Serbia's Patriarch to Be Elected in January

The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church announced that a new head of the institution is expected to be elected on 22 January.

Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch Pavle passed away at the age of 95 on 15 November. He died at the Belgrade military hospital, to which he was admitted on 13 November, 2007, due to poor health. Bishop Irinej then announced that Bishop Amfilohije will serve as acting patriarch until new elections.

The Patriarch's death raised questions regarding a successor to the throne.

Candidates for the new patriarch have all had five years of eparchy service. The names of the three bishops who receive the most votes will be put into separate envelopes and placed inside the Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel is then placed at the holy throne in the church.

A monk, who is appointed by the Assembly, takes out the envelopes from the Holy Gospel and draws one of them. The monk then hands it to the chairman of the Election Assembly to read the name of the new head of Serbia's Orthodox Church.

The Church shifted to this selection process in the 1960’s in order to avoid political influence. Patriarch Pavle was the first to be elected in this way.

Meanwhile, Serbia's media speculate who might become the new SPC spiritual leader.

Blic daily newspaper reports that potential candidates include Metropolitan Amfilohije, Bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla Vasilije, Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina Grigorije, and Bishop of Backa Irinej.

 

For more information, please see: Church Factions Battle for Serb Patriarch’s Throne