REVIEW OF EVENTS LEADING TO ELECTION OF NEW SERB PATRIARCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R006000720010-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 1999
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: October 23, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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New Sorb Patriarch
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COUNTRY Yicgoslavni,a DATE DISTR. 2-1 OCT 50
SUBJECT Review of Events Leading to Election of NO. OF PAGES 2
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1. The First Election:. The election of a new Serb Patriarch was originally
scheduled for 10 June 1950; however, because an electoral quorum was not
present at the time, the election could not be held., The Goveri enta
through various devices, hindered the travel of many of the members of
the electoral council to Belgrade and prevented their arrival in time for the
Scheduled election.
At this first meeting of the electoral council, Bishop T kentije Prodanov
did not enter into consideration as a candidate for Patriarch and. was not
being supported as such by any group. The main reason for this was that
in earlier discussions among the clergy, Archbishop Josif Cvijic had
opposed the recommendation of Prodanov as candidate.
The Holy Synod allegedly had the intention of proposing as candidate the
Archbishop of Mostar, Nektarija Kru.l ja. However, the Government made
known its dissatisfaction vrlth Krulja and threatened to make trouble for
the Church if he were appointed. As a r?esult, :bishop Georgi je Zubkovic
allegedly defeated the proposal to appoint Krul.ja as a candidate of the
Holy Synod.,
t. This attempt to appoint Kvul ja having failed, the Holy Synod took the
stand that a Patriarch should not be appointed but the Holy Synod should
take over the responsibilities of administering the Church. Meanwhile.,
the Commission for Religion decisively announced its opposition to these
proposals to the Presidency of the Yugoslav Government and declared that
the proposals were not in line with the 1947 Constitution of the Serb
Church as drawn up by the Holy Synod after the separation of the Church
and State. It was then decided that a new date would be set for the
selection of a caniidate, for Patriarch.
aA The Second Election; In order to be sure of the success of its plans to
en the strength of the bishops, the Government interned Archbishop
Josif Cvijic in the Zic monastery. This action was a blow to all bishops
who, at least temporarily, were f.i_Ued with consternation.
Gab Bishop Vikentije Frodanov, following the failure to elect a Patriarch at
the first scheduled elections, announced to all bishops -ad archbishops
that he did not want to be considered for the Patriarch candidacy,
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7. At the second election of 30 June, there were three candidates: the
bishop of Zietovo-Struma, Vikentije Prodanovs who received 34 votes;
the archbishop of Zagreb, Damaskin Ordanacki, who received 2 votes;
and the archbishop of Crna Gora, Arsenije Bradvarevic, who received
2; votes.
8. Bishop Viikentije Prodanov was one of the regime's candidates. His
election to Patriarch met with the displeasure of the Church and of Serb
political circles. Prodanov is usually referred to in unflattering teams
and, it is the opinion of many Serbs that he will serve the wishes of the
Communist regime.*
9. Action taken and contemplated by Patriarch Prodanov a of Augu,st?, 1.950."
Areabishoi; Josif Cvijic has been relieved of all responsibilities in the
administration of the bishopric of Zic and, furthermore, he is not
recognized by the archbishop of Skoplje. Cvijic, who is called the church-
man most rabid in opposing the Communist Government., nom has been effectively
neutralized by the regime.
10. In the very near future, the Patriarch intends to send Bishop Vladimir
Rajic to kopije. Rajiv, the bishop of Prizren, is also the adr ..n1strator
of the bishopric in Skopije and his ideas coincide with those of Patriarch
Prodanov. The purpose of Rajicts proposed visit to Skopije is to come
to some agreement with the Church and political circles on the question
of a Mace,iR ian Church.
li. The clergy Macedonia have united and formed the Brotherhood of
Orthodox Clergymen in Macedonia, and it will be the objective of this
group to have three Macedonian monks elevated to the rank of bishop who.,
with the Macedonian Church Council,.ll elect a Macedonian archbishop.
This would be the first step in separating the Macedonian Church from
the Serbian Orthodox Church and the establishment of an independent
Macedonian Orthodox Church.
12.. On 3 July, on the occasion of the visit of the board of directors or
supreme committee of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Clergymen to Patriarch
Prodanov, Reverand Milan Smiljani c requested of the Patriarch that the
acedoniian Church question of a free and independent Macedonian Church be
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given prompt attention.
13. It is expected, that, in a very short time, Patriarch Prodanov wil.l decide
to hold elections to appoint new bishops to replace Bishop Irineja
Djordjevic and Bishop Nikola Velimirovic, both of whom have emigrated.
The Tito regime had brought pressure to bear on the deceased Patriarch
Gavrilo to replace the above two bishops but. Gavrilo refused to do so.
11. It is also intended to.appoint a new bishop to Banja Luka to take the
place of Bishop Varnave Nastica, who is now imprisoned in Zenica.
:13. The election of Patriarch Prodanov, in source's opinion, will certainly
provoke clashes in the Serb Church and will end in a split within the
Church.
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-Comment: From all indications, Patriarch Prodaraov r.