Patriarch German of Serbia

German (Herman) Герман
His Holiness the Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, Patriarch of Serbs
Church	Serbian Orthodox Church
See	Belgrade
Installed	September 14, 1958
Term ended	November 30, 1990
Predecessor	Vikentije
Successor	Pavle
Orders
Ordination	1951
Consecration	1951
Personal details
Birth name	Hranislav Đorić
Born	August 19, 1899 Jošanička Banja, Kingdom of Serbia
Died	August 27, 1991(1991-08-27) (aged 92) Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Signature

German (Serbian Cyrillic: Герман, English equivalent: Herman; August 19, 1899 - August 27, 1991) was the 43rd Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church from 1958 to 1990.^[1] Nicknamed the red patriarch (Serbian: црвени патријарх) by his opponents, he was successful in revitalizing the Serbian Orthodox Church to a certain extent during the Communist period, despite two schisms that occurred during his tenure.

The full title of German was: His Holiness, the Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, Serbian Patriarch German (Serbian: Његова светост, Архиепископ пећки, Митрополит београдско-карловачки и Патријарх српски, господин господин Герман)

Education and early career

Patriarch German was born Hranislav Đorić on August 19, 1899 in the spa of Jošanička Banja in central Serbia, in a family of techer, and latter priest. His father, Mihajlo Đorić of Velika Drenova, graduated from Belgrade's prestigious Seminary (Serbian: Београдска богословија) in 1895. Hranislav Đorić received a broad education and was among most educated members of the Serbian clergy, attending primary school in Velika Drenova and Kruševac, seminary in Belgrade and Sremski Karlovci (graduating in 1921), studying law in Paris' Sorbonne and finally graduating from the University of Belgrade's Orthodox Theology Faculty in 1942.

He was ordained a deacon by the bishop of Žiča Jefrem, and appointed the clerk of the Canon-law Court in Čačak and also a catechist in the Čačak's high school. Due to ill health, he left the administrative jobs and 1927, he was ordained a presbyter, receiving his own parish of Miokovci. In 1931 he was transferred to parish in Vrnjačka Banja. After election of Patriarch Gavrilo in 1938, father Hranislav became a referent of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. In that capacity, he was elected a vicar bishop of Moravica and, becoming a widower, he took monastic vows in Studenica monastery, July 7, 1951, acquiring the name German (Herman). Patriarch Vikentije, together with bishops Valerijan of Šumadija, Nikanor of Bačka and Vasilije of Banja Luka ordained him a bishop, July 15 in Cathedral Church of Belgrade. New bishop become at the same time the secretary general of the Holy Synod and editor in chief of the Glasnik, the official gazette of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In 1952 he was appointed a bishop of Budim in Hungary, by Holy Assembly of Hiyerarchs of Serbian Orthodox Church. However, as Hungarian authorities didn't approve his appointment neither allowed him to enter the country, so he was never officially enthroned. In 1956 he was appointed the bishop of Žiča, at that time, semi-officially, the second office of importance in the church, after the patriarch. In this capacity, he was also an administrator (acting bishop) of Budimlja-Polimlje and Raška-Prizren eparchies.^[2]

Patriarch

Appointment controversy

When patriarch Vikentije suddenly died on July 5, 1958, internal strife struck the church leadership and no agreement could be reached on who would succeed him. German was not even appointed as the guardian of the throne (acting patriarch), instead the bishop of Braničevo, Hrizostom Vojinović was appointed to vacate the post. It is believed that German's election was a compromise, but the still popular story is that Aleksandar Ranković, the top Serbian Communist official at that time, and later Josip Broz Tito's deputy, entered the Holy Synod's session, bringing German inside, and saying: "This is your new patriarch!"

German was elected the 43rd Patriarch of Peć on September 14, 1958. However some sources claim a much higher number, as a result of over a dozen of people who occupied the throne, but were not officially ordained or recognized as such (such as several rebel-patriarchs in the 16th century during the Ottoman occupation) or the Patriarchs of Karlovci in Austria-Hungary which are not counted in the list of official patriarchs (especially not as patriarchs of Peć, instead calling themselves patriarchs of the Serbs).

Schisms

Whether the story of his appointment was true or constructed later by his opponents, German was labeled a red patriarch from the beginning, especially from the dioceses from abroad. This was one of the reason of the split of the diocese of New Gračanica in North America in 1963, and the appointment of two bishops, one schismatic and another loyal to German. The problem was solved in 1992 in the early period of German's successor, patriarch Pavle, when the split diocese rejoined the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church, thus suggesting that the problem was perhaps more a personal,^[3] rather than a dogmatic dispute.

