“The EU is undermining traditional values ​​in Serbia, only Russia is defending them”

Serbia is a multi-religious country. The largest religious association is the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Constitution and laws of Serbia guarantee freedom of religion. The 2006 law divides all religious organizations into two categories: “traditional churches and religious associations” (Serbian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, Reformed Christian Church, Evangelical Christian Church, Jewish and Islamic religious communities) and “confessional associations” (included in a special register)[1]. The difference is that traditional churches and religious associations, unlike denominational associations, have the right to organize religious education in schools. In addition, the 2006 law prohibited the registration of a religious organization if its name is identical to the name of a religious organization already registered in the register or the name of the organization that is being registered[1].

According to the 2002 census, excluding Kosovo:

• Orthodox - 6,371,584 people. (85.0% of the population),
• Catholics - 410,976 people. (5.5% of the population),
• Muslims - 239,658 people. (3.2% of the population),
• Protestants - 80,837 people. (1.1% of the population),
• Jews - 785 people. (0.09% of the population),
• other faiths - 530 people. (0.07% of the population).

According to official data from Jehovah's Witnesses at the end of 2009, there were 3,871 active publishers preaching in Serbia (excluding Kosovo), and 8,365 people attended the Lord's Supper in 2009[2][3].

In 2010, the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Serbia satisfied the application of the Christian Religious Community of Jehovah's Witnesses for registration and included this organization in the state Register of Churches and Religious Communities. Registration came into force on February 8, 2010[4][5][6].

Register of churches and religious communities

Organizations included in the register:

• Serbian Orthodox Church
• Roman Catholic Church
• Slovak Evangelical Church a.v.
• Reformed Christian Church
• Evangelical Christian Church a.v.
• Jewish community
• Islamic community
• Dioceses of the Romanian Orthodox Church
• Christian Adventist Church
• Evangelical Methodist Church
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Evangelical Church in Serbia
• Church of Christ's Love
• Christ's Spiritual Church
• Union of Christian Baptist Churches in Serbia
• Christian Nazarene religious community
• Church of God in Serbia
• Protestant Christian community in Serbia
• Christ Church of the Brothers in the Republic of Serbia
• Free Church of Belgrade
• Christian religious community of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Zion Covenant Church
• Union of Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movements
• Protestant Evangelical Church "Spiritual Center"

Perhaps this is why the Orthodox religion is the main one in Serbia, professed by 65% ​​of the inhabitants. Along with this, there are other religions that have also found their place in this country.

For example, Islam occupies approximately 19%, exists to a lesser extent in Sandjak , and is more prevalent in Kosovo .

The number of Catholics is 4%, Protestants 1%, and other religions approximately 11%.

The Orthodox religion is the state religion in Serbia, and conversion from it to another religion is prohibited.

At the head of the Serbian Church is a synod chaired by the Metropolitan .

In ecclesiastical terms, Serbia consists of three dioceses: Cacak , Belgrade and Niš .

The first mass baptism of Serbs occurred around 610-641, under the Byzantine emperor Heraclius .

Significant in historical and religious terms can be called the figure of St. Sava .

In 1219, for the Serbian Church , as a result of negotiations with the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Greek Emperor, he received permission to have its own autocephalous archbishop .

By order of the government, in 1875, about 40 monasteries were closed. Despite this, at present, in the Serbian Orthodox Church there remain 204 monasteries, 3,500 parishes, about 1,900 priests, as well as 1,000 nuns and 230 monks.

If we talk about monasteries in Serbia , then, as a rule, they are located in remote places from large populated areas.

For example, the convent “Vavedeniya” in Belgrade is located almost outside the city, in a place with a rural landscape. There are only 10 nuns living in this monastery, but by Serbian standards this is not so small.

Monasticism in Serbia is still in its infancy. It is young, both in age and in spiritual experience.

In terms of experience, Serbian monks look up to His Holiness Patriarch Paul , who enjoys enormous authority in the country.

However, there are already monasteries in which everything is already perfectly organized. One such place is the Kovili Monastery .

In general, for Serbian monasteries the real model is Svyatogorsk Hilandar , which was founded at the end of the 12th century by Saint Sava and his father, the Monk Simeon the Myrrh-streaming .

Kovil is famous for his singing. They sing here in Church Slavonic and Serbian, in Byzantine traditions.

