Glas javnosti - Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia

198 serbia 2009 : v freedom of religion
the gendermerie and honour guard at the funeral). Of 34 Bishops eligible
as candidates for the post of Patriarch, Metropolitan Amfi lohije of Montenegro
and the Littoral, guardian of the patriarchal throne, Bishop Irinej
of Nis and Bishop Irinej of Backa found themselves on the shortlist. The
election of Bishop Irinej of Nis as the 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox
Church was accompanied by numerous public comments that he was
a man of dialogue, aware of the position of the Church in society, tolerant
and tactful, “a worthy successor“ to the deceased Patriarh Pavle and the
Bishop being well acquainted with the reality of society.
However, only fi ve days aft er his enthronement, by his statement in
which he characterized the “philosophy and psychology of Islam“, the
Patriarch provoked fi erce reactions from the Islamic community in Serbia
and the Islamic Community of Serbia, as well as a good part of the civil
sector: “When in minority, they (Muslims) behave themselves and behave
correctly. When equal in numbers, they raise their heads against the rest.
And when in majority, they pressurize others either to move out or to join
them. That’s the philosophy of Islam.“ 234 These are the words by which the
beginning of the mandate of the 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox
Church will be remembered.
Aft er the hearing of Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren before
the delegation of the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church and control
over the fi nancial operations of his Diocese, there followed numerous
media speculations on the growing psychological pressure on the Bishop
to resign or be removed. 235 According to the media, the synodal delegation
reproached Bishop Artemije for doing nothing to install priests in
the restored churches, for failing to return to the restored diocesan seat
in Prizren, for promoting his secretary Father Simeon Vilovski to the rank
of Archimandrite without the Synod’s approval, which is regarded as a
canonical violation, for failing to act on the Synod’s recommendations to
remove his secretary from offi ce, etc. Finally, at the session of the Synod of
the Serbian Orthodox Church on 13 February 2010, which was chaired by
Patriarch Irinej, it was decided to initiate the procedure for determining
234 Blic, 27 January 2010.
235 Politika, 11 February 2010.