Patriarch Pavle to remain SPC head

The SPC Synod has rejected His Holiness Patriarch Pavle’s plea to retire, B92 has learned from unofficial sources. The Holy Synod did not vote on the Patriarch’s plea, but instead it was decided that he should lead the Serb Orthodox Church (SPC) for as long as he lives. Patriarch Pavle to remain SPC head Archbishop Amfilohije has performed some of the patriarch’s duties during Pavle’s illness, and his powers were somewhat extended at yesterday’s session. Bishops debated Patriarch Pavle’s plea for almost the entire day. They left the Patriarchy building just after 19:00 CET, but no-one wanted to comment on the Synod’s decision. Not even SPC Secretary General Sava Jovanovic wanted to say whether the Synod had decided that Patriarch Pavle should head the SPC until his death. Religious expert Mirko Djordjevic told B92 that the Synod needed to work transparently, as was the case in other Orthodox churches, and not behind the closed doors with the disagreements that had led to open divisions within the SPC over the patriarch. He said that the patriarch’s plea, which has not been made public, was also a significant issue. "If there is such a plea, then, why isn’t it made public? A mistake was made at the outset by not publishing the plea, because it’s not a specific act regarding the church, nor is it a dogmatic type of a document,” Djordjevic said. "Much more interesting is the other part of the news whereby Amfilohije, who is now head of the Synod, will receive somewhat wider authorities. The problem is that he has had maximum authorities since the Synod’s May session,” he pointed out. Patriarch Pavle pleaded on October 8 to be relieved of all his duties. The Synod continues its session today.

Patriarch Pavle to remain SPC head

Archbishop Amfilohije has performed some of the patriarch’s duties during Pavle’s illness, and his powers were somewhat extended at yesterday’s session.

Bishops debated Patriarch Pavle’s plea for almost the entire day. They left the Patriarchy building just after 19:00 CET, but no-one wanted to comment on the Synod’s decision.

Not even SPC Secretary General Sava Jovanović wanted to say whether the Synod had decided that Patriarch Pavle should head the SPC until his death.

Religious expert Mirko Đorđević told B92 that the Synod needed to work transparently, as was the case in other Orthodox churches, and not behind the closed doors with the disagreements that had led to open divisions within the SPC over the patriarch.

He said that the patriarch’s plea, which has not been made public, was also a significant issue.

"If there is such a plea, then, why isn’t it made public? A mistake was made at the outset by not publishing the plea, because it’s not a specific act regarding the church, nor is it a dogmatic type of a document,” Đorđević said.

"Much more interesting is the other part of the news whereby Amfilohije, who is now head of the Synod, will receive somewhat wider authorities. The problem is that he has had maximum authorities since the Synod’s May session,” he pointed out.

Patriarch Pavle pleaded on October 8 to be relieved of all his duties.

The Synod continues its session today.