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In May 1974, Irinej was elected [[Vicar]] [[Bishop]] of Moravica and [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] by [[Patriarch]] [[German (Đorić) of Serbia|German]]. In May 1975, he was elected Bishop of Niš and enthroned in the [[Holy Trinity Cathedral (Niš)|Holy Trinity Cathedral]] on [[June 15 ]]1975.<ref name=SoC>[http://www.spcportal.org/index.php?pg=1278&lang=srl Episkop niški IRINEJ (Gavrilović)]publisher Serbian Orthodox Church(Serbian)</ref><ref>[http://www.nis.co.yu/manastiri_i_crkve_grada_nisa/tekst/Irinej%20Gavrilovic.html ИРИНЕЈ ГАВРИЛОВИЋ] on www.nis.co.yu </ref> Irinej headed the Niš [[eparchy]] for the next 35 years.
On[[ January 22]], 2010, he was elected the 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/25173/ Bishop Irinej Is New Serbian Orhodox Patriarch] Barlovac, Bojana 22 January 2010 ''Balkan Insight'' </ref><ref>[http://www.sofiaecho.com/2010/01/22/846734_bishop-of-nis-elected-new-serbian-patriarch Bishop of Nis elected new Serbian patriarch] January 22 2010 ''The Sofia Echo'' </ref>, after the death of previous Patr. [[Pavel (StojčevićStojcevic) of Serbia|Pavle]]. He was one of the three candidates with the most votes from the 45 bishops eligible in the Serbian Orthodox Church, along with former [[locum tenens]] (interim leader) [[Amfilohije Radović]] and [[Irinej Bulović]].<ref>{[http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jxsx5C8r9mtAc31SVtHkpY5TsQdg Irinej, a moderate, elected as Serbian Orthodox Church leader] Stojanovic, Dusan 22 January 2010, The Canadian Press </ref> In the final phase, his name was pulled from a sealed envelope. In this way, the Serbian Orthodox Church believes the patriarch is elected by divine intervention, sidelining human interests.<ref>[http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/305236,serbian-church-promotes-bishop-irinej-to-new-patriarch--summary.html Serbian church promotes Bishop Irinej to new patriarch]</ref> He was enthroned on [[January 23]], 2010 in [[St. Michael's Cathedral (Belgrade)|St. Michael's Cathedral]].<ref>[http://spc.rs/eng/enthronement_patriarch_irinej_serbia Enthronement of Patriarch Irinej of Serbia] access date 22 January 2010 </ref>
Irinej has been considered, both abroad and at home, as a moderate [[traditionalist]], open to global inter-religious dialogue.<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/wires.php?id=3468101_serbia-patriarch-belgrade-serbia-moderate-bishop-irinej-elected-as-serbian-orthodox-church-leader Moderate bishop Irinej elected as Serbian Orthodox Church leader] ''January 22 2010 Daily News and Economic Review'' Turkey </ref> In an interview, Irinej indicated he would not oppose the first-ever visit by the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Pope]] to Serbia in 2013 as part of celebrations of the 1,700th anniversary of the [[Edict of Milan]], the law under which Roman emperor [[Constantine I|Constantine]], who was born in Niš, ended the persecution of [[Christians]]. Irinej said that "there is the wish of the Pope" for a meeting in Niš and that it would be a chance "not just for a meeting, but for a dialogue".<ref name=MaC/><ref>[http://b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2010&mm=01&dd=21&nav_category=12&nav_id=405665 Irinej: Papa u Srbiji 2013. godine?]</ref> <ref>[http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=01&dd=26&nav_id=64769 Pope's visit would be welcomed by the SPC ''Beta'', ''Tanjug'']. Retrieved 26 January 2010</ref>