**Serbian Orthodox Church: A Divided Leadership**
The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has been facing criticism for its stance on student protests and the government. Theologian Blagoje Pantelic recently spoke to Radar, a weekly magazine, about the Church’s position.
**No Clear Stance from SPC**
Pantelic pointed out that students have written to Patriarch Pavle, who passed away in 2013, asking for support. They didn’t expect a response, but rather made it clear they don’t expect support from the current patriarch, Porfirije. Pantelic believes this shows that the regime Porfirije supports is collapsing.
**Patriarch’s Message: “We are all brothers”**
In a recent sermon, Patriarch Porfirije said that students and protesters need to reconcile with their attackers. Pantelic strongly disagreed, saying that the message is not Christian. He explained that the New Testament emphasizes divisions between good and evil.
**A Divided Church**
Pantelic also criticized the SPC’s leadership for being divided. Some bishops openly support President Vucic, while others oppose him in secret. Only a few bishops are brave enough to speak out against the regime.
**The Patriarch’s Villa: A Message of Support**
Pantelic pointed out that Patriarch Porfirije lives in a villa in Dedinje, an elite neighborhood in Belgrade, rather than in the Patriarchate in Pec. This, he believes, sends a message that the patriarch supports the regime.
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