Pahomije Gačić
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Pahomije (Pachomius) | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Vranje from 2024 Archbichop and Metropolitan[1][2] | |
| Native name | Tomislav |
| Church | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Diocese | Eparchy of Vranje |
| See | Vranje |
| Elected | 28 May 1992 |
| Predecessor | Sava Andrić |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tomislav Gačić 17 October 1952 |
| Denomination | Serbian Orthodox |
| Residence | Vranje (South Serbia) |
| Parents | Novak Gačić Vasilija |
| Profession | theologian |
| Education | Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens |
Ordination history of Pahomije Gačić | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pahomije Gačić (born Tomislav Gačić; 17 October 1952, Čečava by Teslić, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia — today Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina) is a Serbian Orthodox cleric who was elected Bishop of Vranje in 1992.
Biography
[edit]Origin and education
[edit]Tomislav Gačić was born on 17 October 1952 in the village of Čečava near Teslić to his father Novak Gačić and mother Vasilija.[4] At the age of twenty, he was a novice at the Ozren Monastery and the Visoki Dečani Monastery, where he became a monk in 1973 and received the monastic name Pahomije (Pachomius). The following year, the Bishop of Raška-Prizren, later Serbian Patriarch Pavel, ordained him to the rank of deacon.[3][4] After completing the seminary in Prizren, he went to the Faculty of Theology in Athens at the University of Athens in 1976, where he graduated in 1980.[4] In the same year, the Bishop of Pakrac-Slavonia Emilijan ordained him to the rank of hieromonk, i.e. priest-monk, at the Vavedenje Monastery in Belgrade.
He then spent two years traveling through Palestine, Sinai, Egyptian monasteries, Mount Athos, Russia, and Japan, while continuing his studies.[4] In 1982, he became the abbot of the Banje Monastery by Priboj in the Metropolitanate of Dabar and Bosnia, in 1984 the abbot of the Grgeteg Monastery on Fruška Gora in the Eparchy of Srem, and in 1985 he was appointed abbot of the Papraće Monastery in Bosnia, in the Eparchy of Zvornik and Tuzla.[4]
Vladika (Bishop)
[edit]On 28 May 1992, he was elected Bishop of Vranje. By decree of the Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church,[5] his narečenije (proclamation) took place on 22 August 1992 in the Prohor Pčinjski Monastery, and his episcopal consecration and enthronement took place the following day, 23 August, in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Vranje. In addition to Patriarch Paul, the co-consecrators were Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Bishop Irenaeus of Niš and later Patriarch Irenaeus, Bishop Hrizostom of Banat, Bishop Athanasius of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, Bishop Artemije of Raška and Prizren, and Bishop Justin of Eparchy of Timok.[4][3] After the then Vicar of Tetovo and administrator of the Macedonian Church under Serbian administration in Macedonia, Jovan Mladenović, was elected as the Western American bishop in 1994, Bishop Pachomius became the administrator of all these dioceses in the Republic of Macedonia. Despite the difficult circumstances in the midst of the church schism, he took care of the development of these church communities.[6]
Iguman (Abbot)
[edit]During his staying in Vranje, Pachomius was not only a bishop, but also the abbot (iguman) of the Prohor Pčinjski Monastery three times: 1994–1999, 2003–2004, 2009–2011, and then from 2024 to the present (2026). During this time, the monastery changed from a women's to a men's monastery, and vice versa. Commentators say that these sudden and unusual changes occurred because Pahomije often had disputes with the nuns and simply drove them out of the monastery.[7]
The feast day of "Venerable Prohor Pčinjski" is 1 November. His monastery celebrated two great anniversaries in 2020: the 950th anniversary of the monastery's founding and the 700th anniversary of its restoration. Believers love to visit this ancient monastery building with its church and friendly staff; not rare say that upon entering the monastery grounds, even the greatest worries disappear and their hearts are filled with heavenly peace.[8]
