Role of the Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Church plays an important cultural role

By south-east Europe analyst Gabriel Partos

For many Serbs - regardless of whether they are believers or not - the Orthodox Church stands as the custodian of their national history and traditions.

Through more than four centuries of Ottoman Turkish rule, the Church was the only Serbian institution that survived, and kept alive the legacy of Serbian culture.

The Orthodox Church's influence declined dramatically under persecution from the communist authorities in the Tito era, a process that was further deepened by the hierarchy's willingness to collaborate with the rulers.

Bishop reads Synod's recognition of Kostunica as Yugoslav president

But the Church began to regain some of its prestige among Serbs in the 1980s when it was among the first to espouse the cause of the Kosovo Serbs who claimed to be the victims of growing intimidation by the local ethnic Albanian majority.

And when the rising star of Serbia's communist leadership, Slobodan Milosevic, jumped on the nationalist bandwagon in 1987, he was treated as something like a prodigal son by the Orthodox Church.

The unholy alliance between Mr Milosevic's neo-communist regime and the Church hierarchy proved to be short-lived.

Serbs 'betrayed'

By 1992 the Church had turned against him - partly because there were by then political parties in Serbia that were not tainted by any association with communist rule, and partly because the bishops felt that President Milosevic had betrayed the Serbs of Croatia.

Many Serbian monasteries in Kosovo were destroyed

Similarly, the Orthodox Church condemned Mr Milosevic over the 1995 Dayton peace accords, accusing him of abandoning the Bosnian Serbs.

Subsequently, the Church adopted a much less stridently nationalist line - particularly over Kosovo where it has condemned Serbian atrocities as much as crimes against Serbs during the conflicts of the past three years.

Within Serbia proper, the bishops gave their support to the opposition during the winter of discontent in 1996-97 when it took three months of daily demonstrations to force President Milosevic to accept the opposition's victories in municipal elections.

Synod endorses Kostunica

This time, too, the Church has backed the opposition alliance. Patriarch Pavle and most of the bishops have been strongly opposed to Mr Milosevic, regarding him as a destructive force who has done great damage to his country and the Serb people.

Vojislav Kostunica has been recognised by the church as new president

In addressing Mr Kostunica as president-elect, the Synod has made it clear that it does not accept the official results which show Mr Kostunica just 1% short of the required absolute majority. By implication the Church is also saying that Mr Milosevic tried to rig the elections.

Although the Church's influence remains somewhat limited, it has helped broaden the opposition's appeal among believers and traditionalists.

That may be particularly important among the elderly and the rural population - usually seen as the bedrock of support for the Milosevic regime.

Besides, support from the Church also helps associate the opposition with the cause of nationalism. Because of that, it makes it easier for Mr Milosevic's opponents to rebuff accusations that they are in the pay of Serbia's foreign enemies.