Patriarch Pavle II (Stojcevic)

Patriarch Pavle (Stojčević) (1914-2009)

Pavle may be spelt Pavel, Pavlje, Pavlo, Paul, Paulos.

Stojčević may be spelt Stojcevic, Stoichevich, Stoitchevitch.

Early life of Gojko Stojčević

On 11 September, 1914, Gojko Stojčević was born to Stefan and Ana Stojčević, in the village of Kučani, in the county of Donji Miholjac, in the Slavonia region of Croatia in the “Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen” within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Both parents of Gojko reposed in the Lord during his childhood, and subsequently, he was raised by an aunt. He was baptised in this village, where he continued to be raised in the Serbian Orthodox Church, and where he received his primary education.

When Gojko was 4 years old, the political situation changed with the end of World War I. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was dissolved, and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was established.

Coronation of King Peter in Saint Michael's Cathedral, Belgrade, 1918

Higher Education

Gojko graduated with high honours from the Fourth Male Gymnasium (high school) in Belgrade, in 1929.

He then continued studies in the Saint Vasilije Ostroski Seminary in Sarajevo.

After he finished the seminary studies, Gojko entered the University of Belgrade, where he studied Theology and Medicine in parallel. He later left the faculty of medicine, and he graduated with a theology degree in 1942.

During World War II, he took refuge in the Holy Annunciation Monastery in Ovčar, and he later moved to Belgrade.

Holy Annunciation Temple, Ovčar Monastery

After the war, Gojko worked in Belgrade as a construction worker ; but because of his poor health, he entered the Blagoveštenje Holy Annunciation Monastery in Ovčar in 1946.

Monastic tonsure, 1948

In 1948, Gojko was tonsured to be a monk in the Ovčar Monastery, and he was given the name Pavle.

He continued to live in this community, and he fulfilled various obediences as usual for a monk in a monastic brotherhood.

Diaconal ordination, 1948

In 1948, On the Feast-day of the Holy Annunciation, Monk Pavle (Stojčević) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate, and he continued to live in obedience in the brotherhood.

Diaconal service

In 1949, Hierodeacon Pavle (Stojčević) was transferred to the Rača Monastery (near Bajina Bašta.

Rača Monastery

In all, Father Pavle was associated with the Rača Monastery from 1949 until 1955.

During the 1950/51 academic year, Hierodeacon Pavle was assigned to serve as a lecturer at the Prizen Seminary, a position which he retained until his election to the Patriarchal Throne.

Presbyteral ordination, 1954

In 1954, Hierodeacon Pavle (Stojčević) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in the Rača Monastery.

Presbyteral service

Immediately, Hieromonk Pavle (Stojčević) was raised to the dignity of protosingelos.

Between 1955 and 1957, Hieromonk Pavle was immersed in post-graduate studies in the Theological School of the University of Athens, Greece.

During his stay in Greece, Hieromonk Pavle studied the New Testament, and he developed an expertise in liturgics, which resulted in his becoming one of the most prolific liturgical exegete in the Serbian Church.

In 1957, he received a Doctoral Degree in New Testament and Liturgics by the Theological Academy in Athens.

In 1957, Hieromonk Pavle (Stojčević) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite by Bishop Emilian (Marinović) of Slavonija.

Election to the Holy Episcopate, 1957

On 29 May, 1957, the Holy Assembly of Bishops elected Archimandrite Pavle (Stojčević) to become the Bishop of Raška and Prizren (the eparchy which includes the whole of Kosovo and southern Serbia), which has large Muslim and Albanian minorities.

Archimandrite Pavle was informed about the decision while he was in the midst of a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Episcopal ordination, 1957

On 22 September, 1957, Archimandrite Pavle (Stojčević) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate during the Primatial Divine Liturgy in Saint Michael's Cathedral in Belgrade, by Patriarch Vikentiy (Prodanov) and other bishops of the Church of Serbia.

Bishop Pavle (Stojčević) of Raška and Prizren, 1957

Episcopal service

On 22 September, 1957, Bishop Pavle (Stojčević) was assigned to serve as Bishop of Raška and Prizren.

Bishop of Raška and Prizren, 1957

On 13 October, 1957, Bishop Pavle (Stojčević) was enthroned during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy as Bishop of Raška and Prizren in the Cathedral of Saint George in Prizren.

Cathedral of Saint George, Prizren

From that day on, Vladika Pavle shared faithfully in the plight of his suffering people. Bishop Pavle wrote and warned about the coming (and now fulfilled) exodus of Serbs from Kosovo, the attacks of the Albanians on Serbian monasteries, the rape of nuns, and terrorising of pedestrians, the desecration of Serbian cemeteries and the overall suffering of the Orthodox in Kosovo and in Metohija.

In 1989, Bishop Pavle was himself beaten by several Albanian youths in Kosovo. The extent of his injuries required nearly 3 months of hospitalisation. However, in the spirit of Christian forgiveness (see Matthew 5:44), he refused to press charges.

