Theologian denies claims of Vučić family funding for Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary

Theologian Miloš Stojković has pushed back against media reports that he claimed Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's family was responsible for bringing the Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary to Belgrade and that the state paid one million euros for it. Stojković asserts his words were misrepresented and taken out of context.

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My words were taken out of context. [...] I said that the state of Serbia, following the example of when we were a strong state and following the example of glorious Serbian history, helped all monasteries on Mount Athos.

Speaking to Danas, Stojković clarified that he merely stated the Serbian state supports monasteries on Mount Athos, a fact he attributes to President Vučić's administration. "President Aleksandar Vučić himself has clearly said this. Do not interpret my words maliciously," Stojković urged. He confirmed that the Vučić family visits monasteries on Mount Athos and is respected there, but explicitly denied saying they personally contributed any money.

Stojković explained that he was referring to state aid provided to monasteries on Mount Athos, drawing a parallel to Serbia's historical strength and its support for religious and cultural heritage. He mentioned that Serbia, like it supports Hilandar Monastery, also aids other monasteries, including Vatopedi. He reiterated that he never stated that Andrej Vučić, Anđelko Vučić, or any other family member used their personal funds for such purposes.

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I did not say that the Vučić family gave a million euros or any other amount from their private money.

"I was exclusively talking about the state of Serbia," Stojković emphasized, suggesting that some individuals aim to harm the Church, the state, and the unity of Orthodox believers. He believes that those united under the Holy Belt deserve respect, not division. Stojković pointed to publicly available data and Greek ecclesiastical sources as proof of state support for monasteries, noting that significant funds have been allocated to Serbian Orthodox sites during Aleksandar Vučić's presidency, more so than in recent Serbian history. He presented this as a factual statement, not a political one.

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For the time of Aleksandar Vučić, the most money has been allocated to our holy sites, to Hilandar, but also to other monasteries and churches. I am not talking about his private money, nor about the money of any individual. I am talking about the funds that the state of Serbia has allocated for the preservation of religious and cultural heritage.