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“There is no doubt that this is a man who will represent a good partner of the government, who was interested in electing a patriarch. From the government’s point of view, this is the happiest choice,” religious sociologist Slobodan Sadzakov commented on Porphyry’s choice. as the new patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
According to Sadzakov, Porphyry’s choice is not a surprise because he was listed as a top favorite, so everything went according to expected announcements and estimates.
“It should be noted that one of the main things is the closeness with Irinej Bački, his entire priestly career passes under the supervision of Irinej, in 1990 he went to the Kovilj monastery, in 1999 he was elected vicar bishop, he is a man who is the son Bishop Irinej’s spiritual spirit and this is indirectly Irinej Bulović’s victory, “says Sadžakov.
He adds that with the election of Porfirio it is clear that the other current suffered a great defeat.
“Among the first three were those that were announced and that are most compatible with the government,” he says.
Sadzakov explains that the fact that the new patriarch was elected so quickly shows that the triumph is compelling and recalls that when Pavle was elected patriarch, there were nine rounds.
“Obviously this group was very strong, the votes were so widely distributed that there were no dilemmas. “A quick selection indicates the strength of the group that won,” he explains.
Although some want to see the Serbian Orthodox Church as a monolithic organization, Sadzhakov claims that these are people who have their own interests and divisions, and that these divisions will remain and may intensify.
“Serbia is only a nominally secular state, it is a bland variant of the Middle Ages, people have adapted to the normal situation and do not realize where it is leading and how dangerous it is.” Bishop Irinej is a man who it has the best relations with this government and the previous one, and even with Milosevic, so it can be assumed in which direction the actions of Bishop Irinej Backi and his spiritual son will go. “
“We have seen through this power struggle how divided the state is, I think these struggles will continue and will be especially pronounced when it comes to solving the Kosovo problem.” It was important that the authorities chose a patriarch who would be a good partner in the subsequent political processes, because they had already been burned three years ago when they tried to solve the problem and met resistance from the Serbian Orthodox Church, which was dictated by Amfilohije. “Now the authorities care that there is a man who is more suitable and who would create less problems,” says Sadzakov.
He claims that the newly elected patriarch has several major problems.
“Several vacancies remain for bishops, the Diocese of Valjevo, the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Litoral, which is a part of the future activities of the Serbian Orthodox Church. “The most important question is how he will treat Kosovo, how cooperative it will be with the government, those are the two main issues for the new patriarch,” he explains.
Sadzakov concludes that the church is understood as a powerful institution, thanks to the space provided by the state.
“It is mentioned alongside the Army as an institution of the greatest trust, but when we see all the scandals that are shaking it, I don’t know if that reputation is deserved. “I think this is an escalation of the power that the Serbian Orthodox Church has that it could not have if it were a normal secular state,” he says.