As the Bishop of Raška and Prizren, Bishop Pavle blessed the building of numerous new Temples, and he helped in the reconstruction of old ones. This included the restoration and preservation of Orthodox holy places in Kosovo and Metohija. He spent a considerable amount of time in travelling and meeting with the people of his eparchy (yet not neglecting his academic research and teaching responsibilities). Vladika Pavle also wrote books, and he gave lectures about Church music and the Church Slavonic language.

In 1988, for his patient and prominent work in the field of theology, the Theological Faculty of the Serbian University of Belgrade awarded him with an Honourary Doctorate of Divinity.

Personal austerity and simplicity

It is not without reason that Patriarch Pavle has often been referred to as a “saint who walks” amongst us. The simplicity of his way of life, and his personal humility have found favour with all of those who are familiar with this virtuous man. Each of the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church has an automobile, which they use to travel through their dioceses. The one exception has been Patriarch Pavle. When asked why he never obtained an automobile, he replied : “I will not purchase one until every Albanian and Serbian household in Kosovo and Metohija has an automobile”. He did not change this status even after he became patriarch.

Patriarch Pavle walked whenever possible

On 1 December, 1990, Bishop Pavle (Stojčević) was elected by the Holy Synod of Bishops to become the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. His predecessor, Patriarch German II (Đorić), who had become incapacitated, had retired (he reposed later in the Military Medical Academy Hospital (VMA) in Belgrade on 27 August, 1991).

Patriarch of Serbia, 1990

Vladika Pavle (Stojčević) was enthroned as the 54th Serbian Orthodox Patriarch in Saint Michael’s Cathedral (the “Saborna Crkva”) in Belgrade on 2 December, 1990.

Saint Michael's Cathedral, Belgrade

The patriarch’s title is : Archbishop of Peć (Petch), Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovac, and Patriarch of the Serbs.

It was not until 22 May, 1994, that it was possible for the customary second part of the enthronement to be accomplished, in the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć, the ancient seat of the Serbian Church. This was because of the political turmoil and wars.

Temples of the Peć Monastery of the Holy Apostles, Kosovo

[The first primate named Pavle was Pavle of Smederevo, (self-proclaimed Serbian Patriarch) of Peć (1527-1535). There was also another Pavle (Nenadović) who was Metropolitan of Karlovci (1749-1768).]

Patriarch Pavle

Immediately, Patriarch Pavle invited the Free Serbian Orthodox hierarchs to talks in Belgrade, which occurred on 24 April, 1991 (despite the lack of the enthronement in Peć). The Free Serbian Orthodox Church was a schism that had begun in 1963 as a result of an attempt by the Serbian Orthodox Church to re-arrange the administration of the Serbian Orthodox dioceses in Western Europe, North America, and Australia, without consultation and agreement with the local people at that time.

Return of the Holy Relics of Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović), 1991

In May, 1991, the body of Bishop (Saint) Nikolaj (Velimirović) was exhumed at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, USA ; on 12 May, 1991, it was re-buried in his home town of Lelić in Western Serbia, next to his parents and his nephew, Bishop Jovan (Velimirović). More than 30,000 people had arrived for this service.

Yugoslav Civil War begins, 1991

During the Yugoslav Civil War (particularly at the beginning, in 1991), Patriarch Pavle visited Croatia and Bosnia. The patriarch participated in the peace process, and he exhorted the belligerents to resolve the conflict. In 1991, Metropolitan Jovan (Pavlović) of Zagreb and Ljubljana organised meetings between Patriarch Pavle and Roman Catholic Cardinal Franjo Kuharich. Patriarch Pavle also met with the President of Croatia, Franjo Tudman.

Healing the schism, 1992

In 1992, at the invitation of Patriarch Pavle, Metropolitan Irinej (Kovacević) led a delegation of priests and other persons from the whole of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church to Serbia. The delegation held discussions with the members of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Church about overcoming the schism and the return of the Free Serbian Church to Eucharistic communion (the visible sign of complete reconciliation and unity) with the Serbian Orthodox Church and with world Orthodoxy.

A reconciliation proposal was made, in which the Free Serbian Orthodox Church would be accepted within the Patriarchate of Serbia as the “New Gračanica Metropolitanate” (amongst other constitutional edits). The reconciliation was achieved. The mutual Eucharistic unity was confirmed with a joint Divine Liturgy at the Holy Visitation of the Virgin Cathedral Temple in Belgrade in February, 1992. As a temporary consequence, this meant that there were now 2 directly overlapping dioceses in Australia and New Zealand, which were administered by 2 bishops, 1 each in Elaine and Canberra. This irregularity was later resolved.

The validity of the hierarchal ordinations was recognised concerning the Bishop of the Diocese of America and Canada and the Metropolitan of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church, Irenej (Kovačević), as well as the hierarchs : Bishop Demetrije (Balac), Bishop Petar (Bankerović), Bishop Vasilije (Veinović) and Bishop Damaskin (Davidović).