The schism of the Macedonian Orthodox Church is a much deeper and complicated issue. It began in 1958, the very year of German's election, with an allegedly willing acceptance of the autonomy of Ohrid Archbishopric proclaimed by the archbishop Dositheus II. This was a great blow to German's religious authority as it was a forced acceptance, pushed by the Communist Party. In the next 9 years, patriarch and archbishop held several joint liturgies, even with the heads of other Orthodox Churches. However, in 1967, archbishop Dositheus completely split his archbishopric (within the borders of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia) from the mother church, claiming heritage from the Greek-Bulgarian-Serbian Archbishopric of Ohrid, which had been non-existent for 200 years. German and the Serbian Orthodox Church, claiming the separation was forced and uncanonical (in other words, they deemed it a church established by the Communists) ended any canonical communication with the Macedonian Orthodox Church. In turn, German's example was followed by all the other Orthodox Churches, as it is to this day. The problem continued after German and the breakup of Yugoslavia, and it became a highly political issue, not only with the Serbian Orthodox Church, but with the Church of Greece and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Revitalization and consequences

Grave of Patriarch German of Serbia in Belgrade's St. Mark's Church

German set to revitalize the Serbian Orthodox Church, which was greatly oppressed by the Communist government. During his entire tenure, he kept a low profile, while achieving certain goals in this direction. Despite harsh conditions, he managed to form several new dioceses: Western Europe (1969), Australia (1973), Vranje (1975) and Canada (1983).

He oversaw the finishing works on the new seminary complex of buildings in Belgrade (including the campus) in 1958, so today the entire neighborhood surrounding the complex is known as Bogoslovija (Serbian for seminary). He also opened new seminary in the Krka monastery in SR Croatia. He was very involved in appointing bishops, staunchily pushing his own candidates, especially in the case of the metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral after the Communists arrested Metropolitan Arsenije Bradvarović in 1954, but German managed to appoint his protege, Danilo Dajković in 1961. He also sent many priests to SR Montenegro as clerical activities had almost completely ceased there after the war.

In 1984 German visited the site of the Jasenovac concentration camp, saying a now famous line: Опростити морамо, заборавити не смемо (To forgive, we must ...to forget, we must not).

Many consider German's greatest achievement to be his successful campaign for the resumption of the construction of the Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade, which was stopped in 1941. In 26 years from his appointment, he urged Communist government 88 times until they finally authorized the construction to continue in 1984. Being a massive project, the temple is still not completed.

Patriarch German was a pragmatic religious leader in times that were very oppressive for religion. After the death of Josip Broz Tito in 1980, he slowly pushed church issues as Yugoslav society changed and nationalism grew among the various peoples, and in the end he was universally popular among the Serbs and had become a part of the Serbian social elite.

In 1989, patriarch German broke his hip, which led to a series of surgeries and repeated injuries, so the already old patriarch was unable to perform his duties. As a result of this, the Holy Synod declared him incapacitated on November 30, 1990, and appointed the metropolitan bishop of Zagreb and Ljubljana Jovan Pavlović as the guardian of the throne and elected the new patriarch, Pavle, on December 1, 1990. Patriarch German died in the VMA hospital in Belgrade on August 27, 1991, aged 92, and was buried in Belgrade's St. Mark's Church.

His tenure of 32 years is one of the longest in the history of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

References

• Serbian Church in History at the Orthodox Research Institute
• Ko je ko u Jugoslaviji 1970; Hronometar, Belgrade
• Srpska porodična enciklopedija, Vol. VI (2006); Narodna knjiga and Politika NM; ISBN 86-331-2933-7 (NK)
• Mala Prosvetina Enciklopedija, Third edition (1985); Prosveta; ISBN 86-07-00001-2

