Milorad Dodik and Serbian Orthodox relations

Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, hosted Metropolitan Lukijan of Buda to celebrate the preservation of Serbian traditions and the Orthodox faith. Dodik emphasized the importance of maintaining language and historical roots for future generations, stating that Republika Srpska remains committed to supporting the Church and the Serbian people.

Metropolitan Lukijan praised Dodik as a “defender of Christian values” and noted that Hungary recognizes Dodik and Republika Srpska as “pillars of Christianity and Orthodoxy.” The Metropolitan specifically highlighted Dodik’s financial support for the Archive of the Eparchy of Buda in Szentendre.

These claims have faced scrutiny from critics who challenge Dodik’s framing of conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a struggle of Christianity against Islam. Observers have pointed to the historical displacement of Catholic populations to contest this narrative, noting that data from the Banja Luka Diocese shows a significant decline in Catholic believers, falling from approximately 129,000 in 1992 to just over 22,000 by late 2025.