The conversations about reconciliation included the Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana, Jovan (Pavlović) ; the Bishop of Šumadija, Sava (Vuković) ; the Bishop of Niš, Irinej (Gavrilović) ; and the Bishop Vasilije (Vadiče) of Srem, as members of the Holy Synod. It included also Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radović) and Bishop Irinej (Bulović) (as members of the Holy Synod Commission for studying the validity of the hierarchy of the Free Serbian Orthodox church), and the Bishop of Dalmatia, Nikolaj (Mrdja) ; the Bishop of Eastern America, Christopher (Kovačević) ; and the Bishop of Canada, Georgije (Ðjokić). The representatives of the other side included Metropolitan Irinej (Kovačević) and Archimandrite Sava (Jurić), and also various priests from around the world. The signatures on the proposal about reconciliation between the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate and the Serbian Orthodox New Gračanica Metropolitanate were those of the Metropolitan of New Gračanica Irinej (Kovačević) and of the Serbian Patriarch Pavle (Stojčević).

Since that time, the bishops of the New Gračanica Metropolitanate have recognised the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church as their first hierarch, and they have commemorated him by name in all the usual places in services. They also receive from the patriarch the holy myrrh and holy relics (for the "antimins" and for the Holy Altar). The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church replaced the Episcopal Council of the New Gračanica Metropolitanate. Every new diocesan hierarch of the New Gračanica Metropolitanate is chosen by the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church from amongst the candidates entered in the list of candidates on the proposal of the Episcopal Council of the New Gračanica Metropolitanate. The elected candidate is ordained by the Patriarch of Serbia.

Re-organisation of the Serbian Orthodox Church outside Serbia

In addition, there was a certain amount of re-organisation of the entire Serbian Orthodox Church outside Yugoslavia in order to achieve full liturgical and administrative unity and fraternal accordance with the canonical tradition of unity and order of the Orthodox Church. In 1994, the Diocese of Western Europe ceased to exist in the composition hitherto, after the decision of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church regarding the consolidation in Western Europe. Thus, the new Diocese of Western Europe was constituted to include parts of Central Europe, England, Scandinavia, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Attempts to heal the Macedonian schism

Patriarch Pavle also made efforts to heal the schism in Macedonia with the so-called Macedonian Orthodox Church, which is considered uncanonical by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other Eastern Orthodox churches. These attempts, however, were not successful.

Further patriarchal service

Work on constructing the Temple of Saint Sava in Belgrade

Patriarch Pavle continued the work of constructing the Saint Sava Temple in Belgrade. This project had been initiated in 1895, and the foundation was established in 1935. However, because of 2 world wars and the arrival of communism, it was not possible to continue the construction until 1985. Patriarch German (Đorić) had had to persevere in making multiple applications between 1958 and 1984.

Completed Saint Sava Temple, Belgrade

Establishment of 3 seminaries

During the time of Patriarch Pavle’s service, 3 new seminaries were established : in Cetinje, Montenegro (1992), in Kragujevac in central Serbia (2000), and in Foča in Bosnia-Herzegovina (2001). The Orthodox Theological Faculty was restored at the University of Belgrade in 2004.

International fraternal visits

Patriarch Pavle visited several national Churches. Patriarch Aleksey II (Ridiger) of Russia, Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople, and several other Orthodox Church leaders visited Patriarch Pavle and the Church of Serbia.

Patriarch Pavle was the first Serbian Patriarch to visit the USA and Canada (1992, 1994), and Australia (2004). Before him, Patriarch German (Djorić) had visited the USA, but he was a diocesan bishop at the time.

Patriarch Pavle visited Pope John Paul II in 1991, and he was the first Serbian Patriarch to meet with a Roman Catholic Pope. This particular meeting was important from the perspective of communication and co-operation, but it was at the same time kept clear to all that the Serbian Orthodox Church was not subject to the Vatican State.

In Russia : Patriarch Pavle with Patriarch Alexei II

Visits to Canada

In Canada, the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration near Milton, Ontario, was being constructed, and while Patriarch Pavle visited the Canadian diocese, he blessed the cornerstone of the first Serbian Orthodox monastery in Canada on 23 October, 1992.

In 1994, Patriarch Pavle returned to Canada, and during his visit, he presided over the consecration of the Temple of the Holy Transfiguration at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery at Milton, Ontario.

Yugoslav Wars : 1991 to 2001

In 1991, shortly after the election of Patriarch Pavle, the parliamentary election was held in Serbia, in which Slobodan Milošević’s Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) came to power. This party had been founded in 1990 as a merger between the League of Communists of Serbia (led by Slobodan Milošević), and the Socialist Alliance of the Working People of Serbia.

At first, relations between the government and the Church were good, but they were gradually eroded because of the Yugoslav Wars and the ongoing crisis in Serbia. Patriarch Pavle had connexions to the Karić family (including the politician Bogoljub Karić), and he had numerous meetings with Mr. Slobodan Milošević and Mira Marković, and also with the leaders of the opposition.

In 1993, Pavle wrote a letter to Mr. Milošević, and he urged him to release Vuk Drašković from prison.

During the Yugoslav Wars, the patriarch and the Church gave support to the leaders of the Bosnian Serbs (“Republika Srpska”) and Croatian Serbs (Republic of “Srpska Krajina”). Patriarch Pavle had been heavily criticised for his actions during the wars. The Orthodox Church had been viewed by many Bosnian Muslims and Muslim Croats as a promoter of Serbian nationalism. Patriarch Pavle visited the cities of Knin, and Pale while troops carried out a siege on Goražde. Patriarch Pavle met with the Serb paramilitary leader Arkan (Željko Ražnatović), whom he claimed was justified in his actions and presented him with an autographed icon of Saint Nicholas ; Arkan considered himself to be a favourite of Patriarch Pavle, and he regarded the patriarch his “commander”, stating that “we are fighting for our religion, the Serbian Orthodox Church”. However, some others had an opposite opinion about Arkan.