At the "slava" ("feast of the monastery's patron saint") of the monastery in 2023, Pahomije, in the presence of several bishops, abbots, abbotesses, and believers, stated that the renovated monastery looked the most beautiful in its history; he thanked the authorities for their support, especially President Vučić, who had generously personally contributed to the restoration of this sanctuary, which is important not only for the church, but also for the people and the state.[9]
Charges and trial
[edit]First charges
[edit]On 31 December 2002, citizen Tomislav Gačić (ecclesiastical bishop of Vranje, Pahomije) was charged before the Municipal Court in Vranje with the sexual abuse of four Serbian boys. According to the charges, between 1999 and 2002, Pahomije abused his official position in the official premises of the Diocese of Vranje and committed the criminal offense of pedophilia, i.e. obscene acts against underage seminarians who wanted to become priests. At the time of the events, after the Milošević’s fall on 5 October 2000, the new president was the writer Koštunica, who, although he gave a lot to the rule of law, did less it as to the reputation of the Serbian Orthodox Church; but he cared least about children. According to the testimony of former Vranje orthodox priest Goran Arsić, at least 16 boys reported sexual harassment by the bishop to the MUP of Vranje;[10] only four boys had the courage to give detailed written statements about the "harassment" they had suffered. Their descriptions were so emotionally affected and graphic that they convinced both the parents and the priests, the nuns and the court. As they recounted these matters with difficulty, they wept, sweated, gritted their teeth, and trembled.[11]
Pahomije denied all these accusations. The three boys who described the incidents in detail were under the age of 14; however, the court in Niš accepted Pahomije's defense, claiming that he was not guilty and "the affair was orchestrated by the secret services of Albania, Macedonia and other hostile countries, as he (bishop) was trying to protect Serbian interests in southern Serbia."[12][13]
Given the constant postponement of the hearing and the citation of illness as the main reason for the defendant or his defense not appearing in court,[14] by the end of the trial, in March 2006, the absolute statute of limitations had already expired for two crimes from 1999 and 2000.[12] In the meantime moreover, on instructions from Belgrade, the trial was moved from Vranje to Niš, where the court subsequently dismissed two charges due to statute of limitations, and Gačić was acquitted of two charges "due to lack of evidence". Apparently, the defense was not doing well; therefore, the case was taken away from the municipal court in Vranje, which refused to act according to higher guidelines, and without valid justification was transferred to the court of the same instance in Niš, which was more "cooperative" and deliberately delayed the trial until the statute of limitations expired. The district court confirmed the verdict and Pahomije was acquitted on all counts of the indictment.[13]
The prosecutors appealed this acquittal to the Supreme court in Belgrade, which found that the first instance court had failed to conduct the trial within a reasonable time, which had caused two of the four indictments to become statute-barred; but it did nothing to have the case remanded to the first instance.[15]
Public reaction
[edit]Several public figures and human rights organizations responded to this court decision.[16] On 28 May 2008, an artwork titled "Пахомије на Булевару сумрака" ("Pahomije on the Boulevard of Dusk") by artist Živko Grozdanić was exhibited at the gallery of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia (ULUS).[17] Graffiti reading "Pahomije, God is angry!" also appeared in several cities across Serbia.[18]
In 2011, the Eparchy of Mileševa awarded him the newly established Order of the White Angel, which drew criticism from the public.[19][20][21]
New charges
[edit]In March 2013, a new investigation was launched against Pahomije in connection with the crime of "unauthorized sexual activity". At that time, the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Vranje launched an investigation against him due to new allegations of sexual abuse, for which he was accused by the storekeeper in the diocese, Nemanja S. (the name is fictitious, he was born in 1987). According to him, the abuse began in 2003, when he was 16 years old and repeating the first grade at the Secondary Theological School in Kragujevac; the lad also said at the time that he had kept quiet about all this for nine years out of fear and shame. The prosecutor's office in Vranje confirmed that an investigation was underway, while the diocese suspected the weekly "Vranjske", which first published the storekeeper's statement, of trying to create a new "Pahomije case".[22][23]
