Nick,

I heard the same type of stories when we met with Bishop Longin a few months ago up in Libertyville.

There were about 6 people at the lunch table, and when the talked turned to Patriarch Pavle, it was obvious that he was absolutely revered. He was given full credit by the people present for the unity of the Serbian Dioceses here in America. I remember hearing that Patriarch Pavle’s credibility among the Americans was very high, since he had been the only one to recognize the bishop here (?). Didn’t quite understand the story.

I also seem to remember hearing a story about the patriarch riding buses, all alone, late at night. What an incredible role model.

May His Memory be Eternal!

Dean

what a contrast. Stories such as this humbles me.

I got to know him well during our reunification process. The first time I met him was in Belgrade in 1990 for unification talks. On the third day, we finished our day’s session with lunch. Me and another fellow decided to take a stroll downtown to see some sights. On the way back to our lodgings at the Patriarchate at around 5:30 p.m. we were on a side street about five blocks away. On the corner was a small grocery/convenience store. We were about half a block away when we saw this little diminutive figure approximately 4’ 10” tall and weighing no more than 100 pounds dressed in a raisa with a black kamilavka coming out of the store carrying a brown paper shopping bag. We realized who it was and couldn’t believe he was coming out of the shop alone and walking on a dark side street. We ran to catch him and it took nearly two blocks to do so. He was 76 years old then.

When we caught up to him I said, “Your Holiness, where have you been”. He said that because we were his guests, the diet was too rich these last several days, therefore he ate little at the table with us, and he wanted to get some wholesome fresh vegetables to eat. I said “Your Holiness, you are the patriarch. You should not be walking the streets by yourself, especially such a dark street. You need an escort.” He replied, “Brother Nikola, since I have been patriarch these last several months, it’s like I’ve been in jail. Please don’t let anyone deny me of this pleasure of walking.” We walked with him back to the patriarchate talking as three life-long friends would do on a stroll.

He truly spoke little but always said a lot and that is no contradiction. He was usually last to speak, living the words of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians: “The less a bishop speaks, the more he ought to be revered”. He did not act with rashness and always sought consensus and compromise. Sometimes that got him into trouble. Events got out of hand during the war, especially with some of the clergy, but he always preached love of the Spirit and service to your brother though he was constantly harassed and occasionally severely beaten by the Muslims while he was Bishop in Kosovo.

He harbored no ill will to anyone, did not rule as an “imperator/bishop” and, when he spoke in council, all bishops from all factions immediately went silent.

In this day and age, he was a unique hierarch. May his memory be eternal. Vecna mu pamjat.

Theodoros