Disgraced Kosovo bishop launches mutiny against Serbian church

Nov 19, 2010, 11:20 GMT

Belgrade - The divided Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) came under further pressure Friday from a renegade bishop, who occupied a Kosovo monastery on Friday and performed a service in defiance of the church's orders, local media reported.

In February, the SPC forced Bishop Artemije into retirement, stripping him of authority over the Kosovo eparchy because of his questionable business dealings and 'inability to govern.'

Concerned that Artemije and his supporters from the church's radical wing could scupper a fragile unity in the church the SPC leadership also banned him from holding services.

The cleric rejected the church's ruling and last week demanded that the SPC assembly, which began meeting Wednesday in Belgrade, reinstate him.

The SPC assembly ignored his demand and appointed another bishop, Teodosije, to replace him.

Accompanied by a group of radical monks who support him, Artemije on Friday entered the Zubin Potok monastery in northern Kosovo and performed liturgy, directly challenging the SPC.

With its assembly still in session, the SPC had yet to respond to Artemije's move.

The SPC is divided over several important issues, including relations with the Vatican, ties to renegade Orthodox churches in Macedonia and Montenegro and how services should be performed.

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