(ANSA) - BELGRADE, FEB 18 - A religious function in the orthodox cathedral of St. Sava opened on Thursday morning in Belgrade the work of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church called to elect a new patriarch to replace Irinej, who died on November 20, 2020 at age 90 due to coronavirus. The rules state that the new patriarch must be elected within three months of the death of his predecessor. The work of the Holy Synod is taking place in the St. Sava crypt, due to the health emergency caused by the pandemic. This is the first time that the highest organ of the Serbian Orthodox Church is meeting outside of the Patriarchate, and the crypt was chosen for its greater ease in ensuring prevention and disinfection measures.

Since the death of Irinej, the metropolitan Hrizostom has been the interim leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Hrizostom is the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the oldest member of the Holy Synod. The election of the new patriarch is taking place under the complicated system known as the "apostolic vote": each of the members of the Synod votes for three candidates, and the vote is repeated until three candidates receive the most number of votes. Their names are then inserted in sealed envelopes, and one is then drawn at random, with the name of the new patriarch. (ANSA).