Artemije Causing Damage to SPC, by Zeljka Jevtic, Blic, May 27, 2009

Artemije Causing Damage to SPC

By Zeljka Jevtic
Blic
May 27, 2009

http://www.blic.rs/infocus.php?id=4507

Artemije, the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, in spite of two urgencies by the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church has still not closed the 'Crna Reka' center for healing of drug edicts where beating and physical maltreating were practiced. At the Patriarchy 'Blic' was told that 'with such behavior Bishop Artemije acts as if he were above the Church at the same time causing serious damage to its reputation'.

This is not the only case in which he acted so. There were some speculations about his illegal business dealings and accounts. Artemije has never replied to any of such accusations. A suspicious company called 'Rade Neimar' is still working. It has been working within the Eparchy (installation of optic cables, sale of mobile telephone cards, construction of churches…). He is also opposing renewal of churches and monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija based on the Memorandum that the Serbian Orthodox Church has signed with the international community. Although he initially signed the Memorandum he soon revoked his signature. There are also claims that money from some donations and church books sold abroad ended on private accounts in Thessaloniki. He, however, still gave no reply to Synod over the property registered on his name although such question was set to him as early as in 2006.