The Legal Committee of the Diocese of Vranje, led by the accused Bishop Pachomije, stated in its statement that the accusations of the bishop's sexual abuse of the young man were based on "his embezzlement of funds" and that "the Diocesan Administrative Board, while supervising the material and financial operations of the church units, also identified shortcomings in the work in the Diocesan Administrative Board's warehouse, where the lad who reported Pachomij to the police worked".[24] Meanwhile, Pachomius himself is accused of large-scale financial embezzlement by his closest associates.[25]
In connection with this new affair, the expert on church affairs, Mirko Đorđević, recommended:
| Ne dozvoliti da slučaj zastari[26] | Do not allow the case to become statute-barred |
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Mobile phone
[edit]A new scandal appeared in the media again in October 2019, when Pahomije's mobile phone, lost in the summer, was found, containing material with explicit sexual content and erotic messages, which was widely reported in the newspapers at the time, claiming that this was confirmation of the previous accusations. He lost the phone while working in the garden at the Prohor monastery, but it was found at the headquarters of the Vranje diocese.[27][28][29]
Investigation of the lower court trial
[edit]The juveniles appealed the acquittal verdict of the Niš District Court to the Supreme Court in Belgrade, claiming that the trial was not conducted fairly and that the court deliberately delayed it, that the statute of limitations had expired. Thus, the trial was not concluded within a reasonable time, although it could have been without the defense witnesses, who were always "justifiably detained". In addition, the Supreme Court — at that time, Serbia was presided over by the democratic and fair Tadić — found that the court unnecessarily questioned the boys again and again and kept them in the courtroom when their presence was no longer necessary. Among others, the former president of the Vranje Municipal Court, Snežana Janjić, claimed that she was under pressure from Belgrade, saying that the verdict had to be in Pahomije's favor. The Supreme Court session aroused great public interest:
| Nadzorni odbor Vrhovnog suda[30] | Supervisory Board of the Supreme Court[31] |
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Legacy
[edit]
The leadership of the SOCh has not taken any action regarding the "Pachomije case" to this day (11 August 2026), although three supreme superiors were informed of the tragedy: Patriarch Pavle, Irinej and Porfirije, who despite media outrage attended the 2023 solemn celebration of Pachomius' "krsna slava".[32][33]
Since Pentecost Monday 2024, Pachomius is no longer the bishop of Vranje, but also officially the archbishop and metropolitan, who led the festive liturgy as such, which is definitely an elevation in the church sense.[34]Namely, at a meeting in mid-May 2024, the SPC changed Articles 14 and 15 of its 1931 constitution, which enabled the appointment of 18 new metropolitans; there are now 21 in total; some controversial bishops have been promoted, including Pachomius.[35] Despite the unusual circumstances, he not only remained at the head of the Vranje Diocese, but also became its archbishop and metropolitan.[36] Due to the aforementioned processes, this news was initially received by the public with disbelief and astonishment; official confirmation soon followed.[37]
In 2022, he also received the "Sretenjski orden prvog stepena"[38][39] from Serbian President Vučić for the "Prohor Pčinjski" monastery, while he decorated the president with a church decoration.[40] In June 2021, on the 950th anniversary of the founding of the Prohor Pčinjski monastery, Vučić was namenly awarded with the "Order of the Venerable Prohor Pčinjski". Pachomius further himself also received the high church decoration of the "White Angel".[19][20]On 7 October 2011, during the blessing of the largest bell in Serbia, the newly established order of the Mileševa Diocese was awarded to Bishop Pachomius, in addition to Patriarch Irinej and to others.[41]
Some Vranje priests and laypeople who wanted to investigate the alleged facts, agreed with the boys, or spoke publicly about the matter and financial malversations, experienced various inconveniences: they were "raščinjeni" ("dismissed") or even had to leave the Vranje Diocese; among them were the prominent nun Jovana Stanković and the "iskušenica" ("intern") Nada Ćorilić, to whom the boys were the first to confide their problems and who wanted to help them.[42][43]