Patriarch Pavle and monks in Voljavca Monastery, 2005

On 13 December, 1991, Patriarch Pavle wrote a letter circulated to all Orthodox Churches, in which he urged for the protection of Croatian Serbs from “the Croatian neo-fascist regime : the successor of the Ustašas who massacred 700,000 Orthodox Serbs in World War II”. He openly referred to the Republic of Croatia as the “new Independent State of Croatia” and justified the war as “righteous”.

During the Bosnian War (1992-1995), Patriarch Pavle supported the President of “Republika Srpska”, Radovan Karadžić, in his rejection of the Vance-Owen peace plan, and supported Karadžić in his claims that there were no Serbian rape camps that kept Muslim women, but accused Bosnian Muslims and Croats of the same thing. A famous photograph from this time is that of Mr. Karadžić kissing Patriarch Pavle’s hand (usual behaviour for Orthodox Christians). In May, 1993, Patriarch Pavle received a letter from Mr. Karadžić which thanked him for his “advice and support” in the Bosnian Serbs’ “just battle”. Mr. Karadžić regarded the Serbian Church as the “only spiritual force capable of uniting the Serb nation, regardless of borders”. In 1994, Patriarch Pavle claimed that Serbs were native to Bosnia Herzegovina and that Bosniaks had only arrived there when the Ottomans invaded.

1996-1997 protests in Serbia

In 1997, Patriarch Pavle took part in the immense anti-government protests in Belgrade. The protests were peaceful, and they were caused by recent electoral fraud on the part of the government. On 27 January, 1997 (Saint Sava Day), the patriarch led the protesters to break the police cordon in Kolarčeva Street. This was the first time that Patriarch Pavle confronted the Milošević government openly. Although in following years, he became close to the opposition leaders and he confronted Mr. Milošević, in 1999, Patriarch Pavle took part in the annual Republic Day celebration, at which time he gave the usual ceremonial congratulations to Mr. Milošević. However, when Patriarch Pavle later apologised, he also said that what he had done was misinterpreted by reporters.

Catastrophe

For several months in 1999, NATO forces carried out a bombing campaign in Yugoslavia (then only Serbia and Montenegro). Belgrade was quite damaged by these bombings. This campaign came in the context of the Kosovo War of 1998-1999 between the Yugoslavian government and the Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army. The bombing forced the separation of Kosovo from Serbia. Considering that Kosovo, Metohija, Prizren and Peć have always been understood to be the "original homeland" of Serbs (who are almost all Orthodox Christians), this event was painful, to say the least. However, the populating of Kosovo with Muslim Albanians and the transfer away of Orthodox Christian Serbs had been the work of previous Yugoslavian governments (primarily of Mr. J B Tito).

The relations between Patriarch Pavle and Mr. Milošević worsened considerably. In 2000, for the first time, Mr. Milošević did not send Patriarch Pavle Christmas greetings. Patriarch Pavle later stated that Mr. Milošević and his government were responsible for the Yugoslav catastrophe, and the patriarch asked him to resign.

After the change of power in Serbia in October, 2000, Patriarch Pavle continued to co-operate with the legal government, and he was a frequent guest at various political ceremonies.

Glorification of Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović) of Ochrid and Žiča, 2003

On 19 May, 2003, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church officially recognised Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović) of Ochrid and Žiča to be a saint, and decided to include him into the calendar of saints of the Serbian Orthodox Church (on 18 March and 3 May). He was soon included in the calendars of the other Holy Orthodox Churches. Saint Nikolaj's perpetual concern was that the Serbian people (and especially the civil leadership) keep the Lord first in their lives, and that they live in His love (see Matthew 22:36-40).

Saint Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirović) is often referred to as Serbia’s New Chrysostom. Saint John (Maximovitch), who had been a young instructor at a seminary in Bishop Nikolaj’s Diocese of Ochrid, called him “a great saint and Chrysostom of our day [whose] significance for Orthodoxy in our time can be compared only with that of Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky). [...] They were both universal teachers of the Orthodox Church”.

In October, 2004, Patriarch Pavle wrote an open letter in which he denounced the elections in Kosovo, and he urged the Serbs to boycott the polls.

Patriarch Pavle serving the Divine Liturgy

Asked by foreign journalists about alleged Church support to the Greater Serbia project, Patriarch Pavle answered :

 So I say : if a Great Serbia should be achieved by committing crime, I would never accept it ; may Great Serbia 
 disappear, but to have it by crime - no.  If it were necessary to keep only a small Serbia by crime, I would 
 not accept it. May small Serbia disappear, but to keep it by crime - no. And if there is only one Serb, and if 
 I am that last Serb, to hold on by crime - I do not accept. May we disappear, but disappear as humans, because 
 then we will not disappear.  We will be alive in the hands of the living God.

