New patriarch to be elected Jan. 22

The new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) is expected to be elected on January 22, reports say. The Holy Synod of the SPC announced today in Belgrade that the Conclave of the Serbian Orthodox Church will meet on that day. New patriarch to be elected Jan. 22 It was also announced that the 40-day service for late Patriarch Pavle will be given on December 24. The patriarch passed away in Belgrade on November 15 and was laid to rest four days later. Meanwhile, media today continue to speculate on who might become the next spiritual leader of Serb Orthodox Christians. Blic newspaper writes that candidates include Metropolitan Amfilohije, Bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla Vasilije, Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina Grigorije, and Bishop of Backa Irinej. However, the SPC bishops and clergy have only one answer when asked about the likely successor to Patriarch Pavle: “Only the Holy Spirit knows.” The daily says that it is "already almost clear which bishops would receive the most votes after the first round of voting in the upcoming Election Conclave". Every bishop in the conclave votes for three candidates. 22 votes are needed in order to proceed to the next phase. After the first candidate is chosen in the lot, the bishops vote for two candidates, and then after the next round, just for one candidate. Even though it is possible, it is not likely that all three candidates will be chosen after the first round, writes the newspaper. According to this, Bishop Vasilije is most likely to go through after the first round of voting. "The bishop has eleven secured votes and it can be assumed with certainty that at least 17 bishops would vote for him," the article continued. The report also states that this bishop, and those close to him, had a crucial role in making some decisions while Patriarch Pavle was in hospital. Metropolitan Amfilohije, currently "the guardian of the throne", will for the most part depend on the bishops who support Vasilije in the voting, said the daily. "Amfilohije would have had a better chance even than the bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla if the Election Conclave was held earlier. However, the metropolitan has lost some support," writes Blic. The report also states that this bishop, and those close to him, had a crucial role in making some decisions while Patriarch Pavle was in hospital. Metropolitan Amfilohije, currently "the guardian of the throne", will for the most part depend on the bishops who support Vasilije in the voting, said the daily. "Amfilohije would have had a better chance even than the bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla if the Election Conclave was held earlier. However, the metropolitan has lost some support," writes Blic.

New patriarch to be elected Jan. 22

It was also announced that the 40-day service for late Patriarch Pavle will be given on December 24.

The patriarch passed away in Belgrade on November 15 and was laid to rest four days later.

Meanwhile, media today continue to speculate on who might become the next spiritual leader of Serb Orthodox Christians.

Blic newspaper writes that candidates include Metropolitan Amfilohije, Bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla Vasilije, Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina Grigorije, and Bishop of Bačka Irinej.

However, the SPC bishops and clergy have only one answer when asked about the likely successor to Patriarch Pavle: “Only the Holy Spirit knows.”

The daily says that it is "already almost clear which bishops would receive the most votes after the first round of voting in the upcoming Election Conclave".

Every bishop in the conclave votes for three candidates. 22 votes are needed in order to proceed to the next phase.

After the first candidate is chosen in the lot, the bishops vote for two candidates, and then after the next round, just for one candidate. Even though it is possible, it is not likely that all three candidates will be chosen after the first round, writes the newspaper.

According to this, Bishop Vasilije is most likely to go through after the first round of voting.

"The bishop has eleven secured votes and it can be assumed with certainty that at least 17 bishops would vote for him," the article continued.

The report also states that this bishop, and those close to him, had a crucial role in making some decisions while Patriarch Pavle was in hospital.

Metropolitan Amfilohije, currently "the guardian of the throne", will for the most part depend on the bishops who support Vasilije in the voting, said the daily.

"Amfilohije would have had a better chance even than the bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla if the Election Conclave was held earlier. However, the metropolitan has lost some support," writes Blic.

The report also states that this bishop, and those close to him, had a crucial role in making some decisions while Patriarch Pavle was in hospital.

Metropolitan Amfilohije, currently "the guardian of the throne", will for the most part depend on the bishops who support Vasilije in the voting, said the daily.

"Amfilohije would have had a better chance even than the bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla if the Election Conclave was held earlier. However, the metropolitan has lost some support," writes Blic.