| Pedofilija i zataškavanje u SPC[44] | Pedophilia and cover-up in SOCh |
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The boys and their families found the delays in the proceedings, the often torturous interrogations, and especially the acquittal of the accused disappointing, overwhelming, and stressful, as they were all branded as liars. RTV "Aljazeera Balkans" — which used to broadcast news in Serbo-Croatian from the entire territory of the former Yugoslavia and ceased broadcasting in that language last year (2025) — reported on the subject "live" and also emitted a documentary series about the "Pahomije case". Among other things, it gave the testimony of one of the affected boys, who was the most depressed by the acquittal of the alleged perpetrator, as he was seen as a liar by his peers and by his community. Another boy completely lost the meaning of his life due to the events surrounding the trial.[45] A third boy wanted to throw two bombs at Pahomije, as it turned out that the bishop was telling the truth and the boy was lying; the priest, to whom he had confided his plan, barely dissuaded him from it. The fourth boy, under the stress of terrible memories, repeatedly planned to commit suicide in his mind, as the only way to end his inner suffering; similarly, suicidal thoughts also occurred to his companion.[46][47][11]
What happened to the young men later? In 2007, two of the boys confirmed to "Blic" that they were still faithful to God and the church and believed that "Bishop Pachomius does not represent the Church". They are finishing their theological studies at the Theological Seminary of Thessaloniki. The third victim, who had just started attending the theological faculty, was forced to leave school due to the inconveniences caused by the initiation of criminal proceedings against the bishop: at school, teachers threatened and intimidated him, and some students even physically attacked and abused him. The fourth young man suffered such severe mental and psychological trauma that he has not yet recovered from them and is still undergoing treatment.[48][31]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Vladika Vranjski Pahomije zvanično mitropolit" (in Serbian). Vranje: TV Info Puls Vranje. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
- ↑ Божићна посланица Српске Православне Цркве
- 1 2 3 4 "Митрополит врањски Г. Господин Пахомије (1992-)" (in Serbian). Vranje: Епархија врањска. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "СПЦ, Епископ врањски Пахомије". Retrieved 23 April 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Син. бр. 2381/зап. 1557. од 05/18. jула 1992. године
- ↑ Пузовић 1999, p. 171.
- ↑ "Igumani manastira Prohor: Od Pahomija do Pahomija" (in Serbian). Vranje: infovranjske.rs. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ "Danas je slava manastira Prepodobni Prohor Pčinjski" (in Serbian). Vranje: vranjenews.rs. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ M. D. (1 November 2023). "Vladika Pahomije: Hvala predsedniku Vučiću za sve što je uradio za crkvu" (in Serbian). republika.rs. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ Militia station in Vranje, branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – "Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova"
- 1 2 "Ulazio deci go u sobu i terao da ga "masiraju ispod pupka" Bludni vladika Pahomije jednom se izvukao zbog pedofilije i sada SPOPADA MONAHE" (in Serbian). Beograd: blic.rs. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Србија вести". Srbijavesti.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- 1 2 Sandra Petrušić (6 July 2024). "Mitropolit Pahomije – za našu decu - Država i crkva ujedinjene u ruganju žrtvama". radar.nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Тодоровић, Тома (30 December 2007). "Политика 30 December 2007". Politika.rs. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ↑ "Врховни суд Србије, Вести". Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ↑ "Квирија". Queeria.com. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ↑ ULUS — Udruženje likovnih umetnika Srbije