Patriarch Pavle had been the oldest amongst all the living Orthodox patriarchs at the time.

He was devoted especially to and fond of the words of the Apostle Paul (he was named Pavle, after the Apostle). Often, he quoted the Apostle in his homilies and in his writings, and he expressed admiration often for the Holy Apostle Paul.

Patriarch Pavle visited all continents and all the dioceses of the Serbian Church. At the age of 91 (in 2005), he travelled to Australia for 2 weeks. He also visited most of the Local Orthodox Churches, as well as many European countries and other regions of the world.

Patriarch Pavle blessing at an event

Patriarch Pavle bearing Holy Relics, at the sanctification of the Temple of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Lubljana, 2005

Illness, 2007

On 27 April, 2007, the Holy Synod announced that it had named the Metropolitan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and all Italy, Jovan (Pavlović), as the "Guardian of the Throne" (as Locum Tenens, taking over the Patriarch’s duties temporarily) while Patriarch Pavle was recovering in the Sveti Sava Hospital. He was discharged on 1 May, and he returned to his duties on 14 May. The patriarch’s health worsened, and he was restricted to a wheelchair.

On 13 November, 2007, Patriarch Pavle was admitted to a medical clinic, and the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Amfilohije (Radović), as the oldest member, was elected by the Holy Synod to fulfil the responsibilities of the patriarch. On 20 November, 2007, it was announced that his life was in danger.

On 17 May, 2008, the Holy Synod took over all Patriarch Pavle’s duties owing to his inability to carry out his functions. On 12 October, 2008, Patriarch Pavle was reported to have asked the Holy Synod to accept his resignation because of declining physical ability.

On 11 November, 2008, the Holy Synod decided to turn down his request and to ask him to remain on the throne for life.

During the 2 years of his illness, Patriarch Pavle received Holy Communion every day, until the very end.

Repose, 2009

Patriarch Pavle fell asleep in the Lord on 15 November, 2009, after having spent more than 2 years in the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, Serbia.

For 3 days, citizens were able to make their farewells to Patriarch Pavle at the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Belgrade. All the while, memorial services were offered for the newly-departed patriarch.

On 19 November, the Memorial Divine Liturgy was served inside Saint Michael’s Cathedral ("Saborna Crkva"), with the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew (Archontonis) presiding. Besides many other bishops, Patriarch Bartholomew was assisted by the Locum-Tenens of the Church of Serbia, Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radović) of Montenegro and the Littoral ; Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Romania ; Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos), of Albania ; and Metropolitan Krystof (Pulec) of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

This service was followed by a procession to the Sobor of Saint Sava (which at that time was not completed). There, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch was served outside the Temple, in the presence of throngs of people.

Later on 19 November, Patriarch Pavle’s body was interred in the Rakovica Monastery.

Rakovica Monastery

Grave-marker at the monastery

— Bishop of Raška-Prizren 1957-1990. Preceded by Bishop Vladimir (Rakcović). Succeeded by Bishop Artemije (Radosavljević).

— Patriarch of Serbia 1990-2009. Preceded by : Patriarch German (Đorić). Succeeded by : Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilovic).

Reflections

The funeral of Patriarch Pavle II (Stojčević) was attended by Patriarch Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople ; Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Romania ; Metropolitan Philaret (Vakhromeyev) of Minsk and Slutsk in Byelorus ; Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Albania ; Metropolitan Christopher (Pulec) of Prague, the Czech Lands and Slovakia. Roman Catholic Cardinal Angelo Sodano stood nearby.

The Government of Serbia announced 3 days of national mourning over the death of Patriarch Pavle, while “Republika Srpska”, the City of Belgrade, and the Brčko District declared the funeral day as the official day of mourning. President Boris Tadić said that the patriarch’s death was an “irredeemable loss for the entire Serbian nation”. Condolences to the Serbian Church, people, and officials were sent by the Russian Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) of Moscow ; the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople ; Archbishop Ieronymos II (Liapis) of Athens ; Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Romania ; Pope Benedict XVI, and Cardinal Walter Kasper. Presidents and Heads of Governments sent condolences as well : of Russia of Byelorus (Belarus) ; of Ukraine ; of Germany ; and of France ; as well as leaders of countries that are territorially part of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Bosnia and Herzegovina ; Croatia ; Republic of Macedonia ; Montenegro). The Jewish community in Serbia ; both Islamic communities in Serbia ; the Islamic community in Bosnia, and the Roman Catholic Church in Serbia sent condolences also.

Patriarch Pavel lived a long life full of Christian deeds. With his simplicity, meekness, humility, asceticism, he earned the sincere love of millions of believers. Already during his lifetime, many considered him a saint, and after his repose, faith in the holiness of Patriarch Paul grows even more and strengthens in the hearts of believers.

Patriarch Pavle exemplified simplicity in his way of life, and he was the embodiment of humility and personal holiness, a most worthy helmsman to guide the “Ship of the Church” in troubled times.

Famous sayings :

• “We do not choose the country where we will be born, nor the people in which we will be born, nor the time in which we will be born ; but we choose one thing : to be human or not human”.

