Father Serafim: Kačavenda sexually abused a minor who then committed suicide

Bishop Vasilije Kačavenda sexually, physically, and psychologically abused minor theologian Milić Blažanović, who subsequently committed suicide – this was stated on TV Prva's show "Life Story" by Father Serafim, who once served in the diocese led by Bishop Kačavenda, reports the Patria News Agency.

The show read a letter from Milić Blažanović, who called Kačavenda a "drunken beast" and wrote that he had to kill himself to free other monks from suffering.

The letter also mentions Father Bratislav, the former head of the Papraća Monastery, whom Blažanović stated knew about what was happening and often drove him to Doboj, where the bishop's court is located.

Father Serafim, born Bojan Jovanović, said that "homosexual balls" took place there, that priests and their guests behaved dissolutely, and that there were rapes.

Tatjana Vojtehovski's show guest also testified that Father Bratislav pointed a Kalashnikov at him and said, "I will kill all you faggots" when he came to the monastery with Bishop Kačavenda to replace him.

- Kačavenda's inclinations were publicly known, they were covered up, and all of us who were close to him were thought to be homosexual and labeled as such. I found myself a meter away from the Kalashnikov when he lost his temper. I ran to Kačavenda, told him he had a gun, but he told me to go back and that Father Bratislav should kill me so they could escape through the window after taking off their robes, claims Father Serafim.

According to him, deacons and other priests knew about everything that was happening, and therefore the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) and the police as well, but he also said that it is "difficult to say anything to them when they are guests in the monastery, where they sit, are rewarded, and receive books and icons."

As he said, the bishop also abused him and tried to have intercourse with him, offering him "an apartment, a car, and a trip to Russia."

Father Serafim said that Blažanović could not resist and was abused, while the bishop told him he would help him continue his education.

He also stated that Blažanović took his own life with a hand grenade because of this, although he believes that Kačavenda and his associates are responsible for that death, and that parts of his body were "secretly buried in the monastery courtyard."

When he wanted to talk to Kačavenda about it, he replied that there was nothing to discuss, that the boy was crazy, deranged, and then forbade him from visiting the monastery to see for himself what had really happened.

Father Serafim also spoke about the pimping of boys, smuggling of church equipment, bribing border guards, and pointed out that he could not report anything to the police because they were also in collusion with the bishop.

He also spoke about having information that his murder was being planned, that Kačavenda had hired a professional killer for this, with whom he later met in Belgrade.

He emphasized that he came to the Serbian capital secretly, using fake documents he had previously obtained through Kačavenda, and the idea for the escape came from Father Stefan, who had received information that their liquidation was also being prepared.

Bishop Kačavenda was finally and permanently relieved of his duties managing the Zvornik-Tuzla Diocese by a decision of the SPC Synod in mid-2013.

Kačavenda was not defrocked, but his resignation, which he requested due to his health condition, was accepted. This conclusion to the "Kačavenda case" came only a few months after Belgrade media reported on his alleged lewd acts with young men, which, according to the media, were also recorded on video, B92 reports.