Open main menu

OrthodoxWiki β

Paisius I of Peć

Revision as of 21:03, March 10, 2007 by Wsk (talk | contribs) (links)
This article or section needs to be brought in conformity to standard English, possibly due to having been translated from another language or being written by someone for whom English is not a primary language. You can help OrthodoxWiki by editing it.


His Holiness Paisius I of Pec (in Serbian:Пајсије Јањевац патријарх српски) was the Serbian Patriarch from 1614 to 1648.

Life

He was born in the town of Janjevo in Kosovo. His father was a priest. We don't know Paisius' baptismal name. He was taught by his father and later continued his education in the famous Janjevo school. His education continued in the monastery school in Gračanica. He claimed to be disciple of Patriarch Jovan (1592-1614). Patriarch Paisius became famous as bibliophile.

Metropolitan of Novo Brdo and Lipljan

Paisius was elected Metropolitan of Novo Brdo and Lipljan in 1612. He was consecrated by Patr. Jovan and Metropolitans of Sentence Synod on July 15, 1612. There is one document which he signed his name as Humble Pajsije, Metropoliten of Novo Brdo. When Patr. Jovan left for Constantinople he appointed Paisius as locum tenens. Patr. Jovan was accused by the Sultan's court and sentenced to death. He was executed on October 14 1614.

Patriarch

When the news of Jovan's sentence arrived in Peć, Paisius was elected Patriarch on October 4, 1614. The new patriarch soon established relations with Russia. His name appeared in Russian state documents since 1622. He often traveled on visitations. He visited the half devastated Žiča Monastery in 1620 and began with its repair. He visited Belgard in 1632 and Šišatovac Monastery with sacred icons of Saint Stefan Štiljanović on October 7, 1632. The Patriarch, together with Metr. Jeftimije of Sophia, also visited the Bishop of Marča in Austro-Hungary, which today is in Croatia.

In November 1642, a Roman Catholic emmissary came in Peć, in Pope's name, to start negotiatons about union. Patr. Paisius together with two bishops discussed this with him. Patr. Paisius was strongly against the filioque. He was ready to recognize Pope's primatum honoris but only if the Pope gave up the filioque, azima, and other new teachings. This was stated in a synodical letter that was sent to Rome.

Patr. Paisius used his time for rebuilding and repairing churches, transliterating/translating books. The church in Morača Monastery was painted in 1614 by Hilandar monks. Serbian noblemen rebuilt the Monastey of Dobrilovina in 1614 and the church in Čukojevci. The Patriarch was book collector. Western diplomats who traveled to Constantinople bore witness that the Orthodox Church of Serbia was well organized.

He canonized the last ruler from Nemanjići House, Emperor Stefan Uroš V, and wrote of his life and service. Patriarch Paisius was forced to visit Constantinople in 1641 to obtain protection from local Turkish governors.

Death

Patriarch Paisius was wounded by bull in village of Budosavci. He died few days later on November 2, 1647 and was buried in Peć Monastery.

Succession box:
Paisius I of Peć
Preceded by:
?
Metropolitan of Novo Brdo
1612-1614
Succeeded by:
?
Preceded by:
Jovan Kantul
Patriarch of Serbia
1614-1648
Succeeded by:
Gavrilo
Help with box