• “When a person is born into the world, everyone rejoices, but he alone cries. But you need to live your life in such a way that after the death of a person, everyone weeps about him, and he alone rejoices”.

• “If bishops, knowing the Saviour's commandment about non-acquisitiveness, have such cars, then what sort of cars would they have if this commandment did not exist ?”

• “See what good shoes I have ? I found them near the bin when I went to the patriarchate. Someone threw them away, but it's real leather. I sewed them up a bit – and behold, they can serve for a long time”.

Extract from “The Guardian” obituary :

 His Holiness Pavle, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of the Serbian 
 Orthodox church – it is a grand title, and in some ways seems at odds with the life of the man who bore it for 
 almost 19 years. As far as possible, Patriarch Pavle, who has died aged 95, lived a life of humble simplicity. 
 In the quiet and gentle way he dealt with everyone he met, it was possible to see the very deep spirituality 
 and personal holiness and wisdom that so many people recognised in him – holiness and wisdom which, perhaps, 
 account for the great respect and affection that so many people in Serbia, whether religious or not, had for 
 him. [...]
 
 Pavle’s tenure in the office of patriarch spanned a difficult period in the life of both his Church and his 
 country.  Taking office in December 1990, he was called on to guide the Church through the years of 
 Yugoslavia’s protracted and violent demise, the sanctions imposed on Serbia as a result, and, finally, the 
 crisis over Kosovo and the Nato bombing campaign of 1999, which was the result of events there. During this 
 period, there were moments when his actions may have seemed contradictory : making joint statements with the
 leaders of the Muslim and Catholic communities on Bosnia condemning inter-ethnic hatred and violence, while 
 remaining close to the Bosnian Serb leadership ; wavering between supporting and condemning president 
 Slobodan Milosevic during the 1990s.
 
 He was perhaps politically naïve, especially when facing the situation of a resurgent national Church emerging 
 from long decades of communist repression, and a resurgent nationalist political movement seeking to settle
 old scores and create a 'greater Serbia', a movement that sought to co-opt the Church into validating its 
 aims.  However, his main concern was always for the people and the Church he loved, and he had the Grace to 
 apologise publicly when he realised that he had taken false steps in the political arena. [...]
 
 Pavle’s attachment to Kosovo remained strong throughout his life and ministry, and it caused great pain and 
 sadness for him to see the region torn apart by inter-ethnic violence in the late 1990s. He worked tirelessly 
 to bring the plight of the Orthodox population there – and the region’s many cultural treasures in its ancient 
 monasteries and monuments – to the attention of the world, but sadly his quiet voice often went unheard.

Extracts from “The Telegraph” obituary :

If Pavle’s predecessor, Patriarch German, had been forced to walk an ecclesiastical and political tightrope,
Pavle’s tenure was even more difficult. With the collapse of communism, tensions between Yugoslavia’s
Orthodox, Catholic, and Muslim faiths generated conflicts that were frequently punctuated by atrocities.

That Pavle often denounced the violence was not enough to silence those who accused him of failing to curb
priests who stoked the flames of Serb nationalism and allegedly blessed paramilitaries who committed war
crimes in Croatia and Bosnia. But at the same time, he was to abandon his Church’s traditional stance of
political neutrality by demanding, in 2000, an end to Milosevic’s regime. It was an important development,
helping to lend momentum to the revolt that toppled the president later that year. [...]

Traditionally the Church remained outside politics in Serbia, but at a synod meeting in June, 1999 – after Nato
had ended 11 weeks of air strikes – it called for Milosevic to stand down.

Six months earlier, in a sermon in Belgrade, the Patriarch had declared that the struggle for Kosovo, where
Albanians outnumbered Serbs by nine to one, would be decided as much by demographics as by the outcome of war.
'Who has the most sheep in the field, that is his field', he said, adding : 'Multiply yourselves'. Following
attacks by the Albanian population, some 80,000 Serbs had fled Kosovo – out of a population of around 200,000
– and Patriarch Pavle urged the remaining Serbs to stay in the province. 'If this trend is not stopped
immediately', he said in June 1999, 'the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo will be complete'. In July 2005 the
Patriarch shocked many liberal Serbs when he appeared at a nationalist rally organised by the far-right
Radical Party, whose former leader, Vojislav Seselj, was being tried for war crimes at The Hague in the
Netherlands.

Patriarch Pavle remained popular among his flock, who admired his humility. He was said to make his own
shoes, and tended to use public transport.

Patriarch Pavle's usual urban transportation

An excerpt from a conversation with Deacon Neboisa Topolic of the Serbian Orthodox Church :

Our Primate [...] leads an ascetic life and is for us a living example of an evangelical shepherd.
He lives in Christ in the fullest sense of the word. Once journalists asked him : 'Are you a
vegetarian ?' He replied, 'I'm not a vegetarian, I'm a Christian". What did he mean by these
words ? As an Orthodox monk, he fasts, that is, he does not eat meat, and on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday he has a very strict fast. I have already said that every morning he serves the Liturgy in
a small chapel, which is located in the building of the Patriarchate. There is no choir, and only
parishioners sing.

