Serbian Church removes Bishop Artemije from position

Belgrade (Earth Times) - The leadership of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) said Saturday that it has stripped controversial Bishop Artemije of authority over the Kosovo eparchy. The SPC Synod appointed a replacement, Atanasije, to provisionally govern the eparchy until the canonic procedure against Artemije is concluded, Bishop Irinej (Bulovic) said after the Synod adjourned.

Speaking for the SPC, he told reporters that the Synod concluded Artemije "showed inability to govern and ... was responsible" for shortcomings in fiscal and material accounting in the eparchy.

The SPC "will seek criminal responsibility of people from Bishop Artemije's surrounding," he said. The Synod had discussed Artemije after it ordered a commission to review his documents on Wednesday.

Artemije's conduct had however been under SPC scrutiny long before, in 2006, when the Synod ordered the first a probe into his running of the Kosovo eparchy, then ordered him to shut down suspicious businesses.

The bishop Artemije remained defiant and carried on, but the SPC could do little as he did have supporters within the church, which was then headed by the ailing Patriarch Pavle.

Pavle died in November and the new patriarch, Irinej, immediately ordered the move against Artemije.

Serbs in Kosovo, including their church, have been receiving funds from Serbia within Belgrade's fight against the secession of what it considers its heartland.

With its majority Albanian population, Kosovo nevertheless declared independence two years ago and was recognized by leading Western nations.

Artemije, 75, insists that the campaign against him was orchestrated by the US and the West because of his hardline opposition to Kosovo's secession.

Local observers believe that some political and church circles agree with Artemije. Around 200 people braved the blizzard Saturday to demonstrate in his support in front of the Patriarchate in Belgrade.

Experts on the church explained that the ruling on Artemije must be confirmed by the SPC bishopial assembly and, in case he appeals, by the church court.