Irinej Bulović

Irinej Bulović (born Mirko Bulović on 11 February 1947) is the Serbian Orthodox cleric and current Bishop of Bačka. He serves as а professor of the New Testament exegesis and Greek language on the Faculty of Theology of the University of Belgrade.[2]

Irinej
Bishop of Bačka
Bishop Irinej in 2012
Native name	Иринеј
Church	Serbian Orthodox Church
Diocese	Eparchy of Bačka
Elected	20 May 1990
Installed	24 December 1990
Predecessor	Nikanor (Iličić)
Personal details
Birth name	Mirko Bulović
Born	11 February 1947 Stanišić, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia
Nationality	Serbian
Denomination	Serbian Orthodox
Residence	Kovilj (Novi Sad)
Previous post	Vicar Bishop of Moravica (1989–1990)
Alma mater	Faculty of Theology of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens

Ordination history of Irinej Bulović
History Diaconal ordination Ordained by Pavle, bishop of Raška and Prizren Date 1969 Priestly ordination Ordained by Pavle, bishop of Raška and Prizren Date 1969 Episcopal consecration Date 20 May 1990 Place Patriarchate of Peć[1]

Biography

Bulović was born as Mirko to parents Mihailo and Zorka on 11 February 1947, in Stanišić near Sombor in Serbia (then FPR Yugoslavia). He graduated from the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade in 1969. While a student, he took monastic vows from his mentor Justin Popović and then took monastic name of Irinej (Irenaeus).[1] In 1969, Pavle, then bishop of Raška and Prizren (later Serbian Patriarch) ordained Bulović as hierodeacon and later hieromonk.[1] For two years (1969-1970) he lived in the Ostrog Monastery where he was a teacher in the monastic school.[1] He completed his post-graduate studies in 1970–1980 at the School of Theology of the University of Athens, Greece, where he gained the doctor of theology degree in June 1980.[1] In 1981, he was appointed a professor of the New Testament exegesis on the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade, a position he still holds as of 2014.[1]

During the regular session of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1989, Irinej Bulović was elected a Vicar Bishop of Moravica, and in 1990 he was elected Bishop of Bačka and enthroned in the Saint George's Cathedral in Novi Sad on 24 December 1990.[1]

He repeatedly attends international ecumenical meetings and is recognized ecumenical worker.

When Patriarch Irinej fell ill, he was seen as one of the main candidates for position of the next patriarch.[3]

References

1. Eparchy of Bačka official site: His Grace Bishop of Novi Sad and Backa, Sombor and Szeged Mr.Dr. Irenaeus: curriculum vitae Archived 14 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
2. Faculty of Theology of the University of Belgrade official site: DEPARTMENTS AND CATHEDRAE Archived 14 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
3. Miladinović, Veljko (16 October 2019). "Ruska agencija tipuje na Irineja Bulovića za sledećeg patrijarha SPC, ali tvrde i da Vučić ima svog kandidata..." Nedeljnik. Retrieved 31 October 2020.