He has such a tradition : if he ordains someone to be deacon or priest, then he takes him with him
to the chapel, and he serves with him for forty days (to get a feel for what conciliar prayer and
conciliar service are). And when he leaves for his parish, Patriarch Pavel again serves alone :
without a priest and without a deacon (only the altar boy carries a candle and gives him a censer).
He himself vests before the service and unvests himself after the service ; he himself confesses
the parishioners, and he gives them Holy Communion. He has been wearing a cassock and a rason
since he took the angelic rank (and this happened fifty years ago). He doesn't change them. He
himself washes, irons and repairs them. He cooks his own food. Once he told me how he made good
shoes out of women's boots. He has all the shoe tools ; he can repair any shoes. He often serves
in different Temples, and if he sees that the priest's cassock or phelonion is torn, he tells him :
'Bring it, I'll fix it'. This is how he educates his shepherds.

Several stories from Yuri Maksimov :

Mrs. Janya Todorovich told me a story that happened to her sister. She somehow got an appointment
with the Patriarch on some business. Discussing the case, she accidentally looked at the feet of
the Patriarch and was horrified at the sight of his shoes - they were old, once torn, and then
repaired shoes. The woman thought : 'What a shame for us Serbs that our Patriarch has to walk
around in such rags. Can't anyone give him new shoes ?' The patriarch immediately said with joy :
'See what good shoes I have ? I found them near the bin when I went to the Patriarchate. Someone
threw them away, but this is real leather. It serves'.

Patriarch Pavel walked around the city on foot, or he travelled by ordinary public transport.

There is another story connected with these boots. A certain woman came to the Patriarchate,
demanding to speak with the Patriarch on an urgent matter, about which she can only tell him
personally. Such a request was unusual, and she was not immediately allowed in ; but the visitor's
perseverance bore fruit, and the audience took place. Seeing the Patriarch, the woman said with
great excitement that that night she had dreamed of the Mother of God, who ordered to bring money
to the Patriarch so that he could buy new shoes for himself. And with these words, the visitor
held out an envelope with money. Patriarch Pavel, not taking the envelope, affectionately asked :
'At what time did you go to bed ?' The woman, surprised, replied : 'Well, somewhere around
eleven'. 'You know, I went to bed later, around four o’clock in the morning', the Patriarch
answered.

One day, as he was approaching the building of the patriarchate, Patriarch Pavle noticed many
foreign cars stopped at the entrance, and he asked whose cars they were. He was told that these were
the bishops' cars. The Patriarch replied with a smile : 'If they, knowing the Saviour’s
commandment about non-acquisitiveness, have such cars, then what sort of cars would they have if
this commandment did not exist ?'

Once, the Patriarch flew somewhere on a plane for a visit. When they flew over the sea, the plane
hit a turbulent zone and began to shake. The young bishop, who was sitting next to the Patriarch,
asked what he thought if the plane were to crash. Patriarch Pavle calmly replied : 'For
myself personally, I will take this as an act of justice : after all, in my life I have eaten so
many fish that it is not surprising if they now eat me'.

As is usually the case with patriarchs and other heads of local Churches, there is criticism (often politicised) of their behaviours and decisions by those within the Church who disagree with them about one or another matter, and by those outside the Church who have a different perception of the world and of situations. An assessment of such a person cannot be limited to one or even several matters. Rather, it must consider the whole of the person's life and service. For an Orthodox Christian, a main criterion in discernment (or “litmus test”) is the Dominical saying, “By their fruits you will know them” :

‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You 
 will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every 
 good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad 
 tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  
 Therefore by their fruits you will know them’ (Matthew 7:15-20).

Awards and honours :

• Honourary Doctorate of Divinity (Serbian Orthodox Church), (1988)

• Award of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples "For outstanding activity in strengthening the unity of Orthodox peoples", Russia (21 January, 2002, for 2001)

• Order of Nemanja, 1st degree (Union of Serbia and Montenegro) (9 September, 2004)

• Order of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, 1st degree (Russian Orthodox Church) (15 November, 2004)

• Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Karađorđe (by the Karađorđević dynasty) (2007)

• Order of Dignity (International League for the Protection of Human Dignity and Security) (Russia) (2009)

Writings

For more than 20 years, he was responsible for the content of the column in the “Gazette” of the Serbian Patriarchate known as “Questions and Answers”, dealing with liturgical and sacramental questions. Through his efforts, the Holy Synod published the new version of “Srbljak” in 1968.

Patriarch Pavle published “Devich, The Monastery of Saint Joanikije of Devich” (1989), and ‘Questions and Answers’ in the “Serbian Orthodox Church Gazette” (1988-2008).

Patriarch Pavle also co-ordinated the translation from Russian of the liturgical studies “Christian Feasts” by M Skabalanovich, published originally in Kiev in 1915, in 6 volumes.

The most monumental contribution of Patriarch Pavle was the translation of the New Testament published in 1984 under his supervision. This was the first official Serbian translation of the New Testament approved by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

If all Bishop Pavle’s works were published, there would be thousands of pages and many volumes.

