No. 07-00-819/2025-02  Date: 27.10.2025

MUSEUM OF VOJVODINA

Čarna Milinković ,  Acting Director

21101 NOVI SAD

Dunavska 35-37

Subject: Recommendation of Measures for the Promotion of Equality and Protection against Discrimination

Dear Ms. Milinković,

We have received a complaint submitted on behalf of the Church Committee of the Greek Catholic Parish of Saints Apostles Peter and Paul in Novi Sad against the Museum of Vojvodina. The complainant requested that the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality take measures within its competence in order to remove the word “Uniates” from the text on the panel containing basic information about Greek Catholics within the permanent exhibition of the Museum of Vojvodina, as the use of this term creates the impression that it is an active or alternative name for Greek Catholics, whereas in fact it is a term that has a pejorative meaning for members of this community.

The complaint further states that the term “Uniates” in the Serbian language is a former designation for Greek Catholics, i.e., Catholics of the Eastern Rite, which has now fallen out of use.

According to the statements in the complaint, the text on the panel displayed in the Museum of Vojvodina reads as follows: “GREEK CATHOLICS OR UNIATES in Vojvodina are the spiritual descendants of two unions: the Union of Brest (1956) and the Union of Uzhhorod (1946). According to these unions, Eastern Christians who entered into communion with the Catholic Church retained the Eastern rite and everything closely associated with it, while accepting the doctrinal positions and juridical structure of the Roman Catholic Church. The Rusyns, who together with Ukrainians form the Greek Catholic community in Vojvodina, were already colonized in 1745 in present-day Ruski Krstur and Kucura as Greek Catholics. From these two settlements and parishes, around fifteen parishes developed in Bačka and Srem. In addition, in Banat there are two Greek Catholic parishes of Romanians.”

Upon review of the letter of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia, No. 080-00-95/2022-26, submitted with the complaint, it may be established that, according to the data entered in the Register of Churches and Religious Communities, the Eparchy of Saint Nicholas – Ruski Krstur, with its seat in Novi Sad, is registered as a legal entity within the Roman Catholic Church in Serbia. Furthermore, from this letter it may be established that, as of April 23, 2019, the Eparchy of Saint Nicholas – Ruski Krstur had been entered in the Register under the name: Apostolic Exarchate for Greek Catholics.

Additionally, upon review of the letter of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia – Directorate for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities, No. 07-00-18/2024-01 of December 18, 2024, it is stated that Greek Catholics in the Republic of Serbia (Catholics of the Eastern Rite, in the Republic of Serbia, of the Byzantine Rite) are organized within the Roman Catholic Church as part of the Eparchy of Saint Nicholas Ruski Krstur.

The letter further states that the Roman Catholic Church, in addition to believers of the Roman, i.e., Latin Rite, also encompasses communities of believers who use other rites. These communities, over the course of history and due to various circumstances, accepted unity with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, while preserving their liturgical tradition. It is clarified that Greek Catholics originated from certain Orthodox Churches that accepted unity with the Roman Catholic Church. Over time, the term “Uniate” acquired a negative connotation, although in itself it does not carry a negative meaning, but rather, when translated into Serbian, means “united.” The use of the term “Greek Catholic” was introduced in the 18th century in order to avoid the negative connotation that the word “Uniate” had acquired.

In the letter of the Eparchy of Saint Nicholas No. 25/25 of March 27, 2025, it is stated that at the Synod in Vienna in 1773 the designation “Greek Catholic” was established, which has remained in official use to this day, in order to avoid the use of the term “Uniate,” which over time became derogatory.

Article 33, paragraph 1, item 9 of the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination[1] provides that the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality issues recommendations of measures to public authorities and other persons for the promotion of equality.

Bearing in mind that members of the Greek Catholic religious community consider this term to be outdated and that it now carries a negative connotation for members of this community, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality recommends that the Museum of Vojvodina remove the word “Uniates” from the text on the panel in the permanent exhibition of this cultural institution containing basic information about Greek Catholics.

The Museum of Vojvodine shall inform the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the measures taken to implement this recommendation within 30 days from the date of receipt of this recommendation.

In accordance with the law, no appeal or any other legal remedy is permitted against this recommendation of measures for the promotion of equality.

[1] “Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, Nos. 22/09 and 52/21.

COMMISSIONER FOR THE PROTECTION OF EQUALITY
Milan Antonijević