The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr, Митрополија црногорско-приморска Српске православне цркве, Mitropolija crnogorsko-primorska Srpske pravoslavne crkve) is the largest
eparchy
Eparchy ( gr, ἐπαρχία, la, eparchía / ''overlordship'') is an ecclesiastical unit in Eastern Christianity, that is equivalent to a diocese in Western Christianity. Eparchy is governed by an ''eparch'', who is a bishop. Depending on th ...
(diocese) of the
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr-Cyrl, Српска православна црква, Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodox Christian denomination, Christian churches.
The majori ...
in modern
Montenegro
)
, image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Podgorica
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, official_languages = M ...
. Founded in 1219 by
Saint Sava
Saint Sava ( sr, Свети Сава, Sveti Sava, ; Old Church Slavonic: ; gr, Άγιος Σάββας; 1169 or 1174 – 14 January 1236), known as the Enlightener, was a Serbian prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalou ...
, as the ''Eparchy of Zeta'', it continued to exist, without interruption, up to the present time, and remained one of the most prominent dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The current
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan (alternative obsolete form: metropolite), pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis.
Originally, the term referred to the b ...
is
Joanikije. His official title is "Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral" ( sr, Mитрополит црногорско-приморски, Arhiepiskop cetinjski i mitropolit crnogorsko-primorski).
History
Eparchy of Zeta (1219–1346)
![Prečista Krajinska](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Pre%C4%8Dista_Krajinska.jpg)
The Eparchy of
Zeta
Zeta (, ; uppercase Ζ, lowercase ζ; grc, ζῆτα, el, ζήτα, label= Demotic Greek, classical or ''zē̂ta''; ''zíta'') is the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 7. It was derived f ...
was founded in 1219 by
Sava
The Sava (; , ; sr-cyr, Сава, hu, Száva) is a river in Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally th ...
of the
Nemanjić dynasty
The House of Nemanjić ( sr-Cyrl, Немањић, Немањићи; Nemanjić, Nemanjići, ) was the most prominent dynasty of Serbia in the Middle Ages. This princely, royal, and later imperial house produced twelve Serbian monarchs, who rul ...
, the first
Archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
of the autocephalous
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr-Cyrl, Српска православна црква, Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodox Christian denomination, Christian churches.
The majori ...
. After receiving the
autocephaly
Autocephaly (; from el, αὐτοκεφαλία, meaning "property of being self-headed") is the status of a hierarchical Christian church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop. The term is primarily used in Eastern O ...
from the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ( el, Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, translit=Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Konstantinoupóleos, ; la, Patriarchatus Oecumenicus Constanti ...
and confirmation from the
Byzantine Emperor
This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, to its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as le ...
, Archbishop Sava organized the area under his ecclesiastical jurisdiction into nine bishoprics. One of these was the Bishopric of Zeta (the southern half of modern Montenegro, and northern part of modern Albania). The seat of the bishops of Zeta was the
Monastery of Holy Archangel Michael in Prevlaka (near modern
Tivat
Tivat (, ) is a coastal town in southwest Montenegro, located in the Bay of Kotor. , its population was 9,367. Tivat is the centre of Tivat Municipality, which is the smallest municipality by area in Montenegro.
Name
In Serbian and Montenegrin l ...
). The first bishop of Zeta was St. Sava's disciple
Ilarion Ilarion ( bg, Иларион, sr, Иларион, russian: Иларион, uk, Іларіон) is a variant of the Greek given name ''Hilarion'', found in Slavic and Romanian languages. It may refer to:
* Hilarion of Kiev or Ilarion (11th century ...
( 1219).
Upon the proclamation of the
Serbian Patriarchate of Peć
The Serbian Patriarchate of Peć ( sr, Српска патријаршија у Пећи, ''Srpska patrijaršija u Peći'') or just Patriarchate of Peć ( sr, Пећка патријаршија, ''Pećka patrijaršija''), was an autocephaly, a ...
in 1346, the Bishopric of Zeta was among several eparchies elevated to the honorary rank of
metropolitan
Metropolitan may refer to:
* Metropolitan area, a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories
* Metropolitan borough, a form of local government district in England
* Metropolitan county, a typ ...
ate, by the decision of the state-church council, held in
Skopje
Skopje ( , , ; mk, Скопје ; sq, Shkup) is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre.
The territory of Skopje has been inhabited since at least 4000 BC; r ...
, and presided by the
Serbian Emperor
Between 1345 and 1371, the Serbian monarch was self-titled emperor (tsar). The full title was initially Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, later Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks and Bulgarians in Serbian and '' basileus'' and '' autokrator'' of S ...
