Gabriel (Dožić) of Serbia

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His Holiness Dr. Gavrilo (Dožić) (Serbian: Његова Светост др Гаврило (Дожић)) was Patriarch of Serbia from 1938 to 1950.

Early life

He was born in Donja Morača. His baptismal name was Đorđe. He graduated from seminary in Prizren in 1901. He obtained a theology doctorate in Athens in 1904. He was tonsured as seminarian and ordained a priest on March 4/17, by Bishop Nikanor of Niš in Sićevac Monastery. He was Secretary General of Hilandar Monastery, referent in Serbian embassy in Constantinople. He also visited Switzerland and France in order to study French. He was elected Metropolitan of Raška and Prizren on December 4/17, 1911. He served this see until 1913 when he was transferred to the see of Peć. He was elected Metropolitan of Montenegro and Coastlands on November 17/30, 1920.

Patriarch

He was elected patriarch on February 21/March 6, 1938. As a new patriarch, he was very successful in resolving problems. First step was reconciliation between Synod and Governmant. Patriarch Gavrilo also put a lot efforts ind building campus for students of Orthodox Theologichal Faculty of Belgrade University. He continued building of St. Sava Temple. All Serbian Bishops gave large donations. Also some bishops of ROCOR and Church of Bulgaria gave significent donations. He was an outspoken critic of Nazism, so he, together with St. Nikolaj, was arrested. He was first under house arrest in the monasteries of Rakovacia and Vojlovica, and later in Dachau. After the war he was not permitted to come back until November 14, 1946. He created six new dioceses after the war. He put a lot of effort in dealing with the new regime. He died on May 7, 1950. His remains are buried in Belgrade Cathedral Church together with those of Princes Miloš and Mihajlo.


Succession box:
Gabriel (Dožić) of Serbia
Preceded by:
Nikifor (Perović)
Metropolitan of Raška and Prizren
1911-1913
Succeeded by:
Serafim (Jovanović)
Preceded by:
Metropolitan of Peć
1913-1920
Succeeded by:
Jerotej (Gavrilović)
Preceded by:
Mitrofan (Ban)
Metropolitan of Montenegro and Litoral
1920-1938
Succeeded by:
St. Joanikije
Preceded by:
Varnava (Rosić)
Patriarch of Serbia
1938-1950
Succeeded by:
Vikentije (Prodanov)
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