Amfilohije, Metropolitan of Montenegro

Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Joanikije and Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church.

Thus, Montenegrin government put itself in the service of the forces of this world, which exist only and exclusively on polarizations, the patriarch stated.

Successive governments under the control of current President Milo Djukanovic signed similar agreements with smaller religious communities in the country (Catholic, Islamic and Jewish), but not with the SOC, with which it developed an increasingly confrontational relationship in the last decade.

Metropolitan Joanikije and Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church

"This government and its prime minister didn't fulfill promises given to the Serbian Orthodox Church or our expectations, and they don't have our trust. We have to talk within the ruling majority," Mandic told media.

"We have arranged with His Holiness to agree on the date of signing the basic agreement. I am looking forward to the election of a new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral with great faith that he will lead the people like his predecessor, the blessed Metropolitan Amfilohije," said Krivokapic who met with the Serbian patriarch in Belgrade on Thursday afternoon.