Montenegro is a small European-type country located in the southeast of Europe on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. The main factors of differentiation of citizens that distinguish Montenegro are religion, language and nationality.
In general, this country is characterized by the religiosity of its citizens. So, according to the 2011 census, atheists account for less than two percent of subjects. The rest of the population is predominantly adherents of Christianity and Islam.
Orthodox Church in Montenegro
Orthodoxy is the main religion of Montenegro. It is professed by about seventy percent of the population. Moreover, among believers there is no jurisdictional unity. One part of the population belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church, part of the so-called family of canonical Orthodox churches belonging to the Byzantine tradition. Another part professes its faith, being within the legal framework of the national Montenegrin Orthodox Church, which is not recognized as canonical by the above community. According to the national composition, the basis of the Orthodox population is Montenegrins and Serbs.
Catholic Church in Montenegro
Multiculturalism is a feature that characterizes Montenegro. Religion in this case plays an important role, being not only a worldview system, but also an ideological mouthpiece and attribute of nationality. This applies fully to the Catholic community of the state. Catholicism is the religion of Montenegro and Croatia, therefore, in Montenegro itself, its parishes are mainly Croats, as well as Albanians. The percentage of Montenegrin Catholics is somewhat lower, but still high - about twenty percent of the total number of supporters of the papacy. Regarding the entire population of the country, the latter are not so many - only about four percent.
It is unique in Montenegro for the rest of the Christian world (especially its Orthodox part) that Christians of various denominations very peacefully coexist here. If, for example, the Orthodox Christians in Russia are strongly anti-Catholic, then in Montenegrin villages and cities one can often find temples that the representatives of these two traditions share among themselves and under the same roof both Byzantine and Latin services are performed.
Islam in Montenegro
The Muslim Ummah is the second largest community, which forms the religious picture of the state of Montenegro. The religion of the Prophet Muhammad is prevalent among twenty percent of the population. According to nationality, the basis of the country's Islamic community is mainly Bosnians, Albanians and Muslim Slavs. About ten percent of them, however, account for Montenegrins.
However, as mentioned above, tolerance is a feature that characterizes Montenegro. The religion of Muhammad in this country is the traditional faith of many people, but unlike, for example, Western Europe or the Middle East, it does not cause any special social problems. Christians and Muslims get along quite peacefully, without falling into the extremes of extremism and radical proselytism.
Judaism in Montenegro
As for the Jewish communities, they are also present in Montenegro, although in very small quantities. Nevertheless, the attitude towards them is quite favorable. There is even a project according to which Judaism should become one of the state religions of Montenegro.
Religious policy of the country
From the foregoing, it is clear that multiconfessionality is a feature that distinguishes Montenegro. Religion plays an important role in its politics, since it also plays an important role in the daily life of its citizens.
According to existing law, the church (i.e. all religious organizations) is separated from the state. At the same time, however, the government bears responsibility for the material well-being of all religious communities represented in the country. It is important to note that, except on paper, this law is implemented in practice.
The main religious holidays of the main communities of the state - Orthodoxy and Islam - are celebrated at the state level. First of all, this, of course, Easter, Christmas, Eid al-Adha and others.