Religious analyst and historian Vladimir Veljković said today that at the Holy Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), which will be held in May, it will be seen whether the election of Porfiri as patriarch has overcome the disagreements in the SPC and whether the influence of politics on the events at the top of the Serbian church.
Veljković told the Beta agency that at the regular May Parliament, two metropolitans will certainly be elected: Montenegrin and Littoral and Zagreb's Ljubljana, and Bishop Valjevski.
"It is to be expected that a bishop will be elected at the head of the Zagreb-Ljubljana Metropolitanate who will continue where Porfirije left off, while it is very important for the Montenegrin-coastal Metropolitanate to be headed by an archbishop who will preserve the unity of the SPC in Montenegro," he said. is Veljković.
He said that according to the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, new metropolitans and bishops can be elected "unanimously" without a vote or by secret ballot of the archbishops.
"For a quorum, two-thirds of the diocesan bishops must be present at the Assembly. The candidate who receives the absolute majority of votes becomes the diocesan bishop. If two candidates, who are shortlisted, receive the same number of votes, then the metropolitan, or bishop, chooses between those two. the patriarch himself," the religious analyst explained.
To Beta's question whether the government can influence the election of metropolitans and bishops, Veljković said that the media had repeatedly reported on the meetings of certain archbishops with representatives of the highest authorities in Serbia ahead of the election of the patriarch, so even now "there is a doubt that the government will lobby for their candidates".
"The May Assembly will give an answer to the question to what extent is the influence of the Serbian state on the internal situation in the Serbian Orthodox Church and whether the new patriarch, who enjoys great support among the monks and clergy, will suppress the influence of politics on the decisions of the Holy Assembly," said Veljković.
He emphasized that in this context, the non-election of Bishop Joaniki as Metropolitan of Montenegrin and Littoral would cause suspicion that the Serbian state authorities are still "lobbying and framing" the Serbian Orthodox Church.
"The Episcopal Council of the SPC in Montenegro will certainly propose Bishop Joanikije as metropolitan. Joanikije has been the closest associate of Metropolitan Amfilohi for decades, he enjoys a great reputation among the faithful, and it would be a great surprise if, due to lobbying by politicians, he is not elected as metropolitan," he said. is a religious analyst.
He added that the government in Serbia should not lobby against the election of Ioannici.
If the country of Serbia had its own candidates for the patriarch, stated Veljković, "why should not Montenegro now have its own candidate for the metropolitan who corresponds to the people and the church in Montenegro".
"It is important that church decisions do not cause new doubts, anxiety and divisions among believers and bishops. The election of Joaniki as metropolitan would be indisputable for the clergy and believers in Montenegro," said Veljković.
He assessed that the election of the Montenegrin coastal metropolitan also has political weight due to previous events in Montenegro.
He said that "tectonic" changes have taken place in Montenegro in the last two years, and that the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral had a notable role in everything.
"In Serbia, the SPC supports the policy of the authoritarian government out of personal interests, while in Montenegro the SPC fought against the authoritarian regime. It is unacceptable that the SPC protects its interests in one country by relying on an authoritarian regime, while in another it leads the fight for democratic achievements and respect for the constitution and the law," concluded Veljković.
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