Decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church about the withdrawal of the Serbian Patriarch
On Wednesday 12 November 2008, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church informed the public about the request of the Serbian patriarch Pavle:
"The request of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian Orthodox Church on October 8, 2008, to be granted retirement from active service due to his physical disability, has been received to the knowledge.
At the same time, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church asks His Holiness Patriarch Pavle to still remain the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church".
The Holy Assembly of Bishops continues its work on the agenda.
On Thursday 13 November 2008, after the celebration of the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Patriarchate chapel of Venerable Simeon the Myrrh-gusher, His Eminence metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, their Graces bishops Kontantin of Central Europe and Joakim of Polog and Kumanovo, visited his Holiness patriarch Pavle of Serbia at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.
After his Holiness received Holy Communion, the bishops informed him about the work of the Holy Assembly of Bishops and the decision of the Assembly, concerning his plea to be allowed to retire from active service due to "physical disability", with full respect to the causes of his plea, requested him to remain the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
His Holiness accepted the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops serenely and blessed its further work.
