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The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro and Prince Filip Karadjordjevic, a descendant of the final Yugoslav king, Petar II, on Wednesday referred to as for the reconstruction of the chapel on Mount Lovcen, which has been a disputed situation for years in Montenegro.
The so-called Njegos chapel was constructed by King Aleksandar of Yugoslavia on mountain Lovcen in 1925 on the location of an earlier Nineteenth-century church however was demolished by the Yugoslav communist authorities in 1970.
“We’re obliged to meet the desire of Petar Petrovic Njegos and lift the Church on Lovcen. This isn’t a political situation, however the responsibility and accountability of all of us,” Prince Filip wrote on Twitter.
On July 27, the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro’s high bishop, Metropolitan Joanikije, mentioned the chapel needed to be reconstructed however pressured that Montenegro additionally needed to repent for the chapel’s deconstruction.
“We now have to scrub this sin from our consciences, however we are going to do that after we make a departure from the evil communist and [WWII Croatian fascist movement] Ustasa thought which has unfold in Montenegro,” Metropolitan Joanikije mentioned.
The primary chapel on Lovcen was erected by the well-known Montenegrin prince bishop and poet Petar II Petrovic Njegos, in 1845 in honour of his uncle, Petar I Petrovic Njegos. The poet bishop was buried within the chapel in 1855.
Nonetheless, the chapel was severely broken through the First World Battle. In 1925, Serbia’s Karadjordjevic dynasty, which dominated the Kingdom of Yugoslavia from the tip of the First World Battle to the tip of the Second World Battle, erected a brand new church in the identical place.
The communist authorities demolished the chapel in 1970 and as a substitute construct a secular mausoleum on the design of the Croat sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. It was accomplished in 1974. The stays of Montenegro’s most well-known historic determine are saved within the mausoleum.
For years, the Serbian Orthodox Church and pro-Serbian events and organizations have referred to as for the chapel’s reconstruction, which might presumably contain the demolition of the mausoleum.
However pro-Montenegrin events and organizations have slated the concept, saying it may improve ethnic divisions within the nation.
“You’ll not elevate it…. Steer clear of Lovcen, the Mausoleum and proud Montenegro”, ruling Social Democratic Get together MP Draginja Vuksanovic Stankovic wrote on Twitter.
There are sharply differing views of the Karadjordjevics’ position within the nation. The Karadjordjevics have been beforehand kings of Serbia, which in 1918 united Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia into the brand new state of Yugoslavia. Montenegro beforehand had its personal royal household, which was then exiled.
Professional-Serbian Montenegrins see the Karadjordjevics as liberators however others blame them for Montenegro shedding its independence after 1918.
