documentation, but they have to comply with the legal criteria," said Božović.
TV Vijesti was informed by the Ministry of Justice that in the past eight years, close to one million and 600 thousand euros have been paid to religious communities from the budget. The CPC received 440 euros, the Islamic Community nearly 430, the Metropolitanate of Montenegrin littoral around 371, the Catholic Church was given close to 198 euros during that period, and the Jewish community 141.
Last year, the Diocese of Podgorica Dukljana of the Orthodox Church of Montenegro headed by Lav Lajović received a little over 9 thousand euros, according to the Ministry.
They emphasize that freedom of religion is a basic human right, and that the department's task is to strongly advocate for its respect. To that end, as they say, the website of the Ministry will soon have all the necessary information regarding religious communities.
"So that the public has a clear picture of which religious communities are recognized by law in Montenegro..." Božović concluded.
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