 The symbolic action aimed at demonstrating the dominance of the SOC over other religions and to reaffirm the Serbian character of Montenegro, the event also revealed the close links between Amfilohije and the army.The SOC stated that a former church existed some 500 years in that location which was destroyed by the Ottomans.The action was criticised in Montenegro by public figures such as Andrej Nikolaidis who stated there never was a church in that location and Amfilohije received negative press from Montenegrin media of appropriating the site for one faith to the exclusion of others and generating inter religious disharmony.