Irinej

Irinej (, ; born Miroslav Gavrilović; 28 August 1930 – 20 November 2020) was the 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, serving from 2010 until his death in 2020.

Early life Irinej was born as Miroslav Gavrilović on 28 August 1930 in the village of Vidova near Čačak, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (present-day Serbia). After graduating from high school, he enrolled and completed the Prizren Seminary. He then enrolled at the University of Belgrade's Theological Faculty and served in the army after graduating. After compulsory military service, he was tonsured a monk in 1959 at the Rakovica Monastery, receiving the monastic name of "Irinej" (from , ; Irenaeus).

Titular Bishop of Moravica Irinej was elected titular bishop of Moravica in May 1974. Irinej headed the Eparchy of Niš for 35 years. two months after the death of previous patriarch, Pavle, becoming the 45th Serbian Patriarch. He was one of the three candidates with the most votes at the Electoral Council, along with former locum tenens (interim leader) Metropolitan Amfilohije Radović of Montenegro and the Littoral and Bishop Irinej Bulović of Bačka. In the final phase, his name was pulled from a sealed envelope. In this way, the Serbian Orthodox Church believes the patriarch is elected by divine intervention, sidelining human interests.

Irinej was enthroned on 23 January 2010 in Cathedral of Saint Archangel Michael in Belgrade. The inauguration was attended by numerous government ministers of Serbia, representatives of churches and religious communities in Serbia, and various politicians including the Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, Apostolic Nuncio Orlando Antonini, Catholic archbishop of Belgrade Stanislav Hočevar, Serbian Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahić, and Crown Prince Alexander.

Irinej held his formal enthronement to the ancient throne of the Serbian patriarchs at the Patriarchate of Peć Monastery on 3 October 2010. The enthronement was attended by many dignitaries including Serbian president Boris Tadić, Croatian Parliament member Milorad Pupovac, Russian Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev, Jerusalem Archbishop Theophylactos of Iordanos, Georgian Metropolitan Gerasimos of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, Romanian Metropolitan Irineu, Bulgarian Metropolitan Domentian of Vidin, Cypriot Metropolitan Chrysostomos, Albanian Metropolitan Ignatios of Berat, Archbishop Hočevar, Mufti Jusufspahić, Crown Prince Alexander and princes Peter, Philip, and Alexander.

Irinej was considered, both abroad and at home, as a moderate traditionalist, open to global inter-religious dialogue.

After the Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque in July 2020, the Patriarch Irinej and the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić on 20 August 2020 expressed their wish, that the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade might indirectly replace the Hagia Sophia after which it was modelled, and become a ″New Hagia Sophia″.

During last three years of the Patriarch Irinej's tenure, the Serbian Government spent 43 million euro on completing the construction of the church. Also, Naftna Industrija Srbije donated 10.5 million euros.

Irinej has been criticized for his lack of action in regards to allegations of pedophilia within the Serbian Orthodox Church, which were reported in the summer of 2012 and affected public opinion in Serbia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The scandal, initially covered up, led to the resignation of the bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla, Vasilije Kačavenda, who was accused of having abused children for decades.

Stances Pope's visit to Serbia In 2010, Irinej indicated he would not oppose the first-ever visit by the pope of the Catholic Church to Serbia in 2013 as part of celebrations of the 1,700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, the law under which Roman emperor Constantine I, who was born in Niš, ended the persecution of Christians. Irinej said that "there is the wish of the Pope" for a meeting in Niš and that it would be a chance "not just for a meeting, but for a dialogue". The visit of the Pope did not take place, as Irinej's Orthodox Church insisted on a papal apology for Genocide of Serbs during World War II. ”An apology would be a gesture that instills hope that something like that will never happen again," said Irinej.

A visit by Pope Francis (deemed politically useful for Serbia's battle against the international recognition of Kosovo) was discussed again for May 2016, but Serbian president Tomislav Nikolić called it off after hearing the negative opinion of Irinej's Orthodox Church. In July 2018, Irinej confirmed that it was still not the right moment for a visit of the Pope to Serbia, "because of everything that has happened in the past, and a huge number of [Serb] refugees from Croatia, a large portion of the nation is against it."

