Originally from Montenegro, 20 February 2023
The Orthodox church in Rozhaje, Montenegro – a town where the vast majority of the population is Muslim – has recently been renovated with financial support from the entire local community.
However, the public has reacted with shock after seeing the new interior paintings inside the Ruzhica church.
On the central wall, one of the frescoes shows men wearing traditional fezzes, holding knives directly above a cradle with a sleeping baby. On another part of the wall, armed Ottomans with sabres are depicted in front of a burning church.
Strong reactions from the Social Democrats
The Social Democrats of Montenegro (SD) issued a statement through their spokesperson, Nikola Zirojević:
“The church in Rozhaje was renovated with donations, largely from the people of Rožaje – predominantly Muslims. The priest’s house was also built by the Rozhaje diaspora, again mostly people of Islamic faith.
I have never heard a single bad word about the church or the Orthodox faith from anyone in Rozhaje. Even in politically tense times, my friends from there have always spoken with deep respect about a faith that is not their own.
And yet this is how the priest repays them – by carving a wooden figure of Chetnik commander Draža Mihailović and by allowing frescoes to be painted that show Muslims with swords standing over a baby’s cradle.”
Zirojević added that the people of Rozhaje have already forgiven the priest for the Draža Mihailović figure and will likely forgive this scandal as well.
“Because this is Rozhaje – a city that welcomes everyone and makes sure that every citizen feels at home. But the fact that the good people here will forgive does not mean we should stay silent about acts that deeply divide our society. These are pure provocations.”
– Nikola Zirojević, spokesperson for the Social Democrats of Montenegro
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