Turmoil Continues in Serbian Church as Monks Rebel
EarthTimes
June 2, 2010
Belgrade, Serbia - The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) continues to be racked by dissent, as monks in two monasteries have openly rebelled against the church leadership, the daily Blic said Wednesday.
Monks from monasteries the Crna Reka and Holy Archangels launched their rebellion in support of Bishop Artemije, the former head of the Kosovo eparchy whom the SPC replaced because he had ignored orders and was implicated in corruption scandals.
The monks said they were set to abandon their monasteries despite orders from the SPC to remain in place.
The influential Bishop Amfilohije, the provisional administrator of the Kosovo eparchy, which also covers a part of south-western Serbia, met the monks in Crna Reka at an unspecified date but had failed to reach a settlement.
"They ... were told that the Church cannot allow pseudo-zealotry, sectarianism that undermines the unity of the Church," the Kosovo eparchy said in a statement.
The Kosovo eparchy has been in focus not only because of the secession of Kosovo in 2008, but also because of alleged financial abuse. The allegations have so far led to the criminal indictment and arrest of Artemije's right-hand man, Simeon Vilovski.
Monks at the Crna Reka monastery caused outrage last year when they disclosed they were "curing" drug addicts by torturing them.
For context, see here and here.
EarthTimes
June 2, 2010
Belgrade, Serbia - The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) continues to be racked by dissent, as monks in two monasteries have openly rebelled against the church leadership, the daily Blic said Wednesday.
Monks from monasteries the Crna Reka and Holy Archangels launched their rebellion in support of Bishop Artemije, the former head of the Kosovo eparchy whom the SPC replaced because he had ignored orders and was implicated in corruption scandals.
The monks said they were set to abandon their monasteries despite orders from the SPC to remain in place.
The influential Bishop Amfilohije, the provisional administrator of the Kosovo eparchy, which also covers a part of south-western Serbia, met the monks in Crna Reka at an unspecified date but had failed to reach a settlement.
"They ... were told that the Church cannot allow pseudo-zealotry, sectarianism that undermines the unity of the Church," the Kosovo eparchy said in a statement.
The Kosovo eparchy has been in focus not only because of the secession of Kosovo in 2008, but also because of alleged financial abuse. The allegations have so far led to the criminal indictment and arrest of Artemije's right-hand man, Simeon Vilovski.
Monks at the Crna Reka monastery caused outrage last year when they disclosed they were "curing" drug addicts by torturing them.
For context, see here and here.
I see that the Greek Orthodox Church is not alone in the growing efforts of Fundamentalists to turn the Faith into a Monastery based Faith instead of one where the laity goes to it's Parishes for its spiritual well being. Unlike the Serbians, we have no Hierarch that is willing to stand up to the Ephraimites among us.
ReplyDeleteThose who do not recognize the value of monasteries in preserving the authentic Orthodox faith eventually place themselves outside of the Ark of Salvation.
ReplyDeleteblic is anti serb daily and anti orth
ReplyDeleteartemije is defender of orth values
don t beleive to propaganda
Bishop Artemious is a good man, but it is good that he is retired! It seems that he is "defender" of the canons but his monks act in different way, non-canonical!? Which only shows that cult of personalty is wrong way in Orthodoxy. Especially when is point out that he was St.Justin(Popovic)spiritual son. I dont think that St.Justin would agree with it!
ReplyDeleteThe Serb
we like and support him as we have supported m. amfilohije when he was in trouble with Montenegrine "church", as we have supported metr. Jovan of Skopje in his trouble with schismatics ...
ReplyDeletenot just monks but also vast majority of serbian beleivers