Belgrade - Serbian bishops on Wednesday asked their ailing Patriarch Pavle to remain at the helm of the Serbian Orthodox Church, effectively turning down his plea to be relieved of his duties.

The Serbian bishops' conference, the Sabor, formally issued its request to Pavle after marathon sessions Tuesday and Wednesday.

Deeply divided in reformist and dogmatic camps, the church remains effectively blocked, with Pavle too frail to leave his hospital room for a year.

Pavle, who turned 94 in September, asked last month to be relieved, though according to church statutes, the patriarch is elected for life.

Serbian media reported that the oldest and most influential among the 46 bishops, Amfilohije, would assume some of the patriarch's duties until the Sabor's next meeting in May, or until Pavle passes away and his successor is elected.

But even if Pavle dies, it remains unclear whether the Sabor would elect his heir directly or draw lots for the next patriarch from the three bishops with most support.

Pavle took over in 1990, on the eve of the violent break-up of former Yugoslavia.

Under his reign, the church rose from the margins of society, where it had been consigned during the decades of Socialist rule, to become one of the most influential players in Serbian politics.

He was elected by the drawing of lots while his predecessor, German, was still alive but terminally ill. (dpa)