This article wouldnt be full of words.Words are very small to describe this tireless servant of the Lord ,this bright person who carried in his shoulders patiently the Cross of Serbian Orthodox Church ,the Cross that every dedicated christian carries.Always loyal ,humile ,full of spiritual words and actions ,always one peacefull and vivid example of Orthodoxy.A symbol of faith ,dedication and sacrify.For 9 decades and a half ,he showed by his own life the way that every christian all around the world must follow.A perfect example for everyone ,a brave man who despite all the difficulties of his life ,he fullfilled the most important and difficult phrase of our Lord : “Love God your Lord ,with all of your soul and spirit” – “Αγάπα Κύριο τον Θεόν σου ,εν όλη την ψυχή και όλη την διαννοία σου” .The words of Pavle will be in eternity ,like the words of holy Evangelium ,simply because Pavle he was fullfilling the meaning of our Orthodox Faith ,the Eternal Life and the continuous battle against sins.But all of these ,he showed to us ,by his own shiny example.Without big words ,without advertisment but truly ,from his deepest of his Holy Soul.
We need to thank you from our deepest of our hearts ,Orthodoxy is sad because we lost one of the very special gifts ,but the sky is celebrating because the Holy Light of Anastasis will shine your soul eternaly.God maybe forgive you and rest in peace.
As our symbol of faith says ,”I expect resurrection of death people and eternal future life .Amen” – “Προσδοκώ ανάσταση νεκρών και ζωή του μέλλοντος αιώνος ,Αμήν”.
Here ,we will attach the biography of Patriarch Pavle and some videos dedicated to him.
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle was born Gojko Stojčević on September 11, 1914 to a farmer family in the village Kućanci in the county of Donji Miholjac, in Slavonia. He finished primary school in his native village and junior high school in Tuzla. He graduated from the Fourth Men’s Gymnasium in Belgrade and simultaneously attended the Medical School. He studied at a seminary in Sarajevo and graduated in 1936, and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade, where he previously completed two years of the Medical School. As novice Gojko, he made a wooden cross that is still kept in the Monastery of Vujan today as an object of special value. He took monastic vow in Blagoveštenje Monastery in the Ovcar-Kablar Gorge and was given monastic name Pavle on the eve of the Annunciation in 1946 where he was ordained a hiearodeacon the same year. From 1949 to 1955, he was a monastic of Raca Monastery performing different disciplines. In 1954 he was promoted to hieromonk. He did postgraduate studies at the Orthodox Theological Faculty at the University of Athens from Christmas 1955 to May 1957, when he studied the New Testament and liturgics. He was elected as Bishop of Raska-Prizren in 1957. He dedicated his service in the Raska-Prizren Eparchy to construction and restoration of churches and monastieries, in particular to restoration of the monastic lifestyle aimed at preservation of the Ortodox religion and tradition. On December 1, 1990, Bishop Pavle was elected the 44th Serbian Patriarch and took over St Sava’s throne from Patriarch German. His Holiness published the Monograph on Devich Monastery and Liturgical Studies, published in the Church Reader in 1972, which later on served as a basis for the three-volume edition entiled Questions and Answers and published in 1998. „Life According to the Gospel“ and „Prayers and Pleas“, the collections of speeches and addresses the Patriarch gave on various ocassions were also published. The most monumental contribution of H. H. Patriarch Pavle was the translation of the New Testament published in 1984 under his supervision. This was the first official Serbian translation of the New Testament approved by the Serbian Orthodox Church. The revised edition of the translation was published in 1990. Patriarch Pavle also contributed by working on restoration and establishment of new eparhies, restoration of the Seminary in Cetinje, opening of the Spiritual Academy of St Vasilije of Ostrog in Srbinje. Bearing in mind numerous contributions of Patriarch Pavle, especially his scientific and theological work, the Faculty of Orthodox theology of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade bestowed upon him the degree of honorary doctor of theology in 1998. Patriarch Pavle was hospitalized at the Military Medical Academy since November 13, 2007.
His tenure as Patriarch lasted 19 years.He rested in peace on 15 November of 2009.
Tribute to Patrirch Pavle – watch the video
Patriarch Pavle of Serbia – Video about his life
Speech of Patriarch Pavle in RTS
Interview of Patriarch Pavle -1st part
Interview of Patriarch Pavle -2nd part
Interview of Patriarch Pavle -3rd part
Interview of Patriarch Pavle -4th part
Interview of Patriarch Pavle -5th part
Interview of Patriarch Pavle -6th part
