Serbia will remain a Russian satellite for many decades, while Montenegro will be admitted to the European Union before the other countries and will free itself from Russian influence more quickly.

Archimandrite Nikanor of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, abbot of the Monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian, said this in an interview with LF.

Responding to a question about the future of Orthodoxy in the Balkans, the archimandrite said that not all countries would be able to free themselves from Moscow’s influence in the near future.

“Serbia will remain a Russian satellite for many decades. At least until the Serbs come to terms with their imperialism and the trauma of their military defeats in the post-Yugoslav wars. North Macedonia and Montenegro are tied to Moscow through Belgrade. All Serbian influence in both countries is, in essence, Russian influence. Pro-Russian supporters in North Macedonia fiercely hate Bulgarians. By contrast, those in North Macedonia who have positive feelings toward the Greeks also have a favourable attitude toward Bulgaria. Montenegro will be admitted to the European Union before the others, and it will rid itself of this entire nightmare more quickly,” he said.

The archimandrite also noted that it would not be easy for the Bulgarian Church to break away from Russia.

“Only when enough time has passed, when there has been a generational change, and when Bulgarians see and recognise the fact that all of Russia’s friends in the Balkans have always hated them, just as they do now. Look at the frenzied anti-Bulgarian hysteria in North Macedonia. Its trail leads north to Belgrade, and from there to Russia,” he said.