By Kostas Onisenko
The process of the election of the new Patriarch of Serbia will begin on February 18, confirmed the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia.
The election will take place in two phases: Initially, the high priests will elect three candidates from among themselves.
Then the names of the three candidates will be placed in envelopes in the Gospel and a monk will pull out one of the envelopes, thus finalizing the final choice.
On February 10, the place of the election process will be determined (there are three possible locations) as well as the name of the monk who will pull the envelope.
It is recalled that Blessed Patriarch Irinej of Serbia fell asleep in the Lord after losing battle with COVID-19, on Friday, November 20, 2020.
Serbian Patriarch Irinej himself reposed in the Lord because of the virus as well as the Blessed Metropolitan of Montenegro, while Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia, the Locum Tenens of the Serbian Church Patriarchal Throne, and other clergy of the Serbian Church, had contracted the disease.
“There were mistakes. I must admit that we underestimated the coronavirus and did not realize what it brings, that it is a murderous virus that killed our Patriarch Irinej, Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro, Bishop Milutin, dozens of priests, monks and nuns. What happened may be the cost of our non-compliance with the measures set by the epidemiological services,” Hrizostom said, speaking on a Serbian website.
Upon the passing of the Serbian Patriarch Irinej, the Holy Synod of Bishops decided that Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia took over the patriarchal responsibilities in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and that the Holy Synod was chaired by the Metropolitan of Dabar-Bosnia until the election of a new Serbian Patriarch.
The Holy Synod of Bishops appointed Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, as administrator of the vacant Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci, in accordance with Article 70 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church.