The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), Patriarch Irinej, died early this morning, it was confirmed by the SPC.
Irinej was infected with the coronavirus and was in the Military Hospital at Karaburma in Belgrade.
Irinej has been receiving treatment since November 5, and the day before he was found to be positive for covid-19.
Irinej attended the funeral of Metropolitan Amfilohi of the Montenegrin littoral in Podgorica on November 1, who also died as a result of the corona virus. Three days later, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church was also diagnosed with infection.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić posted a photo of Irinej on his Instagram account with the message "It was an honor to know you. People like you never leave..."
The SPC officially confirmed that Irinej died.
"On Friday, November 20, 2020, at 7:07 a.m. in the Military Covid Hospital "Karaburma" in Belgrade, His Holiness the Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlova and Patriarch of Serbia Mr. Irinej (Gavrilović) passed away in the Lord," the statement of the Serbian Orthodox Church points out.
The SPC statement adds that the public will be informed soon about all other details regarding the funeral of Irinej.
"Perpetual memorial to him and the Kingdom of Heaven," announced the SPC.
Biography of Patriarch Irinej
Irinej (Gavrilović) was born in the village of Vidova, near Čačak, in 1930 to father Zdravko and mother Milijana.
At baptism, he was named Miroslav.
He finished elementary school in his native village, and then high school in Čačak.
After finishing high school, he entered and graduated from the Theological Seminary in Prizren, and then the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade.
After graduating from university, he goes to the army.
After returning from the army, he was soon appointed as a substitute (professor) at the Prizren Theological Seminary.
Before taking up his duties as a professor in October 1959, in the monastery of Rakovica, he received the monastic rank, given the monastic name Irinej, by the Serbian patriarch Germano.
In the same month, on October 27, 1959, he was ordained a hieromonk in the Ružica church in Kalemegdan.
While he was a professor at the Prizren Theological Seminary, he was sent to postgraduate studies in Athens.
In 1969, he was appointed director of the Monastic School in Ostrog Monastery, from where he returned to Prizren and was appointed rector of the Prizren Theological Seminary.
From that position, in 1974, he was elected vicar bishop of the Serbian patriarch with the title of bishop of Moravia.
A year later, in 1975, he was elected bishop of Niš.
At the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on January 22, 2010, he was elected Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovica and Patriarch of Serbia.
The act of enthronement of Irinej was performed on January 23, 2010, at the liturgy in the Holy Archangels Temple in Belgrade.
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