Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-29
NATALIE QUEEN AGAIN.
The Servian Royal Divorce Pronounced
iliegal-1iilan Outwitted.

The most sensational development in the
Servian royal divorce is now agitating Belgrade
and the Greek church in Constantinopie. The
annulment at the marriage Of ex-King Milan
and Queen Natalie has been declared illegal,
Natalie is still the wife Of the royal reproba.e
and queen Of Servia and Milan has been out
witted by she willy Metropolitan Michael
Milan is now seeking the interference Of the
patriarch OF Constantinople. Natalie appealed
on June %, 1890, to the holy synod OF
Belgrade, with the request to be in
formed Of the opinion entertained by the
Metropolitan Michael and the bishops relative
to the dissolution Of her marriage brought
about by the former metropolitan. Theodosius
in the autumn of 1883. The synod lost no time
III forming their decision and three days later
replied that the act of the former metropoli-
tan was recognized as Illegal, and that cotse-
quently the divorce was void and of no effect.
This decision was protocoled in due form, and
as such must be considered as an irrevocable
act OF the synod. As a matter of course. neither
the eX-king nor the regency nor the Servian
government was made aware of the decision
OF the synod, and in agreement with the queen
mother the decision was only to be made pub
lie on hing Milan having lett the country.
In the meantime King Milan learnt that the
queen had appealed to tho synod, and about
three weeks ago he sent an energetic petition
to the metropolitan. in which he demanded a
copy OF the decisions of tho synod. In this
step he was supported by the regency, and a
response on the part of The metropolitan was
therefore unavoidable. The metropolitan thus
at bay. attempted by means of articles and
procrastlnati0n to escape. but Milan declare d
most emphaticaliy that the archbishop's reply
would admit OF no delay. which resulted in the
Issue OF more than one stormy scene. at last
there was nothing for it but to come to a de-
clslon, that the synod in consideration of the
former already settled question relative to
the aunulIn@ OF the royal marriage, declin cd
10 NEEDLE with renewal of the affair
This declaration satisfied King Milan, who
was in ignorance of the decision the synod had
come to i'll declaring the dissolution of his mar
rage Illegal Tho word former" he believed
to refer to the act Of divorce enacted by the
former metropolitan, Theodosius, and had not
the falntcst suspicion that he was being hood
wlpked by his ecclesiastical opponents. He
consequently had the artfully conceived reply.
which bore the signature of the prelate, legal
lied by the minister Vt foreign affairs and sub
sequently published in the newspapers Of Bel
grade.
King Milan remained in bIissful ignorance #
the fraud practiced on him until his arrival At
Nish, whittier he had gone with his son, King
Alexander. At Nish he sent q dispatch to the
Regent l;lstcs to investigate the affair without
delay. The metropolitan's evasive reply was by
no means explanatory, being, briefly, that the
decisions of the synod communicated to King
Milan completed and strengthened the decision
formerly" arrived at. The enIgmatic word
formerly" he obdurately refused to define.
leaving the mlnister-president totally in the
dark as to whether it referred to the act
granted by Theodosius or to the recent declara-
ton OF llleganty. There is no doubt. OF course,
that it sustalns the decision in favor of the
queen.
Tho Metropolitan Michael was deprived of
his see by King Milan several years ago and ex-
lied from Servia. On the abdication Of the king
Michael was recalled and reinstated condition.
ally to his promising not to NEEDLE with the
royal divorce.