Not only the monastery’s charter, but also everyday customs are associated with Athonite traditions For example, the guest will always be offered a cup of coffee or a glass of brandy. However, such hospitality is typical for all Serbs.

Serbs are very friendly, open and friendly people. Despite difficult trials in the form of wars and raids, these people maintained a bright and joyful state of mind.

Perhaps this is why people love to come to Serbia and stay here.

Notes

1. ↑ 12
   Djuric-Milovanovic A. Modern religious transformations in a multicultural environment: neo-Protestant communities in Vojvodina (Serbia) // State, religion, Church in Russia and abroad. — 2014. — No. 2 (32). — P. 98
2. Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2010. - pp. 31-39
3. [www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report.htm 2009 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide]
4. [www.jw-russia.org/releases/20100301_u.htm Jehovah's Witnesses have gained recognition in Serbia]. Press release March 1, 2010.
5. [www.mv.gov.rs/cir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=237&Itemid=65 Ministry of Faith to the Republic of Srbije. Register of Tsrkava and Verskie Zajednica]
6. [www.rtv.rs/sr_ci/drustvo/jehovini-svedoci-priznati-iu-srbiji_175937.html Jehovini svedoci is recognized in Srbiji. — Radio-Television Vojvodina]

Story

The Balkans have been inhabited by people since ancient times. The first inhabitants of this territory known to us were the Illyrians, followed by the Celts (around the 4th century BC) in the 3rd century. BC. The Roman conquest of this country began, and under Emperor Caesar Augustus, the borders of the empire reached the city of Singidunum (present-day Belgrade).

After the division of the Roman Empire, the territory of Serbia became part of Byzantium. In the middle of the century, at the height of the great migration of peoples, Slavic tribes of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes crossed the Danube and occupied most of the Balkan Peninsula. In 879, the Serbs accepted Orthodoxy, and in 969, Serbia separated from Byzantium and created an independent state.

In 1217, the Serbian Kingdom arose. During the reign of Stefan Dušan (1346-1355), it became a great and powerful power that included most of modern Albania and northern Greece. Numerous Orthodox monasteries and churches were built.

The greatest tragedy in the history of the Serbian people was the Battle of Kosovo. It happened on June 28, 1389. On the Kosovo field, the Serbian army was defeated by the Turkish army led by Sultan Murad. This led to Serbia falling under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for 5 centuries.

The Empire ruled Serbia from 1459 to 1804. During this time, the country experienced three major invasions by the Austro-Hungarians and numerous popular uprisings. Turkish rule brought Islam to this land. Some Serbs and Croats were converted to Islam, which led to the formation of the Bosnian-Muslim nation.

The influence of the East had a noticeable impact on culture. During the period of Turkish rule, there was a synthesis of Slavic, Byzantine, Turkish and Arab cultural traditions, which together created the unique appearance of this Balkan region.

An independent Serbian state was again proclaimed in 1816. He managed to achieve complete independence in 1878, when Russia defeated Turkey during the war for the liberation of the South Slavs. In the 19th centuries. Serbia was ruled by two dynasties - the Obrenovich and Karageorgevich.

The First World War began with the aggression of the Austro-Hungarian Empire against Serbia. After its end, Croatia and Slovenia united with Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia into a single Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes

, headed by the King of Serbia. In 1929, the state became known as Yugoslavia.

During World War II, Yugoslavia was divided between aggressor states, but a wide partisan movement developed in the country, which made a significant contribution to the overall victory over fascism. In 1945, Yugoslavia was liberated and declared a federal republic. There were negotiations about its unification with Bulgaria, but disagreements between Stalin and the Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito prevented this and worsened relations between our states for many years.

In 1991, the collapse of the Yugoslav Federation began, which plunged the country into a protracted military conflict. As a result, the union state of Serbia and Montenegro

. On June 3, 2006, as a result of a referendum, Montenegro declared its independence. On June 5, the Serbian Assembly proclaimed the Republic of Serbia as the heir to the union state.

Recently, Serbia has finally managed to overcome the consequences of wars, NATO aggression and internal civil unrest. However, the problem of the autonomous region of Kosovo, which has been removed from the control of Belgrade, remains unresolved. Many thousands of refugees from Kosovo, Serbian Krajina and other regions cannot return to their homes.

