CETINJE: The new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro was inaugurated on Sunday, arriving by helicopter under the protection of police who dispersed protesters with tear gas.

The decision to anoint Bishop Joanikije as the new Metropolitan of Montenegro at the historic monastery of Cetinje has aggravated ethnic tension in the tiny Balkan state.

Protesters had blocked roads since Saturday in a bid to prevent access to the small town, both the headquarters of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) and a symbol of sovereignty for some Montenegrins.

Montenegro broke away from Serbia in 2006, but a third of its 620,000 inhabitants identify as Serbs and some deny Montenegro should be a separate entity.

The SPC is the dominant religion in the small state but its opponents accuse it of serving Belgrade’s interests.

And the government that assumed power at the end of 2020 is accused by its opponents of being too close to the church.

According to images released by the SPC, Joanikije and Patriarch Porfirije were dropped off by helicopter on the monastery’s lawn and rushed in under the sound of bells. A security perimeter had been set up by police around the 15th century building to protect the brief enthronement ceremony.

Police fired tear gas and used sonic cannons to clear the protesters from the monastery. Around 50 people were wounded and 14 were arrested as a result of the unrest.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2021