It is therefore obvious that this is not so much about a visit by a religious leader as it is about a lack of will for dialogue between state, national and religious communities. With real or invented accusations against the other side, it is not possible to even start any conversation, and thus many issues remain more complicated than the Gordian knot. Namely, the Croatian nationalist Roman Catholic site can also come up with similar reasons (similar to the Bosniak-Muslim side), which mentions the Serbian massacres against Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the years from 1991 to 1995. Among other things, they cite the information that of the pre-war 760,000 Croats in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, probably only 400,000 remained, which is a direct consequence of "ethnic cleansing".

Islamic community On 28 January 2010, at his first news conference, Irinej stated that: Patrijarh Irinej o islamu Patriarch Irenaeus about Islam "Mi znamo šta je otprilike filozofija i psihologija islama. Oni kada su u manjem broju umiju da se ponašaju i da budu korektni. Kada postanu ravni po broju, onda oni već dižu glavu, a kada postanu nadmoćni i superiorni, čine pritisak ili da se isele ili da se priđe njima." "We know roughly what the philosophy and psychology of Islam is. When they are outnumbered, they know how to behave and be correct. When they become equal in number, then they raise their heads, and when they become overwhelming and superior, they put pressure either to move out or to be approached." The Islamic Community in Serbia said that it found the remarks to be "insulting Islam" and responded with a letter to the Serbian Orthodox Church requesting an official interpretation of his statement. This Community condemned what they called "insulting and false accusations". The Muslim community in Serbia has expressed its concern over the hate speech of the newly elected patriarch; it should be condemned all the more since it has only been 15 years since the massacre against Muslims in Srebrenica and elsewhere: “It is completely clear that this statement calls for genocide, because it undoubtedly shows that Muslims are acceptable to the patriarch only when they are in minority and when they live with their heads bowed down.”

On 29 January, he expressed regrets for his statement and its consequences, and to Muslims, as neighbours and brothers he extended apologies. Hereupon his apologies were accepted.

Canonization of Aloysius Stepinac In May 2019, Pope Francis stated that Irinej had helped in the reflection in the Catholic Church about the canonization of World War II Croatian Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac, which the Serbian Orthodox Church opposes due to his role in the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia. "I sought advice and I saw that I need to seek help from Irinej. He is a great patriarch. Irinej helped, we created a joint historic commission, and we cooperated," said the Pope. "The truth is both mine and Irinej's only interest."

Abortion Irinej was firmly against abortion. In 2017, he stated in a local newspaper that it is "a woman's duty to give birth in order to regenerate the nation".

LGBTQ Irinej was openly against of the freedom of expression of the LGBTQ community in Serbia. In 2011, Irinej labelled the planned pride parade in Belgrade a "pestilence" and a "parade of shame".

In October 2012, Irinej wrote to Prime Minister of Serbia Ivica Dačić to express concern over the moral image of Belgrade and Serbia, "our centuries-long Christian culture and the dignity of our family, as the foundation block of humankind". "I am writing to you all on behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its followers ... Authorities must take immediate action to bring this scandal to a halt".

In 2014, in an interview for Nedeljnik, he stated: "I feel sorry for those people who belong to the so-called gay community. It is a disorder or deviation of human nature. I can understand them, as well as their problem, but I cannot understand what they impose on us and what they show in public." Irinej and the Serbian Orthodox Church were also considered opposed to any deal with Kosovo under the EU-facilitated normalisation dialogue.

Kosovo On 4 October 2010, Patriarch Irinej said that international recognition of Kosovo was a "sin". Speaking about the Orthodox monasteries in Kosovo, Irinej said in 2015 that "if force is deployed" to deprive Serbia of its cultural and historical heritage, "we will do all we can to defend them, by peaceful means or by force."

In 2018, in multiple occasions Irinej publicly supported President Vučić, stating that he was "fighting like a lion" to maintain Kosovo as a part of Serbia.

Bosnia and Herzegovina On 10 November 2010, Irinej stated in an interview that "the Drina River [between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina] is not a border but a bridge that connects us. Although, in a way, we are one even today, God willing, we will soon really be one." Irinej elaborated that for now "it is enough that we are one as a nation, as the Orthodox Church, and that we are on the same path of Saint Sava and Christ." He praised the Serbs of Banja Luka stating that "[they fight] to preserve the Serb name. Although this is not at all an easy task, they are succeeding."

In January 2012, Irinej referred to Republika Srpska, one of two entities comprising Bosnia and Herzegovina, as "the youngest Serbian state". The Office of the High Representative responded and stated that the Republika Srpska is not a state but rather an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina. The OHR noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina's Constitution "left no room for any kind of the entity’s sovereignty" and that "the entity’s jurisdiction was not an indication of any sort of statehood."

