Abstract: The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Yugoslav state in Vojvodina and Bačka in the context of the new communist regime’s treatment of the bishop of Bačka, Irinej Ćirić, from the time of the bishop’s liberation (1944) until his death (1955). Irinej was imprisoned under house arrest for 17 months shortly aft er the partisans captured Novi Sad due to his connections to the Hungarian occupation regime. Upon his release, he was attacked and beaten by a group of locals in Odžaci in 1946. This event, known as the ”Odžaci Affair”, was one of the contentious issues that burdened relations between the church and the state for a long time. The research also looks at how the Diocese of Bačka operated from 1944 to 1955, the attitudes of the clergy - who were closely monitored by the secret service and under pressure from the new authorities - and Irinej and his associates’ positions on certain political and ecclesiastical issues. It also examines at how these issues were resolved through mutual adaptation and a shift in the state’s attitude toward the church.

Keywords: Serbian Orthodox Church, Yugoslavia, Irinej Ćirić, Vojvodina, Bačka

Summary

Irinej Ćirić, the bishop, was neither a fascist nor an accomplice of ideology. The difficult circumstances in Bačka and the war crimes committed against his supporters led to his collaboration with the occupier. After being freed, he was probed and put under house arrest since the relationship had taken on political dimensions. A campaign of disinformation by the media and general public against the bishop led to the events in Odžaci (1946) where the bishop and his colleagues were knifed, beaten, and attacked. The event had a long-lasting impact on the relationship between the church and the state, both in Bačka and throughout the country. Historical sources show that the church had a developed inner life and its own space of freedom in socialist Yugoslavia, albeit significantly narrower than in the Kingdom, particularly in terms of public space and influence on the educational system. The Diocese of Bačka, like the SPC as a whole, was functioning, with damaged buildings being restored and believers attending churches, as reported by the priests. At the same time, the people and clergy were subjected to different forms of pressure, some priests were unjustly imprisoned, and the secret service kept a close eye on everything that happened in the Diocese. Under such conditions, bishop Irinej practiced actual politics, frequently opposing the dictatorship even aft er the Odžaci incident, while also giving in when needed. At the same time, there is little doubt that, particularly in the early years, both Irinej and the Eparchy faced hostility from the new communist authorities, along with a slew of obstacles, unjustified arrests and persecutions, and uncivilized behaviors such as the attack on Odžaci. Although the church’s position improved throughout time, there was never complete reconciliation and collaboration between the bishop and state officials. Aft er his death, relations between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the state in Bačka began to change.