Selected writings, articles and speeches translated into English

• “Wake up to Life”

• “Wise Words about the Truth, Lies and Temptations of the Modern World”

• “I am strengthened only by Faith”

• “Saint Seraphim and Life in Christ”

• ‘Conversation with a Samaritan’ in “Walk to Eternity : Selected Sermons, Interview” (from the book of sermons and conversations with the Serbian Patriarch Pavle), Moscow, Publishing House of the Sretensky Monastery.

• Selected Homilies

Works in Serbian

• The New Testament translated into Serbian, approved by the Serbian Orthodox Church (1984)

• ‘Questions and Answers’ in “The Serbian Orthodox Church Gazette” (1988-2008)

• “Church Feasts”, 6 vols. (by the Russian writer [M Skabalanovich, translated into Serbian by Patriarch Pavle).

• Homilies in Serbian (2001-2008)

• The Christian Wife

• “Life according to the Gospel”, (Collected Works, 3 vols.) (made into a movie by the RTS)

• “Prayers and Petitions” (1990)

References

Wyrwoll, Nikolaus ed., “Orthodoxia 2007-2008” (Regensburg : Ostkirchliches Institut, 2007).

Serbian Wikipedia biography

Serbian Patriarchate biography (in Serbian)

Orthodoxwiki biography

Wikipedia biography

Azbyka.ru (ABC of Faith) biography

Moscow Patriarchate biography

Drevo Encyclopaedia biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Additional information :

Kašić, Dušan, ed. “Serbian Orthodox Church : Its Past and Present”, vols. 1-6 (Belgrade : Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate, 1965-1983).

Janic, Jovan, “Pavel, Patriarch of Serbia : ‘Let’s be Human !’ The Life and Work of Patriarch Pavel” (Moscow : Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2014). ISBN : 978-5-699-72934-0.

……, “Pavel (Stojcevic) of Serbia : Misunderstood Patriarch” (Book excerpt).

Maximov, Yuri, “In Memoriam : May his Soul dwell with the Righteous” (2009).

Pavlovich, Paul, “The History of the Serbian Orthodox Church” (Serbian Heritage Books, 1989). ISBN 978-0-9691331-2-4.

Radic, R, ‘Serbian Christianity’ in “The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity”, ed. Parry, Ken (Oxford, UK : Wiley & Sons, 2010). ISBN : 978-1-4443-3361-9.

(Radosavlevich), Archimandrite Jovan, “How the future Patriarch Pavel repaired the Road, and what came of it” (4 May, 2022).

……, “You know Communism better than me !” (episodes from the life of Patriarch Pavel).

……, “Prophet Mitar”.

……, “Beginning of Patriarch Pavel’s Service in Kosovo”.

……, “Further Service of Patriarch Pavel in Kosovo”.

Trubetskoi, G N, translated by Elizabeth Saika-Voivod, edited by Borislav Chernev, "Notes of a Plenipotentiary : Russian Diplomacy and War in the Balkans, 1914-1917" (DeKalb, Illinois : Northern Illinois University Press, 2016). ISBN : 978-0-87580-726-3.

West, Rebecca, introduction by Geoff Dyer, "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey Through Yugoslavia" (Edinburgh, 2006. First published 1941). ISBN : 978-1-84195-787-6.

RTS Obituary. (in Serbian)

“The Guardian” Obituary

“The Telegraph” Obituary

Objection to an “LA Times” obituary

“The Funeral for Patriarch Pavle took place in Belgrade” (19 November, 2009)

“A Memorial Service was served for Patriarch Pavle in Belgrade and in the Rakovica Monastery” (November, 2009)

“World Media Reports about the Funeral of Patriarch Pavle” (November, 2009)

“A Bust of Patriarch Pavle was unveiled in Nis” (15 December, 2009)

Works of the Serbian Patriarch Pavle (Stojčević) presented by Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilović) (30 October, 2010)

“First Anniversary of the Repose of Patriarch Pavle” (15 November, 2010)

“A Tribute in Memory of Patriarch Pavle was held in Rakovica” (31 May, 2019)

“Unmercenary Patriarch : On the 105th Anniversary of the Birth of Patriarch Pavle of Serbia” (September, 2019)

“Stories about the Serbian Patriarch Pavle”

Video : Patriarch Pavle in the USA and Canada, 1992 : Patriarch Pavle’s Visit to Saint George’s Serbian Orthodox Church in Niagara Falls (1992), Parts 2-5 : Part 2 ; Part 3 ; Part 4 ; Part 5 [there is no part 1 available]

Video : Patriarch Pavle in Krajina (1993)

Video : Procession to Saint Sava’s Cathedral (19 November, 2009)

Video : Interview with Patriarch Pavle (16 September, 2011) (in Serbian)

Video : “Patriarch Paul : Life according to the Gospel” (21 December, 2015) [Patriarch Pavle blessed this film which traces his life from his childhood until he became Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church.]

Video : "Agape" – Interview with Patriarch Pavle (15 January, 2016). (in Serbian)

Serbian Orthodox Church web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Serbia

Wikipedia article about the Serbian Orthodox Church

Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Canada

Encyclopædia Britannica article about the Serbian Orthodox Church

Cathedral Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Belgrade

Rača Monastery

Rakovica Monastery

Saint Sava of Serbia

Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović)

Patriarch Aleksey II (Ridiger)