Podgorica, Montenegro; Lipa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, January 20, 2022
The Church of the Ascension in Podgorica. Photo: mitropolija.com
Serbian Orthodox churches in places like Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro are not infrequently attacked and vandalized, and unfortunately, two more such attacks have occurred this week.
In Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, vandals desecrated the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, spray painting a derogatory curse word on the wall, reports the Metropolis of Montenegro.
The vandalism was reported to the police by Archpriest Dragan Mitrović of the nearby Church of the Resurrection.
The administration of the Church of the Ascension issued a statement expressing their shock, while also noting that this is the first such vandalism against the church since it was built in 1928. Given the nature of what was written, it’s clear that it’s from someone deliberately trying to incite intolerance, the church stated.
A similar incident occurred in the village of Lipa, Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, when the Church of the Ascension of the Lord was graffitied.
The Church of the Ascension in Lipa. Photo: rtrs.tv
There has been a camp for Middle Eastern and North African migrants near the church for more than a year now, reports rtrs.tv.
Police are investigating the crime. The church has been attacked multiple times lately.
Several graves in a Serbian Orthodox cemetery were vandalized and desecrated in Kosovo late last month.
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