The Serbian Orthodox Church: mediator and legitimising force of the "Serbian World" in the Balkans

The Serbian Orthodox Church: mediator and legitimising force of the “Serbian World” in the Balkans examines how the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) operates beyond religion in the Western Balkans. The article argues the SOC has become influential politically and culturally through relationships with Orthodox counterparts and disputes over church property and identity, citing activities in North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. It says the church’s role has supported a broader “Serbian World” project, with Montenegro highlighted as a key point of tension over statehood and national identity. After Montenegro separated from Serbia in 2006, the SOC remained under the Serbian patriarchal omophorion despite Montenegro’s independence, NATO membership, and EU candidacy. The piece references a joint analysis by Balša Božović and Daliborka Uljarević for the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, describing media campaigns, polarization, and efforts to relativize Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic orientation. It also notes the 2022 Fundamental Agreement on the state’s and SOC’s status and property, and discusses SOC organizational changes, including a May 2021 decision abolishing episcopal councils.