Icon of Blessed Pavle Patriarch of Serbia - 00STML01

Patriarch Pavle was born Gojko Stojčević on September 11, 1914, in the village of Kučani, Croatia. He pursued an extensive education, graduating from the Fourth Male Gymnasium in Belgrade, the seminary in Sarajevo, and the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Belgrade. He later completed postgraduate studies in Athens, where he focused on the New Testament and developed deep expertise in liturgics. Tonsured as a monastic named Pavle in 1948, he advanced through the monastic orders while teaching at the Prizren Seminary and serving at the Rača Monastery. On May 29, 1957, the Holy Assembly of Bishops elected him Bishop of Raška-Prizren.

During his decades as Bishop of Raška-Prizren, Pavle closely shared in the afflictions of his flock in Kosovo and Metohija. He frequently documented and spoke out against the persecution, violence, desecration of cemeteries, and exodus faced by the Serbian Orthodox population. Demonstrating remarkable personal fortitude and Christian forgiveness, he refused to press charges even after suffering severe injuries from a physical assault by Albanian youths in 1989. Known for his extreme ascetical simplicity, personal humility, and refusal to use a personal automobile, he earned widespread renown among the faithful as a "saint who walks."

In addition to his pastoral work, Bishop Pavle was a prolific theologian and liturgist whose contributions left a lasting mark on the Serbian Orthodox Church. Over several decades, he authored numerous scholarly publications, provided liturgical guidance in official church periodicals, and supervised major projects, including the official 1984 Serbian translation of the New Testament. In 1991, his devotion and spiritual stature led to his election as the 54th Serbian Orthodox Patriarch. As head of the Church, he navigated complex ecclesiastical issues, successfully healing the schism with the Free Serbian Orthodox Church and initiating efforts to resolve canonical tensions in Macedonia.

Patriarch Pavle’s tenure as Patriarch was defined by both institutional revival and global outreach until his repose on November 15, 2009. Under his leadership, the Church expanded its educational reach by establishing new seminaries in Cetinje, Kragujevac, and Foča, while restoring the Theological Faculty at Belgrade University and making monumental progress on the Saint Sava Temple. He also broke new historical ground through international diplomacy, becoming the first Serbian Patriarch to visit the United States, Australia, and a Roman Catholic Pope. Throughout his life, Patriarch Pavle remained a beloved and humble shepherd whose holiness anchored the Church through turbulent times.

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