In November 2017, he called the life sentence handed out by the Hague Tribunal to former Army of Republika Srpska General Ratko Mladić for, inter alia, the Srebrenica massacre "a work of the devil". He deemed the sentence as part of a global conspiracy against the Serbs. "One more Serb has been convicted in The Hague. We knew Ratko Mladić would be convicted and that everything would play out this way. Unfortunately, we can't do anything about it," said the Patriarch. "This is all happening because the many global wielders of power are doing the devil's work and we are suffering the consequences."

Irinej often attended Serbian Orthodox Church and public events of the Bosnian Serb leadership. On 9 January 2019, he attended the Republika Srpska's Statehood Day parade in Banja Luka, together with Serbian prime minister Ana Brnabić. The Statehod Day celebration had been found unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015.

European Union

Regarding the possible accession of Serbia to the European Union, Irinej said that: "Serbia should not look with suspicion at the EU, if the EU respects the Serbian identity, culture and religion. We believe that we are an historical part of Europe, and we want to be in this of nations. In the accession we will accept everything, that is not in contradiction with our cultural and historical identity."

In 2018, Irinej claimed that the European Union is not actually "very eager" to accept Serbia as a new member state "because of our friendship with Russia, and [the EU's] internal reasons of theirs; they keep making new preconditions all the time and demand from us to accept their solution over Kosovo and Metohija."

Syria In June 2019, Irinej visited Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in Syria. In an official statement, Patriarch Irinej "highly praised the principled and firm support" of the Assad regime in backing Serbia with regard to Kosovo.

Death and funeral

On 4 November 2020, Irinej tested positive for COVID-19 after attending, as well as presiding over, On 14 November, it was reported that his health condition was "stable and under control during hospitalization" in the military COVID hospital in Belgrade. On 19 November, he was intubated. Some members of the press still insisted that the news of Irinej's death had been confirmed by reputable sources.

Irinej's death was officially announced on 20 November at 7:07 am CET. French president Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences in the Serbian Cyrillic script. Russian president Vladimir Putin sent his condolences, as did the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Epiphanius of Kyiv, and the deputy of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov. Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, sent a message of condolence to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria. Pope Francis stated that Irinej was "an example of faith and dialogue".

The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy stated that "The late Primate [Irinej], during his Patriarchal service, reflected the profound Orthodox feelings of the Serbian people, as well as his hope for a better future. Until today, he strived, without sparing any effort, for the unity of the One and Indivisible Church of Christ and the troubles that concern the modern world." The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity stated that "throughout his ministry, His Holiness [Irinej] remained an example of faith and dialogue, humble and joyful, totally dedicating his life to God and fostering the spirit of communion within the Serbian Orthodox Church." Many other organizations sent their messages of condolence, including Appeal of Conscience Foundation and German Bishops' Conference.

On 21 November, Irinej's body was brought to the Cathedral of Saint Archangel Michael where was held the Divine Liturgy on the feast day of the cathedral and the second-largest slava celebrated in Serbia. Following the ceremony, his body was carried to the Church of Saint Sava, and thousands of mourners passed by the coffin which, in consideration of coronavirus and the circumstances of the Patriarch’s death, had a glass lid. On the same date, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and the chief delegate of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation, arrived in Belgrade for Irinej's funeral.

His funeral was held on 22 November at the Church of Saint Sava. After the Holy Liturgy, speeches were given by Protoiereus-Staurophore Petar Lukić, Bishop Irinej of Bačka, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, and Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik. In his speech, President Vučić said that love was the basis of the faith of the late patriarch, and his Serbia was the one he created himself - a Serbia of peace, a Serbia that understands and brings people together. Irinej is the first Serbian Patriarch to be buried in the crypt of the Church.

Funeral service was also attended by numerous government ministers of Serbia and various politicians from the Balkans including the Prime Minister-designate of Montenegro Zdravko Krivokapić and President of Republika Srpska Željka Cvijanović, and dignitaries such as Prince Filip Karađorđević and Stanislav Hočevar, the Catholic archbishop of Belgrade.

Bishop David of Kruševac who led Irinej's funeral service tested positive for COVID-19 following the funeral. At the time, Bishop David is one of the four remaining members of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Awards and honours

Order of Saint Nikolaj, Eparchy of Šabac Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, honorary degree Honorary citizen of Zemun