Gallery

• Đurđevi stupovi, November 2005.jpg

  Monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi

• Bajrakli džamija.jpg

  Bajrakli Mosque, the only mosque in Belgrade

• Beogradska sinagoga.jpg

  Synagogue in Belgrade

• Topolya1.jpg

  Catholic Cathedral in Backa Topola

• Novi Sad, Protestant Theological College.jpg

  Protestant College in Novi Sad

Excerpt characterizing Religion in Serbia

“I didn’t think they would come so soon.” “I accidentally stayed,” said Pierre. - How did they take you, falcon, from your house? - No, I went to the fire, and then they grabbed me and tried me for an arsonist. “Where there is court, there is no truth,” the little man interjected. - How long have you been here? – asked Pierre, chewing the last potato. - Is that me? That Sunday they took me from the hospital in Moscow. -Who are you, soldier? - Soldiers of the Absheron Regiment. He was dying of fever. They didn't tell us anything. About twenty of us were lying there. And they didn’t think, they didn’t guess. - Well, are you bored here? asked Pierre. - It’s not boring, falcon. Call me Plato; Karataev’s nickname,” he added, apparently in order to make it easier for Pierre to address him. - They called him Falcon in the service. How not to be bored, falcon! Moscow, she is the mother of cities. How not to get bored looking at this. Yes, the worm gnaws at the cabbage, but before that you disappear: that’s what the old men used to say,” he added quickly. - How, how did you say that? asked Pierre. - Is that me? – asked Karataev. “I say: not by our mind, but by God’s judgment,” he said, thinking that he was repeating what had been said. And he immediately continued: “How come you, master, have estates?” And there is a house? Therefore, the cup is full! And is there a hostess? Are your old parents still alive? - he asked, and although Pierre could not see in the darkness, he felt that the soldier’s lips were wrinkled with a restrained smile of affection while he was asking this. He was apparently upset that Pierre did not have parents, especially a mother. “A wife is for advice, a mother-in-law is for greetings, and nothing is dearer than your own mother!” - he said. - Well, do you have any children? – he continued to ask. Pierre's negative answer again apparently upset him, and he hastened to add: “Well, there will be young people, God willing.” If only I could live in the council... “It doesn’t matter now,” Pierre said involuntarily. “Eh, you’re a dear man,” Plato objected. - Never give up money or prison. “He sat down better and cleared his throat, apparently preparing for a long story. “So, my dear friend, I was still living at home,” he began. “Our patrimony is rich, there is a lot of land, the men live well, and our home, thank God.” The priest himself went out to mow. We lived well. They were real Christians. It happened... - And Platon Karataev told a long story about how he went to someone else’s grove behind the forest and was caught by a guard, how he was whipped, tried and handed over to the soldiers. “Well, the falcon,” he said, his voice changing with a smile, “they thought grief, but joy!” My brother should go, if it were not for my sin. And the younger brother has five boys himself - and look, I have only one soldier left. There was a girl, and God took care of her even before she became a soldier. I came on leave, I’ll tell you. I see they live better than before. The yard is full of bellies, women are at home, two brothers are at work. Only Mikhailo, the youngest, is at home. Father says: “All children are equal to me: no matter what finger you bite, everything hurts. If only Plato hadn’t been shaved then, Mikhail would have gone.” He called us all - believe me - he put us in front of the image. Mikhailo, he says, come here, bow at his feet, and you, woman, bow, and your grandchildren bow. Got it? speaks. So, my dear friend. Rock is looking for his head. And we judge everything: sometimes it’s not good, sometimes it’s not okay. Our happiness, my friend, is like water in delirium: if you pull it, it swells, but if you pull it out, there’s nothing. So that. - And Plato sat down on his straw. After being silent for some time, Plato stood up. - Well, I have tea, do you want to sleep? - he said and quickly began to cross himself, saying: “Lord, Jesus Christ, St. Nicholas, Frol and Lavra, Lord Jesus Christ, St. Nicholas!” Frol and Lavra, Lord Jesus Christ - have mercy and save us! - he concluded, bowed to the ground, stood up and, sighing, sat down on his straw. - That's it. “Put it down, God, like a pebble, lift it up like a ball,” he said and lay down, pulling on his greatcoat. -What prayer were you reading? asked Pierre. - Ass? - said Plato (he was already falling asleep). - Read what? I prayed to God. Don’t you ever pray? “No, and I pray,” said Pierre. - But what did you say: Frol and Lavra? “But what about,” Plato quickly answered, “a horse festival.” And we must feel sorry for the livestock,” Karataev said. - Look, the rogue has curled up. She got warm, the son of a bitch,” he said, feeling the dog at his feet, and, turning around again, immediately fell asleep.

