Patriarch Pavle of Serbia (1915- )
The Holy Synod of the Serbian Church took over the duties of Patriarch Pavle due to the prolonged and continued illness of the First Hierarch, according to a statement on the official website of the Serbian Patriarchate. This was done in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of the Serbian Church at a session of the Archbishops’ Council held in the patriarchal chambers in Belgrade, the Serbian radio station B-92 reported. The resolution of the council noted that “on the basis of (Article 62), the locum tenens and chairman of the Synod shall be the oldest serving bishop”. Patriarch Pavle, who is 93-years-old, was hospitalised in November 2007. Since that time, to the best of his ability, he has attended to the business of the Serbian Church from his hospital room at the Belgrade Military Medical Academy. Previously, the Serbian media reported on the possibility that a new patriarch might be elected at the current session of the Archbishops’ Council. Official representatives of the Serbian Patriarchate refuse to comment on these reports.
19 May 2008
Interfax-Religion
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