VZCZCXRO5226
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #0904/01 2481239
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041239Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0370
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000904 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV PREL SR KV
SUBJECT: SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH DISPUTE ECHOES DESCENT OF 
NATIONALIST POLITICS 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) In the wake of Serbia's presidential, parliamentary, and 
local elections, wherein nationalist politics experienced a marked 
loss in popular support, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) also is 
undergoing internal debate over its future orientation. 
Long-simmering disputes and tensions within the SOC have been thrust 
into the public domain, largely fueled by a series of charged 
statements by the SOC Holy Synod and Raska and Prizren Bishop 
Artemije.  This unprecedented airing of the SOC's dirty laundry 
followed Artemije's attempt to relieve his subordinate, Bishop 
Teodosije, of his position as Head of Decani Monastery in Kosovo. 
The Holy Synod staunched the wound in an inconclusive meeting on 
August 26, but conflict within the SOC continues to fester.  End 
Summary. 
 
Decani Monastery "Revolution" 
----------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On August 23, Bishop of Raska and Prizren Artemije attempted 
to depose Vicar Bishop of Lipljan and Head of Visoki Decani 
Monastery Teodosije, as well as Teodosije's assistant Father Sava 
Janjic, accusing the two men of insubordination and creating a 
parallel authority.  The clergy and monks of Decani Monastery 
refused to accede to this decision, a gesture which Bishop Artemije 
characterized as an "open rebellion" against his authority, which 
stretches from central Kosovo to Sandzak in south-central Serbia. 
The Holy Synod, in a break from Orthodox doctrine wherein bishops 
have supreme authority over their bishoprics, sided with the deposed 
clergy, quickly issuing a press statement describing Artemije's 
decision as "ill-advised and regrettable." 
 
¶3. (U) Following a physical confrontation between Bishop Artemije's 
delegation and the monks of Decani on August 24, which left one of 
Artemije's associates with a minor leg injury, the conflict burst 
into the public consciousness through a series of increasingly 
inflammatory statements and press releases. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In an attempt to limit damage and rope in the feuding 
parties, the Holy Synod, headed by Metropolitan Amfilohije, devoted 
its regularly scheduled August 26 session to the events in Decani 
Monastery.  The session, to which the Holy Synod summoned Artemije 
and Teodosije, ended inconclusively.  The Synod press release after 
the session announced a "unanimous decision to halt all the disputes 
and decisions in Decani Monastery," meaning that Teodosije would 
keep his position for the time being.  However, the statement added 
that key decisions on this and other issues would be taken by the 
Holy Assembly of Bishops, next scheduled to meet in October. 
 
Political Leader or Spiritual Guardian? 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Many local media speculated that the primary reason behind 
the conflict was political.  Several press reports alleged an 
improper relationship between a construction company founded by 
Bishop Artemije and affiliated with Raska and Prizren Diocese and 
former high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Kostunica 
and Minister of Infrastructure Velimir Ilic. 
 
¶6. (SBU) More significantly, the core of the conflict appears to be 
the Church's policy on Kosovo, reflecting the issues that brought 
down Prime Minister Kostunica.  Mirko Djordjevic, a sociologist 
focusing on religious issues, told us on August 27 that the conflict 
between Artemije and Teodosije was about whether the SOC in Kosovo 
should cooperate with the international community and Kosovo 
institutions.  Artemije, as a conservative leader of the 
pro-Kostunica, hard-line clique in the SOC, is against any 
cooperation with the international community or the Kosovo 
authorities, while moderate Bishop Teodosije believes the priority 
of the SOC should be the "living church," in other words the 
well-being of its believers in Kosovo, a stance reflected in the 
policies of President Tadic's pro-European coalition.  Though over 
the years Metropolitan Amfilohije has appeared more aligned with 
Artemije's views, in fact, he recently has demonstrated a more 
practical approach.  He consistently has agreed to meet with the 
Ambassador, for example, while Artemije in Kosovo was pursuing a 
strict policy of no-contact with USG officials. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Artemije affair has made public the divisions within 
the SOC over how both to proceed with Kosovo and also reorient 
itself to a pro-European Serbia.  Kostunica and the nationalists, 
including the Radicals, used the church to stoke the nationalist 
fires.  This was demonstrated recently more vividly on February 21 
when Kostunica was shown on national television deep in prayer as 
demonstrators loyal to him torched the U.S. Embassy.  Church 
officials, most significantly Amfilohije, were quick to condemn the 
violence.  As 94-year-old Patriarch Pavle continues his 
 
BELGRADE 00000904  002 OF 002 
 
 
improbably-long twilight, church officials are actively circling to 
set the direction for the Church's future.  The slap-down of 
Artemije is a hopeful sign that the more progressive forces in the 
Church are gaining strength.  End Comment. 
 
MUNTER