**Schism within Serbian Orthodox Church?**
A recent gathering in Kragujevac, Serbia, showed a clear divide within the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC). Citizens protested against Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, who has been putting pressure on priest Nikola Simic. The disagreements have been going on for several years.
**Support for Students**
Priest Nikola Simic recently supported student protests and was praised by Tamara Skrozza, deputy editor-in-chief of FoNet. She said that the current patriarch speaks negatively about students, while former patriarch Pavle stood with them. In 1996, Patriarch Pavle famously walked alongside students during a protest.
**Church Court Procedure**
The Sumadija Diocese has announced that it will initiate a church court procedure against priest Nikola Simic. They claim this is due to misconduct in the community’s financial operations and not because of his support for student protests. However, many believe this is just an excuse to silence him.
**Schism or Rebirth?**
Tamara Skrozza thinks there may be a schism within the SPC. She sees it as a positive development given the church’s behavior in recent years. The reaction of Bishop Jovan and his associates was seen as un-Christian, while the response of another priest in Nis was praised.
**What’s Next?**
Skrozza is curious to see how this will play out. With many ordinary priests rebelling against the current leadership, it could be a major shift within the SPC.
