The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has decided to suspend Archbishop and Metropolitan Justin of Žica, according to a document published on social media by theologian Blagoje Pantelić.
His duties, reports N1, will be taken over by Metropolitan Arsenije of Niš.
A document sent by the Diocesan Administration to the Board of the Diocese of Žička on February 18 was published on social media by Blagoje Pantelić, a theologian who was expelled from the church community of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
It states that the handover of duties will take place on the same day.
"In addition to the above-mentioned hierarchs, the handover will be attended by members and the secretary of the Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese of Žička, the secretary, treasurer and auditor of the Diocesan Administrative Board, members of the Commission of the Holy Synod of Bishops, archpriests-stavrophores Velibor Džomić and Vladan Simić, as well as Milan Andrić and persons authorized by the administrator of the Diocese of Žička," the document states.
Members of the Commission of the Holy Synod of Bishops are Metropolitans Methodius of Budimlje-Nikšić, Irinej of Bačka, Photius of Zvornik-Tuzla, and Teodosije of Raška-Prizren.
Metropolitan Justin has long been supporting students and criticizing the authorities in Serbia, warning that "power is not given for the sake of violence, but for the sake of service," reports N1.
As "Nova" previously wrote, the Serbian Orthodox Church has launched an investigation against him due to the "questionable manner in which he has led the Diocese of Žička so far."
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