Patriarch distances himself from rally controversy

BELGRADE Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Irinej has distanced himself from the controversial statements made by two current and former Church dignitaries. Metropolitan Amfilohije and retired Bishop Atanasije Jeftic on Friday took part in a protest rally in Belgrade organized by Serbs from Kosovo who are opposed to the Brussels agreement. Patriarch distances himself from rally controversy The metropolitan on the occasion served moleban (prayer of supplication), to pray for the repose of the Serbian government, parliament, and those who died in Kosovo and Metohija. "Metropolitan Amfilohije asked serve moleban in the temple and I agreed. Everything else that was done outside the temple is his personal affair and his personal stance, that neither myself, the Synod, nor the Church, stand behind," the patriarch told Tanjug on Friday. Asked to comment on the statement made during the rally by Atanasije, who compared assassinated Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic to Ivica Dacic, Patriarch Irinej said that the former bishop asked him, via a Patriarchate official, whether he could be with the people at the protest gathering. "I did not provide an answer to his question, and he did not have my permission to take the stage in Belgrade," the patriarch was quoted as saying. Patriarch Irinej (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Patriarch distances himself from rally controversy

The metropolitan on the occasion served moleban (prayer of supplication), to pray for the repose

of the Serbian government, parliament, and those who died in Kosovo and Metohija.

"Metropolitan Amfilohije asked serve moleban in the temple and I agreed. Everything else that was done outside the temple is his personal affair and his personal stance, that neither myself, the Synod, nor the Church, stand behind," the patriarch told Tanjug on Friday.

Asked to comment on the statement made during the rally by Atanasije, who compared assassinated Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić to Ivica Dačić, Patriarch Irinej said that the former bishop asked him, via a Patriarchate official, whether he could be with the people at the protest gathering.

"I did not provide an answer to his question, and he did not have my permission to take the stage in Belgrade," the patriarch was quoted as saying.