Serbian nationalists march in protest against Kosovo talks
Belgrade, Serbia Reuters Hundreds of Serb nationalists and Orthodox Christians marched in Belgrade on Sunday to protest against a Western plan aimed at mending ties between Serbia and its former province Kosovo. Many Serbs view Kosovo, home to the Serbian Orthodox faith’s main churches and monasteries, as the heartland of the Serb nation. People walk […]
Orthodox celebrate Christmas in shadow of conflict
Moscow, Russia AP Orthodox Christians packed churches on Friday evening for Christmas Eve services, a holiday darkened for many by the conflict raging between Orthodox neighbours Russia and Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world’s largest Orthodox denomination, led elaborate services at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral, with dozens of priests […]
Thousands march in Belgrade against planned gay pride parade
Belgrade, Serbia Reuters Thousands of religious and right-wing activists marched through Serbia’s capital on Sunday calling for authorities to ban a gay pride march planned for next weekend. The protesters – who carried a massive Serbian flag – included groups who also shouted slogans backing Serbia’s long-term ally Russia, as well as nationalistic and far-right […]
Serbian Orthodox church head publicly supports EuroPride ban
Belgrade, Serbia AP The head of Serbia’s powerful Orthodox Church on Tuesday supported a ban on a pan-European LGBTQ event due to take place in Belgrade next week, saying that the topic has been “artificially imposed” and threatens traditional values in the Balkan country. The special video statement by Patriarch Porfirije comes amid a heated […]
Montenegro government church deal triggers initiative for no-confidence motion
Podgorica, Montenegro Reuters Several political parties initiated a parliamentary no-confidence motion in the Montenegro’s government after it signed a long-disputed contract regulating the country’s ties with the powerful Serbian Orthodox Church on Wednesday. Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic has insisted the deal would resolve a long-standing domestic problem and help heal deep divisions between pro-European Union parties […]
Churches of Serbia, North Macedonia, end decades-old dispute
Skopje, North Macedonia AP The head of Serbia’s Orthodox Church said Tuesday that he would recognise the full independence of the church in neighbouring North Macedonia, signaling an end to a decades-old religious dispute. The Macedonian Church unilaterally announced its independence, or autocephaly, from the Serbian Church in 1967, while the two predominantly Orthodox republics […]
Head of Serbian Orthodox Church tests positive for virus
Belgrade, Serbia AP Patriarch Porfirije, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, has tested positive for COVID-19, the church said Tuesday, amid a surge in infections in the country and elsewhere in the Balkan region. Porfirije has developed “very mild symptoms of the virus infection” and remains in home isolation, said the statement. It added […]
Ethnic tensions flare up in Montenegro over church ceremony
Podgorica, Montenegro AP Protesters clashed with hundreds of riot police in the old capital of Montenegro on Saturday, setting up blockades of tyres and large rocks ahead of the inauguration of the new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the small Balkan nation. The ceremony planned for Sunday in Cetinje has angered opponents of […]