Serbian Orthodox Church Serbian Orthodox Church overview topics Overview topics Patriarchs (current) Holy Synod Serbian saints Serbian Orthodox monasteries (list) See also Đurđevdan Vidovdan Subdivisions of the Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitanates Belgrade and Karlovci Dabar and Bosnia Montenegro and the Littoral Zagreb and Ljubljana Australia and New Zealand Traditional dioceses Bačka Banat Banja Luka Bihać and Petrovac Braničevo Buda Budimlja and Nikšić Dalmatia Upper Karlovac Kruševac Mileševa Niš Osječko polje and Baranja Raška and Prizren Šabac Slavonia Srem Šumadija Timișoara Timok Valjevo Vranje Zahumlje and Herzegovina Žiča Zvornik and Tuzla Diaspora dioceses Austria and Switzerland Britain and Scandinavia Buenos Aires Canada Central Europe Eastern America New Gracanica - Midwestern America Western America Western Europe Ohrid Archbishopric Metropolitanate of Skopje Eparchy of Prespa and Pelagonija Bregalnica Debar and Kičevo Polog and Kumanovo Veles and Povardarie Strumica Defunct Cetinje Belgrade Metropolitanate Hum Trebinje Lim Metropolitanate Onogošt-East Herzegovina Budimlja Užice Marča Spiritual leaders of the Serbian Orthodox Church   Archbishops (1219–1337) St. Sava St. Arsenije I Sremac St. Sava II Danilo I Joanikije I St. Jevstatije I St. Jakov St. Jevstatije II St. Sava III St. Nikodim I St. Danilo II   Patriarchs (since 1346) 1346–1463 St. Joanikije II Sava IV St. Jefrem St. Spiridon Danilo III, Patriarch of Serbia Sava V Danilo IV St. Kirilo St. Nikon Teofan Nikodim II Arsenije II 1557–1766 Makarije Sokolović (St.) Antonije Sokolović Gerasim Sokolović Savatije Sokolović Nikanor Jerotej Filip Sokolović Jovan Kantul Pajsije Janjevac Gavrilo I Rajić (St.) Maksim Skopljanac Arsenije III Čarnojević Kalinik I Skopljanac Atanasije I Mojsije Rajović Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta Joanikije III Karadža-Grk Atanasije II Gavrilović Gavrilo II Sarajevac Gavrilo III Vikentije Stefanović Pajsije II Grk Gavrilo IV Grk Kirilo II Vasilije Jovanović-Brkić Kalinik II Grk since 1920 Dimitrije Varnava Gavrilo Vikentije German Pavle Irinej   Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Karlovci (1690–1920) Arsenije III Čarnojević Isaija Đaković Sofronije Podgoričanin Vikentije Popović Mojsije Petrović Vićentije Jovanović Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta Isaija Antonović Pavle Nenadović Jovan Đorđević Vićentije Jovanović Vidak Mojisije Putnik Stefan Stratimirović Stefan Stanković Josif Rajačić Samuilo Maširević Prokopije Ivačković German Anđelić Georgije Branković Lukijan Bogdanović   Metropolitans of Belgrade (1801–1920) Leontije Lambrović Agatanel Antim Melentije Pavlović Petar Jovanović Mihailo Jovanović Teodosije Mraović Inokentije Pavlović Dimitrije Pavlović   Metropolitans of Zeta/Cetinje/Montenegro (1484–1920) Visarion Vavila Roman German Vasilije Makarije Dionisije Romil Pahomije Đerasim Venijamin Nikanor and Stevan Rufim Njeguš Mardarije Kornečanin Rufim Boljević Vasilije Veljekrajski Visarion Borilović-Bajica Sava Očinić Danilo I Sava Petrović Vasilije Petrović Arsenije Plamenac Petar I Petar II Danilo II Nikanor Ivanović Ilarion Roganović Visarion Ljubiša Mitrofan Ban   Zahumlje and Herzegovina (1508–1854) Jovan Visarion Maksim Marko Nikanor Antonije Savatije Sokolović Visarion Silvestar Leontije Basil of Ostrog Savatije Ljubibratić Antim Ananije Jerimija Josif I Prokopije I Aksentije III Josif II Eparchy Serbian Orthodox monasteries Serbia Banjska* Devič* Gračanica* Peć* Holy Archangels* Visoki Dečani* Zočište* Banja Bukovo Ćelije Crna Reka Đurđevi stupovi Gornjak Gradac Kalenić Kastaljan Koporin Ljubostinja Manasija Mileševa Nimnik Pokajnica Prohor Pčinjski Pustinja Rača Rajinovac Ravanica Rukumija St. Nicholas Sopoćani Studenica Suvodol Tronoša Tuman Vitovnica Zemun Žiča Beočin Bešenovo Divša Grgeteg Jazak Krušedol Kuveždin Mala Remeta Novo Hopovo Privina Glava Petkovica Rakovac Staro Hopovo Šišatovac Velika Remeta Vrdnik-Ravanica Bavanište Bođani Fenek Hajdučica Kovilj Mesić Holy Trinity St. Melanija Sombor