Montenegro is the only country in Europe that has no COVID-19 patients
A cross procession in Podgorica with the participation of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOJ
As of March 16, 2020, Montenegro is the only country in Europe where no case of coronavirus has been officially confirmed, reports the "Ukraina Online" Telegram channel.
According to the official data of Montenegrin authorities, not a single case of COVID-19 has been registered in the country yet.
At the same time, the total number of people tested for coronavirus in Montenegro is 69 people. So far, all test results have been negative.
As reported earlier, the adoption of the Law “On Freedom of Religion and Belief and Legal Status of Religious Communities” by the Montenegrin Government on December 27, 2019, under which the state becomes the owner of the main body of church property (including land, buildings, and even holy relics), triggered mass protests throughout Montenegro, which continue to this day.
On January 16, 2020, the believers of Montenegro reported in social networks that already 200,000 citizens of the country have joined the open-air mass prayer and procession in defense of the Church every night.
On the evening of February 16, 2020, more than 60 thousand believers went out to a protest prayer in defense of the shrines of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica.
The cross procession in Podgorica with the Primate of the UOC was attended by over 100,000 believers.
Read also
Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”
The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.
Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size
The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.
Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.
During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence
Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”
Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople
A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.
OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud
In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.