CURRENT STATUS OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R008000880011-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2000
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: July 9, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL TELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO,
25X1
CLASSIFICATION S P?T/C011TROL - U. S. Or, 'sca.r~zas ONLY
INFORMATION REPORT
Yugoslavia
Current Status of Relations
Serbian Orthodox Church and
Government
CD NO..
DATE DISTR. 9 July 1951
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the Yugoslav
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INFO. REPORT NO.
The following is presented as the point of view of certa.ft
officials in the Sorbian Patriarchate in Belgrade in reference
to tiro major politico--religious. problems, The Holy Synod was
scheduled to moot this sumer in Belgrade,
1, The Holy Synod has as one of its tasks the problem of norimlizing relations
between the Serbian Church and the States and also promoting the Churches
support of the regime To this ends the Holy Synod should put forth a re-
solution to establish a now church law,, for insertion in the constitution
of the Church,, to the effect that the Church will assist the States pro ;rams
and development It would be pointed out that the Communist character of
the State will in no Tray interfere with the cenons and the constitution of
the Serbian Church, Supporters of the resolution. would present the
following argumnts i
Even though. according to the constitution of the Yugoslav
Republic, the Church has been separated from the State,, the
Serbian Church does not exist outside the State, but on the
contrary it lives and works within the State and must sup-
port it,
All :cambers of the Serbian Orthodox. Church are also members
of the State and they are bound to fulfill all the obliga-
tions of a citizen0 They must all conform to the laws and
the constitution of the Staten
The State, on the other hand, is under obligation to estab-
11sh appropriate laws to provide for the safety of its
citizens and thol-r property. The State must also provide
its citizens with the means and assistance to devvel6p, cul-
turally. , morally and economically? In this respect, the
State must support the religious education of its citizens
and should not interfere with the desire of s citizensi to
fulfill their religious obligations, This document is hsroty rot sded to
CCNFlDENJI-W in with the
!odor of , c ;:, ~> rd1 the
Director of
C ra= to the
Arch;v:nt of s-10
Next Rev eev 0C8
CLASSIFICATION
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2a The second main problem to be discussed at the forthcoming convention is
a delicate one concerning the Orthodox Church and the Peoples Republic of
Macedonia. A decision of am* kind will be rude to effect the separation
and insure the independence of the Macedonian Orthodox Church .from the
.Serbian Orthodox Church. Clorgymen in Macedonia who are supporters of
the regime sponsored Brotherhood of Orthodox Clergymen of Macedonia are
seeking, at the suggestion of the regime, the followings
as The recognition of the Ohrid archbishopric as the seat
of an autonomous orthodox ohurea for the territory of
Macedonia.
be The establishment of the Ohrid ;archbishopric with four
apieoopetcs at Bitol-j, Skoplje, Debar and Strumica. The
Ohrid archbishop wcu.d hold the espicopate? in Skopije and
establish a carial bishop in lbride
a, The institution of the Ohrid ar. - biaboprio' a oent, indepen-
dent Holy Synod?whieb would be ocknpletely administered by
the Orthodox Church c;.! Macedonia{;
3,* If Macedonian wishes are met, then the only 'Link between the Serbian Ortho
dax Patriarchate In Belgrade and the Ohrid avohbishopric would stem from the
Ohr?id archbishop's recognition of the Serb Pad.'riarch and the citition of his
name in the archbishopric's religious services.
4. The Holy Synod of a Macedonian Orthodox Church v :+uld opera., as soon as possible,
a seminary in Chrid or in Sv. Naum, to which it w ,auld send its Macedonian
clergymen.. F'uxthermore, the Coyernmerxb of the Pecples Republic of Macedonia
would immediately open a theological faculty in Skc.,plje which would be corr.-
ducted in the bheedonien language.
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Rm 0 Co:ranent t
a gr ormation on the Serbian Patriarch Vikontije
Prodanow and his relations with the Yugoalcv Goternment0
SEC/ET/CONTROL - U. S. OF CItLa OnT
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