His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije was enthroned today in Belgrade. At the solemn Holy Archbishop's Liturgy, the patriarch was enthroned in the manner prescribed by the Holy Assembly of Bishops, and after that act, the newly elected patriarch assumed the rights and duties of the supreme head and elder of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Thus, the new patriarch officially took over the duty.

The enthronement was attended by the President of the Republic of Srpska, Želјka Cvijanović, the Prime Minister of Srpska, Radovan Višković, the Serb member and Chairman of BiH Presidency, Milorad Dodik, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and other high-ranking officials.

The enthronement began with the Holy Archbishop's Liturgy, at the end of which, as symbols of patriarchal power, the new patriarch was given insignia – a panagia with Serbian saints, a scepter and a white panakamilavka. During the introduction of the new patriarch to the Saint Sava throne, those present in the church shouted ‘worthy’ /axios/ three times, and then the sermon of the new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church began. In his sermon, Patriarch Porfirije said that Christ was our drive and measure, the savior of the whole world and all creations. The patriarch pointed out that today, unfortunately, we lived in a time of shaken peace and unity and that we were all called to serve the peace and unity.

Patriarch Porfirije said that the Church was an assembling organism, that its role was to assemble and unite, and that he would strive to nurture the assembling spirit as the most important flower of the God-man tree. The patriarch said that in his prayers, Orthodox Serbs in Kosmet would come first, followed by Serbs in the Republic of Srpska, Serbia and all parts of the world where they lived.

The panagia of Serbian saints, which King Aleksandar Karađorđević handed over in 1920 to the first patriarch of the renewed Peć Patriarchate, Dimitrije, was also worn by all previous patriarchs of the SOC. The new first hierarch of the SOC was also presented with the scepter that was first carried by Patriarch Maxim, whose relics rest in the Peć Patriarchate. The white panakamilavka with the cross is a symbol of purity and sublimity of service and a testimony that the patriarch is a successor of those who whitened the throne of the Peć archbishops with their martyr's blood.

After the election, the patriarch sends a ‘peace letter’ to all autocephalous Orthodox churches informing them of his enthronement, and all church heads respond in writing, and this can be considered an act of recognition in the Orthodox world.

According to the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the patriarch has special rights of honors, consecration, representation and administration. The Patriarch is the President of the Holy Assembly of Bishops, the Holy Synod of Bishops, the Patriarchal Council and the Patriarchate Board of Directors. According to the right of consecration, the patriarch presides over all worship services, consecrates holy myrrh, ordains new bishops with the co-service of at least two other bishops. According to the right of representation, the patriarch represents the Serbian Orthodox Church before other autocephalous Orthodox churches, the state and foreign countries. The patriarch also has the right of administration, which means maintaining unity in the hierarchy of the SOC, appointing officials by decree, and governing mission areas abroad. The patriarch signs all SOC documents in green ink.

The solemn official act of enthronement is performed in the monastery of the Peć Patriarchate and it is not restricted by any deadline. Rather, the deadline is set subsequently in accordance with the decision of the patriarch himself, and in agreement with the SOC Synod.

As a reminder, at yesterday's session in the Saint Sava Memorial Church in Belgrade the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana as the Serbian Patriarch.

Source: RTRS

Photo: SRNA