The Serbian Orthodox Church is in a crossroad now with the death of the Partiarch Irinej, who was not only the key religious figure but also had political influence in Serbia. He was known for his strong rhetoric on Kosovo. The SOC is centered around Kosovo despite the fact that Irinej lives in Belgrade.
The influence of the SOC on Serbian politics, especially in relation to Kosovo, is enormous. The SOC has consistently regarded Kosovo as Serbian Jerusalem and has propagated its non-recognition of Kosovo independence. On March of 2019, during his visit in Kosovo, the now dead patriarch had stated that the Serbian boat is connected to the Russian ship, and that Kosovo is our holy place from which we can never give up.
The position of the SOC is very clear on the issue of Kosovo, it was reported in the Serbian media that even after his death Patriarch Irinej left a manuscript not to give up on Kosovo.
But, with the death of the Bishop, we have to think what does this means for the long conflict between Serbia and Kosovo?
Serbian Orthodox Church has always been most extreme in regard to Kosovo. Patriarch Pavle, the predecessor of the Patriarch Irinej laid the foundation of church nationalism by supporting Milosevic actions in the former Yugoslav bloodbath of wars and conflicts. Pavle had good relations with all leadership in Serbia including the opposition of the time, Vuk Draskovic.
As a bearer of SOC nationalism, Patriarch Pavle was both old school and new nationalist. He kept church conservative and expanded influence in political scene and military by proactively blessing and inspiring thousands of volunteers to take part in battle in Croatia, Bosnia and later Kosovo as well.
When Pavle met with Serb paramilitary leader, Arkan, whom he claimed was justified in his actions and presented him with an autographed icon of Saint Nicholas; Arkan considered himself a favorite of Pavle and regarded the patriarch his “commander”, stating that “we are fighting for our religion, the Serbian Orthodox Church.”
They both laid the foundation of the controversial SO Church in Prishtina, Kosovo as effort to increase Serbian domination over Kosovo largely inhabited my Albanians, most of whom are of Muslim religion.
Patriarch Irinej continued Pavle´s path. He fought for Kosovo and often condemned those who don’t fight over Kosovo. His battle for Kosovo took a higher stand since he was elected as a Bishop in 2010.
In 2010, Irinej indicated he would not oppose the first-ever visit by the Roman Catholic pope 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 crimes committed against Serbian Orthodox during World War II. ”An apology would be a gesture that instills hope that something like that will never happen again,” had said Irinej.
In 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 Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, stating that he was “fighting like a lion” to maintain Kosovo as a part of Serbia. The same year, Irinej suggested that the Serbian Orthodox Church could rename itself as the Serbian Orthodox Church – Patriarchate of Peć, to highlight the links with Kosovo, in a move that was interpreted as in opposition to the government’s participation in the EU-facilitated normalisation dialogue with Kosovo.
Overall, SOC is problematic when it comes to Kosovo. With a lot of cultural heritage left outside the borders of Serbia, its political battle remains on Kosovo.
The new patriarch will face two challenges: One, the challenge of the myth built by two very strong patriarchs that Kosovo is Serbia and they will fight by all means; and the challenge of the democratic world recognizing Kosovo as an independent country along with Serbia´s political leadership willing to negotiate with EU and US on the issue of Kosovo.
