Mystery surrounds Patriarch’s resignation

Even though Belgrade daily Blic reported that SPC Patriarch Pavle resigned on October 12, Archbishop Amfilohije claims otherwise. Namely, the daily writes, quoting sources close to the Patriarchy, that his resignation has been filed in the Patriarchy’s archives and that the Patriarch has signed it using the traditional green ink, inscribing a cross next to his signature. Mystery surrounds Patriarch’s resignation The daily writes that the patriarch has resigned on health grounds. The same source claims that the Patriarch’s resignation opens up the possibility that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Council may elect a new patriarch. However, Archbishop Amfilohije told Tanjug that the Holy Synod would not decide whether the Council was to be electoral until the beginning of the session. "The media reported that the Patriarch had resigned, but he did not say that, “ the Archbishop said. Meanwhile, daily Vecernje Novosti writes that the SPC’s Holy Synod will today discuss the speculation regarding Pavle’s resignation. The daily writes that the Synod’s agenda will include the forthcoming Council and a discussion about the speculation on the election of a new Patriarch. Patriarch Pavle has been hospitalized for almost a year, and he has been under pressured to resign for some time. Meanwhile, Mirko Djordjevic, an expert in religious sociology, explained to B92 the possible ways the Patriarch could resign. "If the patriarch resigns, his resignation must be submitted in writing, in the presence of sworn witnesses, bishops from the Synod or the Council, and signed in green ink, according to the ancient Byzantine tradition. And that is the only authentic signature of the Serb Patriarch, which cannot be scanned or abused, because a copy exists in the Synod and is closely guarded,” Djordjevic said. However, he says that there has been no resignation, because it has not been announced at the Synod or the SPC Council. “It is no secret, though, that a struggle for power is ongoing in the Serb Orthodox Church,” he says. "The problem, however, is that we do not know whether Patriarch Pavle has actually resigned, or whether the resignation has been handed to him. Under the SPC’s Constitution, the Patriarch holds the position until his death, unless the Council amends the Constitution, thus changing the procedure,” Djordjevic explains. Patriarch Pavle (FoNet)

Mystery surrounds Patriarch’s resignation

The daily writes that the patriarch has resigned on health grounds.

The same source claims that the Patriarch’s resignation opens up the possibility that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Council may elect a new patriarch.

However, Archbishop Amfilohije told Tanjug that the Holy Synod would not decide whether the Council was to be electoral until the beginning of the session.

"The media reported that the Patriarch had resigned, but he did not say that, “ the Archbishop said.

Meanwhile, daily Večernje Novosti writes that the SPC’s Holy Synod will today discuss the speculation regarding Pavle’s resignation.

The daily writes that the Synod’s agenda will include the forthcoming Council and a discussion about the speculation on the election of a new Patriarch.

Patriarch Pavle has been hospitalized for almost a year, and he has been under pressured to resign for some time.

Meanwhile, Mirko Đorđević, an expert in religious sociology, explained to B92 the possible ways the Patriarch could resign.

"If the patriarch resigns, his resignation must be submitted in writing, in the presence of sworn witnesses, bishops from the Synod or the Council, and signed in green ink, according to the ancient Byzantine tradition. And that is the only authentic signature of the Serb Patriarch, which cannot be scanned or abused, because a copy exists in the Synod and is closely guarded,” Đorđević said.

However, he says that there has been no resignation, because it has not been announced at the Synod or the SPC Council.

“It is no secret, though, that a struggle for power is ongoing in the Serb Orthodox Church,” he says.

"The problem, however, is that we do not know whether Patriarch Pavle has actually resigned, or whether the resignation has been handed to him. Under the SPC’s Constitution, the Patriarch holds the position until his death, unless the Council amends the Constitution, thus changing the procedure,” Đorđević explains.