Details revealed by the will of Patriarch Irinej: he divided the property into 3 parts, but the real secret is hidden elsewhere.

Photo: Tanjug / Milica Nikolic

– I, Irinej Gavrilović, as a mortal man, consider it my duty to express my last will, since I am in good health and with a clear conscience, to express my last will, how to treat my property after my death. – wrote the late patriarch at the time he was bishop of Nis.

Patriarch Irinej passed away this morning at the age of 90. The news of Patriarch Irinej’s death came after 15 days of a difficult fight with the corona virus, which the patriarch lost because his health suddenly deteriorated overnight between Wednesday and Thursday.

WHAT IS IN THE WILL

As a general rule, a will leaves a part to the diocese, a monastery and relatives. At the time he was writing his will, the Bishop of Nis, Irinej, divided everything he had into three parts. Personal belongings of the clergy of the diocese, diocese and family. The patriarch also left money for his funeral at that time, 50,000 dinars, but also the clothes in which he wants to be buried.

The rest of the property, money from salary, one part to the diocese, the other to the Serbian Orthodox Church and the third to the monastery, that is, to the brotherhood that will nurture him before his death.

Irinej left his personal belongings, shoes and clothes to the monks. He left the liturgies like the chest cross, the panagia and the icon to the Diocese of Nis. Personal watch, TV, radio … the late boss left it to his family.

At that time, Patriarch Irinej expressed his wish to be buried in the Cathedral of Nis.

The testament is made in three copies, one of which is sent to the Synod, which is deposited in the archive, the other remains in the Diocese where the archbishop sits, and the third remains with the signer of the will.

WHEN THE WILL WAS WRITTEN

However, at the time he was writing his will, the then Bishop of Nis, Irinej, couldn’t even imagine that he would become patriarch. He was one of the bishops who did not aspire to the Patriarchate of Belgrade.

Although he said “don’t do me”, he was elected head of the Serbian Orthodox Church. At the end of his life, the monastery did not take care of him, and what did he expect. He died in hospital from the consequences caused by the corona virus.

THE SECRET IN THE SECURE PATRIARCHATE

Much has changed since Irinej signed everything he owned … How much the patriarch changed his original will is hidden by the patriarchal chief, in which there is certainly an envelope for last wishes.

Respect for the synod’s decision that all archbishops should leave a will in practice has been reduced to goodwill. Thus, although much was said about the will of Metropolitan Amfilohije, it seems that he did not have it.

– He wrote the will with his own hand with pure conscience and common sense, with total freedom … – wrote the late Patriarch Irinej at the bottom of the sheet of paper.