Serbian Orthodox Elect 45th Patriarch

(22 Jan 10 - RV)Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church have elected a new leader. Eighty-year-old Bishop Irinej Gavrilovic is Serbia's 45th patriarch and the successor to Patriarch Pavle, who died last November at the age of 95.


In a statement following his election he said he “will carry the burden and all the difficulties of his overwhelming duty together with …fellow bishops". The vote was conducted by the church's highest body, the Holy Assembly of Bishops.


To find out more about the new leader of the 7 million Serbian Orthodox faithful we spoke to Felix Corley, head of news services at Forum 18.