Središte Vojlovica Montenegro Bijela Beška Cetinje Dajbabe Dobrilovina Donje Brčele Duljevo Đurđevi Stupovi Gradište Kom Kosijerevo Miholjska Prevlaka Morača Moračnik Ostrog Piva Podmaine Podmalinsko Praskvica Reževići Savina Stanjevići Starčeva Gorica St. Nicholas, Obod Vranjina Bosnia & Herzegovina Bišnja Dobrićevo Dobrun Duži Glogovac Gomionica Hercegovačka Gračanica Klisina Knežina Krupa Liplje Lomnica Lovnica Moštanica Ozren Papraća Petropavlov Rmanj Sase Stuplje Svetog Arhangela Gavrila St. Nicholas St. Basil of Ostrog Tavna Tvrdoš Uspenja Bogorodičinog Veselinje Vozuća Zavala Žitomislić Croatia Dragović Gomirje Komogovina Krka Krupa Lepavina Sv. Lazarica Orahovica Sv. Nedjelje Sv. Petke Sv. Vasilija Ostroškog Others Hilandar (Mount Athos) New Gračanica Monastery (USA) Notes * indicate monasteries in Kosovo, which is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo. List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries Serbian Orthodox churches Serbia Church of Saint Sava St. Michael's Cathedral St. George, Banovo Brdo Ružica St. Mark's Church St. Basil of Ostrog St. Achillius, Arilje Peter's Church, Ras Pećinska church Štava church Odžaklija Kađenica Lazarica Church Lukovo church Church of Holy Ascension, Krupanj Cathedral of Novi Sad the Assumption, Zrenjanin Our Lady of Ljeviš* Church of Virgin Hodegetria* St. Elijah Church* Church of St. Nicholas, Prizren* Mala Gospojina Church* Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Pristina* Montenegro Cathedral of Podgorica Our Lady of Remedy Vlah Church Bosnia and Herzegovina Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel Church of the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Banja Luka Church of Saint George, Sopotnica Old St. Nicholas Church, Javorani Croatia St. Petka's Church, Banovci Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Trpinja Church of St. Nicholas, Vukovar Church of Pentecost, Vinkovci Church of St. George, Kneževo Church of Assumption of Blessed Virgin, Negoslavci Church of Pentecost, Markušica Church of St. George, Bobota Church of St. Stephen, Borovo Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, Srijemske Laze Church of St. Peter and Paul, Bolman Church of St. Stefan Štiljanović, Karanac Church of St. Nicholas, Mirkovci Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Gaboš Church of St. Nicholas, Jagodnjak Church of St. Demetrius, Dalj Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Zagreb Church of St. George, Grubišno Polje Church of St. Nicholas, Karlovac Church of Nativity of the Virgin, Drežnica Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Štikada Orthodox church of st. George, Varaždin Holy Annunciation Orthodox church, Dubrovnik Orthodox Church in Knin Church of St. Peter and Paul, Tepljuh San Spirodine Church, Peroj Church of St. Nicholas, Rijeka Church of St. Nicholas, Vrlika Orthodox church of Holy Salvation, Cetina Other countries Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church, USA Trinity Chapel Complex, USA Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Jackson, USA Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, Slovenia Serbian Church (Arad), Romania St. Sava Church, Paris, France Church of the Holy Prince Lazar, United Kingdom Serbian Orthodox Church, Halifax, United Kingdom St. Nicholas, West Wycombe, United Kingdom Saint Spyridon Church, Trieste, Italy Annunciation Church, Szentendre, Hungary Transfiguration Church, Szentendre, Hungary Church of Our Lady, Göteborg, Sweden Notes * indicate churches in Kosovo, which is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo. Serbian saints St. Angelina St. Basil of Ostrog St. Danilo II St. Helen of Anjou St. Jovan Vladimir St. Prince Lazar / St. Princess Milica St. Makarije Sokolović St. Nikodim I St. Nikolaj Velimirović St. Peter of Cetinje St. Sava St. Sava II St. Simeon the Monk St. Simeon the Myrrh-flowing St. Stefan Lazarević St. Stefan Štiljanović St. Stefan Uroš St. Stefan of Dečani St. Stefan the Blind St. Stefan of Piperi Teodor Komogovinski St. Vladislav St. Vukašin