[ad_1]
Most likely, the electoral assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church will be in late January or early February, and seven bishops have the best chance of participating in the election of one of the three candidates for patriarch.
As Kurir, Porfirije, Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana, Jovan, Bishop of Šumadija, Irinej (Bulović), Bishop of Bačka, Jefrem, Bishop of Banja Luka, Chrysostom, Metropolitan of Dabro-Bosnia, Joanikije, Bishop of Budva-Nikšić and Administrator of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro, and Gregory, Bishop of Düsseldorf and Germany.
The patriarch is elected by vote of the Assembly and the names of the three candidates with the highest number of votes (see box) are placed in envelopes, which are then extracted by one of the monks. As Kurir finds out, he should be the abbot of the monastery of San Sisoje Matej.
That’s how things are
– Of these seven bishops, bishops Joanikije and Jefrem will undoubtedly be two of the three candidates for patriarch. As for the third candidate, Irinej, bishop of Bačka, and Porfirio can count on the same number of votes. However, as neither of them cares about that role, both are willing to turn in favor of the other if there is a situation where they have the same number of votes – says Kurir’s source from the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Photo: Printscreen YouTube / Television Temple
According to the source, Bishop Ioanikije has great support from people in Parliament close to Amfilohije, which is not an insignificant number.
– Although Joanikije occupies a good place in Parliament, his disadvantage is that he is politically “aligned”. He is especially close to Mladjan Djordjevic, and Joanikije even baptized one of his sons. That is why Djordjevic is trying to push for him in every possible way. On the other hand, although Bishop Grigorije, due to his latest statements, is considered a man of opposition, he is pushed more for the position of candidate for patriarch than for lobbying for him. Gregory’s goal is to enter the election for patriarch, but of these seven, he has the least chance, our source notes.
Religious analyst Draško Đenović recalls that Irinej (Bulović) has been seen in the role of patriarch several times, but that it does not have to mean anything, because outsiders were elected patriarch twice, that is, neither Irinej nor Pavle were favorites.
Photo: Pink.rs/A. Aras
What is an advantage for who
– Porphyry has been mentioned for some time, but it is young, it is only 60 years old. Chrysostom belongs to the moderate current, however, he left his diocese during the war and, in my opinion, had to stay there at the cost of his life. Irinej leads his diocese in an organized way, during the last two patriarchs he was a gray eminence, says Đenović and adds:
Photo: Pink Printscreen TV
I think Joanikije will replace the Metropolitan Amfilohije before, and with Jefrem, the biggest asset is that he is quiet.
According to Zeljko Injac, a religious analyst, the next patriarch will be chosen from among Jovan Zulibrko, Ioaniki and Porfirio.
HOW THE PATRIARCH IS CHOSEN
– Patriarch Herman introduced the Apostolic Lottery in the election of the head of the SOC, prescribed by the SOC Constitution, in 1967. – A patriarch can be anyone who is “diocesan bishop for at least five years” – Candidates (for patriarch ) cannot be retired bishops – The procedure requires that the three candidates are chosen by secret ballot by the Holy Synod of Bishops – When the names of those who received more than half the votes are known, they are chosen by lot, that is that is to say, in an “apostolic” way – Three names are placed in separate envelopes, and those of the Gospel – Exactly At a certain part of the service, one of the monks chosen by the Council takes out an envelope under the cover of the Gospel in which the name is of the new patriarch – At the same time, another two envelopes are opened. This is done so that all individual bishops are convinced of the regularity of the elections, as well as so that this is recorded in the minutes.
[ad_2]
