Patriarchate of Serbia: Ljubljana court’s decision against the Patriarch of Serbia is scandalous

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Patriarchate has taken note of the scandalous decision of the Ljubljana District Court, by which Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia and the Parish of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Ljubljana were each sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for a probationary period of one year, and fined €10,000, likewise suspended for one year. These judgments were rendered, at the proposal of the Ljubljana District Prosecutor’s Office, in summary, or, more precisely, expedited proceedings.

The Holy Assembly of Bishops notes that neither Patriarch Porfirije nor his duly authorized legal representative had been informed in advance that judicial proceedings had even been initiated. Moreover, the Ljubljana District Prosecutor’s Office never invited the Patriarch to respond to the allegations brought against him, a fact which, in itself, constitutes an unprecedented departure from due process and speaks eloquently to the true purpose of these proceedings.

Of particular concern is the fact that information concerning these judicial proceedings was leaked to certain media outlets in Serbia immediately before this year’s session of the Holy Assembly…