“The EU is undermining traditional values ​​in Serbia, only Russia is defending them”

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion around Russia's soft power strategy in the Balkans, with attention focusing mainly on diplomacy and the media. While experts are assessing the effectiveness of public platforms, the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples has been active in religious activities for more than 20 years. The organization, founded in 1995, consolidates and coordinates the efforts of the international Orthodox community in terms of deepening ties with other peoples of the Eastern Christian area in the sphere of spiritual, social, socio-political life, as well as culture, science, and economics. The foundation pays special attention to the spiritual and moral education of children and youth and is engaged in the dissemination of Orthodox culture in the world. The Serbian branch of the fund is headed by Natalia Kotsev. Having assumed this position in 2009, she energetically set about strengthening Russian-Serbian spiritual ties, actively involving representatives of both business and public structures in this process. On the eve of the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture, Natalya Kotsev told Balkanist what projects the foundation is involved in and how strong the position of Orthodoxy is in the region today.

How broad is the Foundation's field of activity in Serbia?

— I have been with the Foundation since 2009 and I can say with confidence that there is a lot of work in Serbia. When I came to the position of director of the Serbian branch, no active work was carried out here. Our first serious step was the opening of a children's cultural center at the school of St. Sava on Vracar in Belgrade. The center continues to operate successfully to this day. And then, after this project, work began to boil.

Among other things, we are involved in festivals, for example, children’s cinema, which we helped organize throughout Serbia for 7 years in a row (I hope when the epidemic subsides, we will launch it again). The Russian Contemporary Cinema Festival was also held with our help. We have done several business forums. Here in Serbia, two international conferences of the Foundation took place: one in Niš and the other in Pirot, and the former president of the country, Tomislav Nikolic, took part in it.

At the same time, we have a program to present awards to people who, through their activities, improve relations between states. In Serbia, their owners were Patriarch Pavel and Patriarch Irinej, former President Tomislav Nikolic, director Emir Kusturica, tennis player Novak Djokovic, Princess Elisabeth Karadjordjevic and others. Any proposal for an award initiated from the Serbian side is considered and approved by the management of the foundation in Moscow and Patriarch Kirill. And then all this is submitted for consideration, as they say, “to the very top.”

In general, we are establishing and strengthening relations, but not a single connection between Serbia and Russia would be any strong if we were not united by the Orthodox faith. And this is very important. Some people say that we are more effective than diplomats, because diplomats are people who came to the country to engage in politics, while our foundation deals with people. Diplomacy often deals with opportunistic issues, but issues of faith and religious unity are eternal and inseparable.

Are the decisions of the fund personally blessed by the Patriarch of Moscow?

- Yes. Patriarch Kirill is the chairman of the board of trustees of our Foundation. And in Serbia, the Patriarch of Serbia is usually the trustee. Until recently, he was the deceased Irenaeus. I hope that the head of our organization [Valery Alekseev, professor at Moscow State University and one of the founders of the International Assembly of Orthodoxy] will soon come to Belgrade, and we will agree that the newly elected head of the SOC, Porfiry, will take a place on the board of trustees.

Previously, when he was Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana, we had very good relations. We held a Foundation conference in Slovenia, and he hosted us very warmly. At that conference, I received the Sergius of Radonezh badge from his hands (and the decree on my award was issued by our Patriarch Kirill).

Tell us about the foundation's projects not related to the religious sphere.

“I want to emphasize that the foundation is not a religious organization, it stands between the people and the Church, and we have the opportunity to deal with not only church affairs.

For 10 years, together with the “Help by Deed” group, formed on the basis of the “Senica” information project, we sent groups of schoolchildren from Kosovo and Metohija on trips around Russia. Knowing the situation in which the Serbs live in Kosovo, we wanted to help them, to make them understand that they are not alone, that the Russians are with them. On these trips, children can not only visit Orthodox shrines, but also look at the life of Russia, its cities, museums, zoos, and schools. In any case, schoolchildren return home filled with positive impressions of our country. The interest in Russia, the love for it that Serbs in general feel, in the case of these children is reinforced by specific knowledge and experience.

