The Montenegrin Orthodox Church reacts in the strongest possible terms to the decision of the Municipality of Budva to allocate one million euros in the Draft Budget for 2026 to the Serbian Orthodox Church, while earmarking a total of only 150,000 euros for all other registered religious communities, including the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. Such a distribution represents an open act of discrimination and a continuation of decades of step-motherly treatment toward the Montenegrin Orthodox Church.

For years we have felt systematic marginalization, and today we are witnessing its full institutionalization. Throughout the civilized world it is well known that discrimination is not remedied by formally “giving everyone the same,” but by providing additional support to those who have been historically and socially marginalized, in order to at least partially correct injustice. Only in Montenegro, it seems, is the opposite logic applied: a religious community to which hundreds of monasteries and churches have already been handed over, and which for years has enjoyed millions in institutional support, is granted additional funds, while the Montenegrin Orthodox Church is left with crumbs falling from the table.

It is especially disgraceful that this act is justified as a political “compromise” aimed at preserving bare power and privileges. The idea that one million euros, granted outside any clear and transparent legal procedure, can be “balanced out” by distributing 150,000 euros among other religious communities—amounting in practice to just over six thousand euros per community—constitutes a gross insult to common sense and to the most basic sense of justice.

Montenegrins, although still the most numerous people in the population structure, with over 37 percent, are remembered only in the run-up to elections, when their votes are needed. Afterwards, parts of the political establishment, including those who publicly present themselves as “state-building” forces, participate in the humiliation of Montenegrins and their Church. Every gesture of support for such decisions is a Judas kiss and Peter’s denial—not only of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, but of the very idea of Montenegro itself.

A particular share of responsibility for this disgrace lies with the political actors who in Budva accepted such an arrangement, above all the Democratic Party of Socialists and the European Alliance, who, for the sake of a few positions within the structures of power, agreed to participate in open discrimination against the Montenegrin Orthodox Church.

Nevertheless, we state clearly: Montenegro is stronger than its politicians, and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church is stronger than any discrimination. We believe that the day of our resurrection will come. But let no one think that we will then be the same, or that we will forget who remained silent today and who raised their hand against justice, dignity, and truth.

Cetinje, 29 December 2025

Office for Public Relations
Montenegrin Orthodox Church