Difference between revisions of "Church of Serbia"

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==History==
 
==History==
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The Serbian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous, or ecclesiastically independent, member of the Orthodox communion, located primarily in [[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Croatia]], and [[FYROM]]. Since many Serbs have emigrated to foreign countries, now there are now many Serbian Orthodox communities on all continents. Soon after their arrrival to [[Balkans]] the Serbian tribes were successively baptised by Christian missionaries and became [[Orthodox Christians]]. The consecration of [[St. Sava]] as autocephalous Archbishop of Serbia in 1219, even more strengthened various Serbian principalities in their ecclesia- stical allegiance to [[Constantinople]] and Christian East. Later, as the medieval [[kingdom of Serbia]] grew in size and prestige and [[Stefan Dusan]], king of [[Serbia]] from 1331, assumed the imperial title of tsar in 1346 to 1355, the Archbishopric of [[Pec]] was correspondingly raised to the rank of Patriarchate. The period before the arrival of the Turks was the time of the greatest flourishing of the Serbian Church. After the final [[Turkish]] conquest of the most influental Serbian principality in 1459, the greater portion of Serbian lands became a Turkish pasalik (province). After the death of [[Patriarch Arsenios II]] in 1463 a successor was not elected. The [[Patriarchate]] was thus de facto abolished, and the Serbian Church passed under the jurisdiction of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. The Serbian Patriarchate was restored in 1557 by the [[Turkish sultan]] [[Suleiman the Magnificent]]. Macarios, brother of the famous [[Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic]] was elected Patriarch in Pec.
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The restoration of the Patriarchate was of great importance for the Serbs because it helped the spiritual unification of all Serbs in the [[Turkish Empire]]. After consequent Serbian uprisals against the Turkish occupators in which the Church had a leading role, the [[Turks]] abolished the Patriarchate once again in [[1766]]. The Church remained once more under the jurisdiction of the [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] of Constintinople . This period of so called "Phanariots" was a period of great spiritual decline because the [[Greek]] bishops had very little understanding for their Serbian flock. This was also the period when great number of Christians converted to [[Islam]] to avoid severe taxes imposed by the [[Turks]] in retaliation for uprisings and continued resistance. Many Serbs with their hierarchs migrated to Southern [[Hungary]] where they had been granted the Church autonomy. The seat of the archbishops was moved from [[Pec]] to [[Karlovci]]. The [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] finally regained its independance and became autocephalous in 1879, the year after the recognition by the [[Great Powers]] of Serbia as an independent state. After World War I all the Serbs were united under one ecclesiastical authority, and the Patriarchate was reestablished in 1920 with election of Patriarch Dimitry, the Patriarch's full title being "Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of the Serbs." During the Second World War the Serbian Orthodox Church passed through severe trials in which many bishops, priests and about "700,000 lay Orthodox Christians were killed by [[Croatian]] and [[Muslim]] [[fascists]] according to the Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren. Hundreds of churches were completely destroyed or desecrated. After the [[Second World War]] the Church experienced new trials under the communists who prohibited teaching of religion in schools, confiscated the property of the Church and using various overt and covert means of persecution in order to diminish the influence the Church had among the people. It was only after [[1989]] that the position of the Church has became tolerable, although the Church estastes have not yet been returned to their lawful owners.
  
 
== Structure of the patriarchate ==
 
== Structure of the patriarchate ==
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*Archdiocese of of Belgrade-Karlovci
 
*Archdiocese of of Belgrade-Karlovci
 
*Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosna
 
*Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosna

Revision as of 02:13, November 25, 2005

Serbia logo.gif

The Church of Serbia is one of the autocephalous Orthodox churches, ranking seventh after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem Russia, and Georgia. It exercises jurisdiction over Orthodox Christians in Serbia and surrounding Slavic and other lands, as well as exarchates and patriarchal representation churches around the world. The Patriarch of Serbia serves as first among equals in his church; the current patriarch is His Holiness Pavle.

The Patriarchate of Serbia
Founder(s) Apostle Andrew, St. Sava of Serbia
Autocephaly/Autonomy declared 1219 (lost in 1459), again in 1832
Autocephaly/Autonomy recognized 1219 by Constantinople, again in 1879
Current primate Patriarch Pavle
Headquarters Belgrade, Serbia
Primary territory Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Hungary, FYROM (disputed), some former Yugoslav republics
Possessions abroad United States, Canada, Europe, Australia
Liturgical language(s) Church Slavonic and Serbian
Musical tradition Byzantine Chant
Calendar Julian
Population estimate 15,000,000
Official website Church of Serbia