- ↑ "Б92 Култура". B92.net. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- 1 2 "Patrijarh bez komentara o ordenu za Pahomija". Blic.rs. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- 1 2 "Beli anđeo za crnu uniformu". E-novine.com. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ↑ "Pahomije - sramota Srbije". B92.net. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ↑ "Vladika Pahomije pod novom istragom zbog seksualnog zlostavljanja". Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013., Блиц
- ↑ "Nasilni Vučić odlikovao popa Pahomija - seksualnog nasilnika nad maloljetnim dječacima" (in Bosnian). Vidiportal - Regionalni info portal. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
- ↑ https://www.novosti.rs/вести/насловна/хроника.405.html:425625-Епархија-врањска-о-нападу-на-владику-Пахомија Епархија врањска о нападу на владику Пахомија, Новости, 22 March 2013
- ↑ "SKANDAL U SPC Igumanija optužila Pahomija: "Naterao me da potpišem čekove i proneverio 300.000 EVRA"" (in Serbian). Beograd: blic.rs. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ Ljudmila Cvetković (25 March 2013). "Nastavak afere oko vladike Pahomija" (in Serbian). slobodnaevropa.org. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ "Skandal u Srbiji: Srpski biskup izgubio telefon u samostanu, pronađene gole fotografije i erotske poruke" (in Croatian). reporter. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ kurir.rs
- ↑ "banjaluka.in". Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
- ↑ Rasprava o sudijama koje su oslobodile Pahomija. Avtor: R. Marković. Blic, 16.11.2007; Strana: 16
- 1 2 "Vladika Pahomije je uništio detinjstvo mom sinu" (in Serbian). archive.org. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ »krsna slava« - feast by Serbs of family's patron saint or feast-day
- ↑ Uredništvo (2 January 2023). "Velika bruka šefa SPC: Porfirije na slavi kod ozloglašenog Pahomija" (in cg). aktuelno.me. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Pahomije više nije episkop vranjski" (in Serbian). Bujanovačke. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ Nenad Zečević (29 June 2024). "Pahomije i mitropolit i arhiepiskop, MCP po značaju tek na 16. mjestu" (in cg). Podgorica: pobjeda.me. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Vladika Vranjski Pahomije zvanično mitropolit" (in Serbian). Vranje: TV INFO PULS VRANJE. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
- ↑ nova.rs (22 May 2024). "Promene u SPC: Episkop Pahomije kojem se sudilo za pedofiliju unapređen u čin mitropolita?" (in Serbian). Novi Sad: Novosadski informativni portal 021. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ "Sretenjski orden prvog stepena" – "Order of Sretenje of the First Degree"
- ↑ Sandra Petrušić (6 July 2024). "Mitropolit Pahomije – za našu decu - Država i crkva ujedinjene u ruganju žrtvama" (in Serbian). radar.nova.rs. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Petar Gajić (16 February 2022). "Od Vučića orden i u ruke Pahomija - pranje biografije episkopa ili "koska" - Vesti iz Srbije, regiona i sveta" (in Serbian). N1 info. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
- ↑ "Pahomiju orden "Beli anđeo"" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ Veselin Pešić: „Vladika pretio dečacima“. Blic, 06.11.2007; Strana: 14: „Monahinje o slučaju Pahomije“
- ↑ "Vladika Pahomije je uništio detinjstvo mom sinu" (in Serbian). archive.org. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Admin (22 February 2026). "Od Kačavende do Pahomija: pedofilija u crkvenim redovima. Pedofilija i zataškavanje u SPC: kada institucije gube povjerenje…" (in Serbian). pumpajj.vom. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ E. R.: ZBOG VLADIKE SAM IZGUBIO SMISAO ŽIVOTA. Blic, 02.11.2007; Strana: 16
- ↑ ZBOG PAHOMIJA SAM HTEO DA SKOČIM SA TERASE. Blic, 08.11.2007; Strana: 16: Ispovesti dečaka koji su postali žrtve vladike vranjskog Pahomija i sudskog postupka.
- ↑ "Vladika Pahomije je uništio detinjstvo mom sinu" (in Serbian). archive.org. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ U. PIPER - V. Z. CVIJIĆ: Nadzorni odbor odlučuje o sudijama. Sudbina Pahomijevih žrtava. Blic, 13.11.2007; Strana: 14
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]- Bishop Pahomije: Twenty nine years of episcopal ministry | Orthodox Times (en)
- How Pachomije became a metropolitan despite the processes related to pedophilia - Time
- Српска православна црква, Епископ врањски Пахомије
- Пахомије (Гачић)|Српска енциклопедија
- "Серија вести о случају Пахомије". Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- Od Kačavende do Pahomija: pedofilija u crkvenim redovima
- Skandal u Srbiji: Srpski biskup izgubio telefon u samostanu, pronađene gole fotografije i erotske poruke