New Serbian Patriarch Enthroned in Historic Kosovo Town

A NATO helicopter patrols as Serbs gather for a ceremony to enthrone the new Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej, in Kosovo's western town of Pec. Photo by EPA/BGNES

New Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irenaeus is receiving his formal enthronement in the town of Pe? in Kosovo, which is the historic seat of the Serbian Church.

Irenaeus (Irinej in Serbian) succeeds much loved Patriarch Pavle, who died last November at the age of 95.

The first part of his enthronement took place in January in Belgrade.

Thousands of Serbian worshippers flocked to the Pe? Monastery to attend the solemn religious ceremony.

They are guarded by Kosovar and international KFOR security forces. The atmosphere at the event is peaceful.

The event started Sunday morning with a liturgy, religious chants and prayers.

It is attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic and other senior state officials.

Bulgaria was represented by the Vidin metropolitan bishop Dometian and minister Bozhidar Dimitrov.

Serbia consideres the now breakaway province of Kosovo as the medieval center of its statehood. Among other things, Kosovo is home to a number of important Serbian Orthodox Christian monasteries and other sites of worship.

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