History

The Serbian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous, or ecclesiastically independent, member of the Orthodox communion, located primarily in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and FYROM. Since many Serbs have emigrated to foreign countries, now there are now many Serbian Orthodox communities on all continents. Soon after their arrrival to Balkans the Serbian tribes were successively baptised by Christian missionaries and became Orthodox Christians. The consecration of St. Sava as autocephalous Archbishop of Serbia in 1219, even more strengthened various Serbian principalities in their ecclesia- stical allegiance to Constantinople and Christian East. Later, as the medieval kingdom of Serbia grew in size and prestige and Stefan Dusan, king of Serbia from 1331, assumed the imperial title of tsar in 1346 to 1355, the Archbishopric of Pec was correspondingly raised to the rank of Patriarchate. The period before the arrival of the Turks was the time of the greatest flourishing of the Serbian Church. After the final Turkish conquest of the most influental Serbian principality in 1459, the greater portion of Serbian lands became a Turkish pasalik (province). After the death of Patriarch Arsenios II in 1463 a successor was not elected. The Patriarchate was thus de facto abolished, and the Serbian Church passed under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Serbian Patriarchate was restored in 1557 by the Turkish sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Macarios, brother of the famous Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic was elected Patriarch in Pec.

The restoration of the Patriarchate was of great importance for the Serbs because it helped the spiritual unification of all Serbs in the Turkish Empire. After consequent Serbian uprisals against the Turkish occupators in which the Church had a leading role, the Turks abolished the Patriarchate once again in 1766. The Church remained once more under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constintinople . This period of so called "Phanariots" was a period of great spiritual decline because the Greek bishops had very little understanding for their Serbian flock. This was also the period when great number of Christians converted to Islam to avoid severe taxes imposed by the Turks in retaliation for uprisings and continued resistance. Many Serbs with their hierarchs migrated to Southern Hungary where they had been granted the Church autonomy. The seat of the archbishops was moved from Pec to Karlovci. The Serbian Orthodox Church finally regained its independance and became autocephalous in 1879, the year after the recognition by the Great Powers of Serbia as an independent state. After World War I all the Serbs were united under one ecclesiastical authority, and the Patriarchate was reestablished in 1920 with election of Patriarch Dimitry, the Patriarch's full title being "Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of the Serbs." During the Second World War the Serbian Orthodox Church passed through severe trials in which many bishops, priests and about "700,000 lay Orthodox Christians were killed by Croatian and Muslim fascists according to the Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren. Hundreds of churches were completely destroyed or desecrated. After the Second World War the Church experienced new trials under the communists who prohibited teaching of religion in schools, confiscated the property of the Church and using various overt and covert means of persecution in order to diminish the influence the Church had among the people. It was only after 1989 that the position of the Church has became tolerable, although the Church estastes have not yet been returned to their lawful owners.

Structure of the patriarchate

  • Archdiocese of of Belgrade-Karlovci
  • Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosna
  • Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Coastlands
  • Metropolitanate of Midwestern America
  • Metropolitanate of Zagreb and Ljubljana
  • Diocese of America and Canada (New Gracanica Metropolitanate)
  • Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (New Gracanica Metropolitanate)
  • Diocese of Backa
  • Diocese of Banat
  • Diocese of Banja Luka
  • Diocese of Bihac and Petrovac
  • Diocese of Branicevo
  • Diocese of Budim
  • Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic
  • Diocese of Canada
  • Diocese of Central Europe
  • Diocese of Dalmatia
  • Diocese of Eastern America
  • Diocese of Great Britain and Scandinavia
  • Diocese of Milesevo
  • Diocese of Nis
  • Diocese of Osijek and Baranja
  • Diocese of Ras and Prizren
  • Diocese of Sabac-Valjevo
  • Diocese of Srem
  • Diocese of Slavonia
  • Diocese of Sumadija
  • Diocese of Temisvar
  • Diocese of Timok
  • Diocese of Vranje
  • Diocese of Western America
  • Diocese of Western Europe
  • Diocese of Zahumlje and Hercegovina
  • Diocese of Zica
  • Diocese of Zvornik-Tuzla
  • The Orthodox Archidiocese of Ochrid

Hierarchial Succession of head Serb See

Over the years the Serbian Church has had its primate located at several various locations. There had been 54 (44 from Pec) Patriarchs in Serbia, and other major Metropolitans.