We also provide humanitarian assistance to the Serbs of Kosovo. Our partners - both from public associations and simply activists - are raising funds. The most recent example: during the pandemic, we, together with our Russian friends, provided local medical posts with thermometers, blood pressure monitors, disinfectants, protective masks and other things.

In addition to humanitarian activities, we organize business forums and business conferences. We attach great importance to projects aimed at preserving historical memory, and we fight against attempts to rewrite history. At one time, our foundation, together with its compatriots, stood at the head of the “Immortal Regiment” in Serbia: together we organized this procession in Belgrade in 2021, and in a few years the number of participants grew to 10 thousand people. Last year we also had a memorable motor rally in honor of Victory Day: this event promises to become traditional.

Is it difficult for you to work with Kosovo?

— In my direction, working with Kosovo is easy. Because, firstly, we have our own reliable contacts, plus we pay for our projects ourselves.

I mean something else: is the political situation getting in the way?

- No to me, because I am a public figure. And, as a public figure, I don’t need permission from the so-called. Kosovo “authorities” in order to take someone, for example, to Moscow. Now, if the embassy had taken children to Russia, the situation would have been different.

In your opinion, is Serbia a religious country? What is the real number of believers here?

— Serbia is truly an Orthodox country with traditional values. True, external influence, primarily from the European Union, is shaking the situation in society. I have lived in Serbia since 1985, I have something to compare with. The Serbs, even during Yugoslavia, with its equality and brotherhood, lived according to Orthodox laws. And now they are being completely shaken. The same gay pride parade, for example, has been freely taking place in Belgrade for several years now. Where has this been seen? But, on the other hand, Serbia is a small state. It is very difficult for her to resist the European Union; she can only do this with the help of Russia.

As for the number of believers, in my opinion, they are exactly seventy percent. Look how many people gather in churches and how Orthodox holidays are celebrated! But the most important thing is that there are a lot of young people in Serbia who are oriented towards religious traditions. Of course, not all, but many people treat the church with warmth and respect. Youth is the future, and it will be possible to preserve our Slavic world only if we manage to preserve traditional Orthodoxy.

In your opinion, which of the peoples of the former Yugoslavia is the strongest in their faith? Orthodox Serbs, or Catholics - Slovenes and Croats, or Muslims - Bosniaks and Albanians?

— As for the Balkans, I think that the Catholic Church has worked for years to keep its parishioners in their denomination. Muslims did the same. Now, however, everything is not so simple in both Croatia and Bosnia. Everyone is leaving somewhere in the West. But in Serbia, with the collapse of Yugoslavia (which the West “killed”), Orthodoxy grew stronger, although not enough. In general, to be honest, at the moment the Catholics are ahead of us.

Does a common faith help strengthen ties between our countries?

- Yes, faith is of great importance. The Orthodox people are different. A true believer welcomes a fellow believer with open arms. And we, Russians, feel this in Serbia, and here even politicians are religious. Do you know how many Serbian politicians dream of receiving some kind of award from the Church, in particular from the Russian Orthodox Church? The Church, whether you like it or not, is the connecting link between the Orthodox Slavic states.

Can the church act as an alternative source of diplomacy in the Balkans? Is it possible to promote political ideas and goals through the church? The Vatican, for example, does this well.

— Well, the Church is not a political structure. But Catholicism and Orthodoxy are different things. I believe that Orthodoxy is not involved in politics. Take the relationship between Russia and Serbia: Orthodoxy simply helps our peoples, even our presidents, to be closer. Aleksandar Vucic and Vladimir Putin communicate warmly and brotherly with each other, like Orthodox Slavic brothers, but I don’t think their religious feelings influence their political decisions. The Orthodox Church is separated from the state.

How would you comment on the accusations of local pro-Western politicians who claim that “in Serbia the church influences the decisions of the authorities,” literally “incites” them or puts pressure on them?

“I don’t know where these accusations come from.” I didn’t notice this either under Patriarch Paul or under Irenaeus. The church did not influence government decisions. They interact, but at some cultural, social level or something. Take the issue of Kosovo: the Church and the authorities have their own vision on this issue. It just coincides: Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia. I observed the interaction between the President of Serbia and Patriarch Irinej and saw that they found a common language. The Kosovo issue is still open, but I believe that in the end it will someday be resolved in favor of the Serbian people. Although, of course, achieving this will not be easy.