SPC assembly starts in Belgrade

The Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers today marked the first anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle's passing. SPC bishops from the country and abroad and several hundred people gathered at the Rakovica monastery to take part in the ceremonies. SPC assembly starts in Belgrade Also today, the SPC Assembly has started in Belgrade. However, the case of retired Bishop Artemije will be discussed in the coming days. Earlier today, reports said that it was expected that church dignitaries would discuss Artemije, who disobeyed orders after he retired. Another issue on the agenda was expected to be the distribution of some eparchies. B92 learned that Bishop Artemije would attend the assembly. Artemije retired in early May after it had been determined that his closest associates had committed embezzlement. He denied the allegations and refused to accept the retirement. The SPC Holy Synod then prohibited him from performing his duties as a priest, which he also refuses to accept. It is expected that the SPC assembly will also discuss distribution of certain eparchies, primarily Nis Eparchy, Raska-Prizren Eparchy and Kosovo-Metohija Eparchy. Patriarch Irinej is still running the Nis Eparchy and temporary administrator, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije, has been running the Raska-Prizren Eparchy since Bishop Artemije retired. The bishops arrive to the assembly (FoNet) "Hard to predict" Historian Milorad Tomanic told B92 that it was hard to predict the outcome of the conflict but he said however that he expected an agreement to be reached. “Let’s recall 2008 and the session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops when it was decided whether to choose a new patriarch even though Patriarch Pavle was still alive. And Metropolitan Amfilohije said that morning that they would choose a new patriarch, and in the evening of that same day he said that they would not choose a new patriarch,” he pointed out. “When it comes to the SPC, just like the Serbian state and everything else with us Serbs, it’s hard to be sure and predict, but I think that if he wants to do something, Bishop Artemije is the one who should give in,” Tomanic believes. Judging by a recebt letter Artemije sent to the Synod, in which he and his followers threatened to establish "a new St. Sava Church" if control of the Raska-Prizren Eparchy was not returned to the bishop, he is not ready for a compromise. A compromise is not visible in Patriarch Irinej’s reply either, who said that there was not a single reason for a revision of the SPC assembly’s decision to relieve Bishop Artemije of his duties. Tomanic, however, does not believe that a schism could happen within the SPC at this moment. “Who can Artemije count on, when everybody is on the side of the ones he is opposing – both America and Europe, Vatican and a majority of the SPC bishops - and on his side, well Patriarch Irinej says himself that he has only managed to take with him only a certain small number of monks and uninformed believers,” he explained. “But one should know that below the surface there is something that’s slowly boiling and some day, we don’t know when, what happened to Toma Nikolic and to SNS (Serb Progressive Party, SRS offshoot) can happen again - (when) at the (party) anniversary new pro-European politicians saw (SRS leader) Vojislav Seselj emerge from hearts and souls of those present,” said this historian.

SPC assembly starts in Belgrade

Also today, the SPC Assembly has started in Belgrade.

However, the case of retired Bishop Artemije will be discussed in the coming days.

Earlier today, reports said that it was expected that church dignitaries would discuss Artemije, who disobeyed orders after he retired. Another issue on the agenda was expected to be the distribution of some eparchies.

B92 learned that Bishop Artemije would attend the assembly.

Artemije retired in early May after it had been determined that his closest associates had committed embezzlement. He denied the allegations and refused to accept the retirement.

The SPC Holy Synod then prohibited him from performing his duties as a priest, which he also refuses to accept.

It is expected that the SPC assembly will also discuss distribution of certain eparchies, primarily Niš Eparchy, Raška-Prizren Eparchy and Kosovo-Metohija Eparchy.

Patriarch Irinej is still running the Niš Eparchy and temporary administrator, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije, has been running the Raška-Prizren Eparchy since Bishop Artemije retired.

"Hard to predict"

Historian Milorad Tomanić told B92 that it was hard to predict the outcome of the conflict but he said however that he expected an agreement to be reached.

“Let’s recall 2008 and the session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops when it was decided whether to choose a new patriarch even though Patriarch Pavle was still alive. And Metropolitan Amfilohije said that morning that they would choose a new patriarch, and in the evening of that same day he said that they would not choose a new patriarch,” he pointed out.

“When it comes to the SPC, just like the Serbian state and everything else with us Serbs, it’s hard to be sure and predict, but I think that if he wants to do something, Bishop Artemije is the one who should give in,” Tomanić believes.

Judging by a recebt letter Artemije sent to the Synod, in which he and his followers threatened to establish "a new St. Sava Church" if control of the Raška-Prizren Eparchy was not returned to the bishop, he is not ready for a compromise.

A compromise is not visible in Patriarch Irinej’s reply either, who said that there was not a single reason for a revision of the SPC assembly’s decision to relieve Bishop Artemije of his duties.

Tomanić, however, does not believe that a schism could happen within the SPC at this moment.

“Who can Artemije count on, when everybody is on the side of the ones he is opposing – both America and Europe, Vatican and a majority of the SPC bishops - and on his side, well Patriarch Irinej says himself that he has only managed to take with him only a certain small number of monks and uninformed believers,” he explained.

“But one should know that below the surface there is something that’s slowly boiling and some day, we don’t know when, what happened to Toma Nikolić and to SNS (Serb Progressive Party, SRS offshoot) can happen again - (when) at the (party) anniversary new pro-European politicians saw (SRS leader) Vojislav Šešelj emerge from hearts and souls of those present,” said this historian.