List of Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Serbia

Metropolitan of Zica, 1219-1252

Metropolitans of Pec, 1252-1346

Patriarchs of Pec, 1346-1766

  • 1 St. Joanikije II (Joannicius II) 1337-1354
  • 2 St. Sava IV 1354-1375
  • 3 St. Jefrem (Ephraem) (1st time) 1375-1380
  • 4 St. Spiridon (Spirydon) 1380-1389
  • (3) St. Jefrem (Ephraem) (2nd time) 1389-1390
  • 5 Danilo III (Daniel III) 1390-1396
  • 6 Sava V 1396-1407
  • 7 Danilo IV (Daniel IV) 1407
  • 8 Kiril I (Cyril I) 1407-1418
  • 9 Nikon 1418-1435
  • 10 Teofan (Theophanes) 1435-1446
  • 11 Nikodim II (Nicomedius II) 1446-1453
  • 12 Arsenije II (Arsenius II) 1453-1459
  • vacant
  • 13 Jovan I (John I) 1508
  • vacant
  • 14 Marko (Mark) 1524
  • vacant
  • 15 Pavle of Smederevo (Paul (I)) 1527-1535
  • vacant
  • 16 Makarije Sokolovic (Macarius) 1557-1572
  • 17 Antonije (Antony) 1572-1575
  • 18 Gerasim 1575-1585
  • 19 Savatije (Savatius) 1585-1586
  • 20 Jerotej (Hieroteos) 1586-1591
  • 21 Filip (Philip) 1591-1592
  • 22 Jovan II Kantul (John II) 1592-1613
  • 23 Pajsije I of Janjevo (Paisius I) 1613-1647
  • 24 St. Gavrilo I (Gabriel I) 1648-1655
  • 25 Maksim I of Skoplje (Maximus I) 1655-1672
  • 26 Arsenije III Carnojevic (Arsenius III) 1672-1691; became Metropolitan of Karlowitz
  • 27 Kalinik I (Callinicus I) 1691-1710
  • 28 Atanasije I (Athanasius I) 1711-1712
  • 29 Mojsije (Moses) 1712-1725
  • 30 Arsenije IV Jovanovic-Sakabenta (Arsenius IV) 1725-1737; later metropolitan of Karlowitz
  • 31 Joanikije III Karadza (Joannicius III) 1737-1746
  • 32 Atanasije II (Athanasius II) 1746-1752
  • 33 Gavrilo II (Gabriel II) 1752
  • 34 Gavrilo III (Gabriel III) 1752-1758
  • 35 Vikentije I Stefanovic (Vicentius I) 1758
  • 36 Pajsije II (Paisius II) 1758
  • 37 Gavrilo IV (Gabriel IV) 1758-1759
  • 38 Kiril II (Cyril II) 1759-1763
  • 39 Vasilije Brkic (Basil) 1763-1765
  • 40 Kalinik II (Callinicus II) 1765-1766

Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Karlowitz

Metropolitan of Krusedol, 1691-1713

Metropolitans of Karlowitz, 1713-1848

unknown

  • Arsenije IV Jovanovic-Sakabenta (Arsenius IV) 1737-1748; former Patriarch in Pec (1725-1737)
  • Pavle Nenadovic (Paul) 1749-1768
    • Danilo (locum tenens) 1768-1769
  • Jovan (John) 1768-1773
    • Mojsije (locum tenens) 1773-1774
  • Vikentije (Vicentius) 1774-1780
  • Mojsije (Moses) 1780-1790
    • Petar (locum tenens) 1790
  • Stefan I Stratimirovic (Stephen I) 1790-1836
  • Stefan II (Stephen II) 1836-1841
    • Georgije (locum tenens) 1841-1842

Patriarchs of Karlowitz, 1848-1920

  • 41 Josif Rajacic (Joseph) 1842-1861
  • 42 Samuilo (Samuel) 1861-1870
    • Arsenije Stojkovic (1st time) (locum tenens) 1870-1872
    • Nikanor Grujic (locum tenens) 1872-1874
    • Arsenije Stojkovic (2nd time) (locum tenens) 1874
  • 43 Prokopije Ivankovic (Procorpius) 1874-1879
  • 44 Grigorije I Anjelic (Germanius I) 1879-1888
  • 45 Georgije II Brankovic (Germanius II)) 1888-1907
  • 46 Lukijan Bogdanovic (Lucian) (1908-1913
    • Miron Nikolic (1st time) (locum tenens) 1913
    • Mihailo Grujic (locum tenens) 1913-1914
  • 47 Miron Nikolic (2nd time) 1914-1919 with...
  • 48 Georgije III Letic (Germanius III)1918-1920 (continued to function until 1922)

Metropolitans of Belgrade and Patriarchs of Serbia

Metropolitans of Belgrade, 1766-1920

  • Jeremija (Jeremiah) 1766-1784
  • Dionizije I (Dionysius I) 1785-1791
  • Metodije (Methodius) 1791 - 1801
  • Leontije (Leontius) 1801-1813
    • Hadzi Milentije (locum tenens) 1810
  • Dionizije II (Dionysius II) 1813 - 1815
    • Melentije (locum tenens) 1815 - 1816
  • Agathangelos (Agatangel) 1815-1835
  • Kiril (Cyril) 1825-1827
  • Anthimos (Antim) 1827-1830
  • Melentije Pavlovic (Methodius) 1830-1833
  • Petar Jovanovic (Peter) 1833-1859
  • Mihailo Jovanovic (Michael) (1st time) 1859-1881
    • Mojsije Veresic (locum tenens) 1881-1883
  • Teodosije Mraovic (Theodosius) 1883-1889
  • Mihailo Jovanovic (Michael) (2nd time) 1889-1898
  • Inokentije Pavlovic (Innocentius) 1898-1905

Patriarchs of Serbia, 1920-present


Autocephalous and Autonomous Churches of Orthodoxy
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Four Ancient Patriarchates: Constantinople · Alexandria · Antioch · Jerusalem
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The * designates a church whose autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.


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