Stefan Dušan
Stefan Uroš IV Dušan ( sr-Cyrl, Стефан Урош IV Душан, ), known as Dušan the Mighty ( sr, / ; circa 1308 – 20 December 1355), was the King of Serbia from 8 September 1331 and Tsar (or Emperor) and autocrat of the Serbs, Gr ...
.
Metropolitanate of Zeta (1346–1496)
![Cetinje, Court_Church](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Cetinje%2C_Court_Church.jpg)
After the dissolution of the
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire ( sr, / , ) was a medieval Serbian state that emerged from the Kingdom of Serbia. It was established in 1346 by Dušan the Mighty, who significantly expanded the state.
Under Dušan's rule, Serbia was the major power in the ...
(1371), the region of Zeta was ruled by the
House of Balšići, and in 1421 it was integrated into the
Serbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate ( sr, / ) was a medieval Serbian state in the first half of the 15th century. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of medieval Serbia, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire and ...
. During that period, the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
gradually conquered coastal regions of Zeta, including cities of
Kotor
Kotor (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian: ), is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative c ...
,
Budva
Budva ( cnr, Будва, or ) is a Montenegrin town on the Adriatic Sea. It has 19,218 inhabitants, and it is the centre of Budva Municipality. The coastal area around Budva, called the Budva riviera, is the center of Montenegrin tourism, kno ...
, and the
Bar
Bar or BAR may refer to:
Food and drink
* Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages
* Candy bar
* Chocolate bar
Science and technology
* Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment
* Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud
* Bar (u ...
and
Ulcinj
Ulcinj ( cyrl, Улцињ, ; ) is a town on the southern coast of Montenegro and the capital of Ulcinj Municipality. It has an urban population of 10,707 (2011), the majority being Albanians.
As one of the oldest settlements in the Adriatic coast ...
. Metropolitanate of Zeta was directly affected by the Venetian advance. In 1452, the Venetians destroyed the Cathedral Monastery in Prevlaka, in order to facilitate their plans for the gradual conversion of the
Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism.
Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "canonical") ...
Christians from these parts of the coast into the
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
faith. After that, the seat of the Metropolitanate moved several times, transferring between St Mark's Monastery in Budva, the Monastery of
Prečista Krajinska
The Prečista Krajinska ( sr-cyrl, Пречиста Крајинска) is the name for the ruins of a church located in the region of Skadarska Krajina, southern Montenegro. It was the second burial site of Jovan Vladimir, the ruler of Duklja (ca ...
, St Nicholas's Monastery on
Vranjina
Vranjina ( cnr, Врањина) is a settlement, island, and a hill in Lake Skadar, in the Montenegrin municipality of Podgorica. Until the first half of the 18th century, Vranjina like other islands of Skadar lake, was one of the hills in the Ze ...
(
Skadar Lake
Lake Skadar ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Скадарско језеро, Skadarsko jezero, ; sq, Liqeni i Shkodrës, ) also called Lake Scutari, Lake Shkodër and Lake Shkodra lies on the border of Albania and Montenegro, and is the largest lake in Southern ...
), and St Nicholas's Monastery in Obod (
Rijeka Crnojevića
Rijeka Crnojevića (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Ријека Црнојевића, lit. "River of Crnojević") is a town in Montenegro on the eponymous Rijeka Crnojevića river, near the coast of Skadar lake.
History
The Ottomans captured Žabljak ...
). Finally, it was moved to
Cetinje
Cetinje (, ) is a town in Montenegro. It is the former royal capital (''prijestonica'' / приjестоница) of Montenegro and is the location of several national institutions, including the official residence of the president of Montenegro ...
, in the region of
Old Montenegro
Old Montenegro ( sr, Стара Црна Гора, Stara Crna Gora), also known as Montenegro proper ( sr, Права Црна Гора, Prava Crna Gora), or True Montenegro ( sr, Истинска Црна Гора, Istinska Crna Gora), is a ...
, where the
Cetinje Monastery
The Cetinje Monastery ( sr, Цетињски манастир, Cetinjski manastir) is a monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro. It is located in Cetinje and is the seat of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro. A center of historical ...
was built in 1484, by Prince
Ivan Crnojević
Ivan Crnojević ( sr-Cyrl, Иван Црнојевић, italics=no, lit=Ivan the Black) was the lord of Zeta and Serbian leader from 1465 to 1490. Having formed an alliance with the Republic of Venice, he led the Serb resistance against the expandi ...
of Zeta.
![Oktoih01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Oktoih01.jpg)
Starting from the end of the 15th century, mountainous regions of Zeta became known as ''Crna Gora'' ( sr, Црна Гора), meaning the ''Black Mountain'', hence the ''Montenegro''. In 1493, Prince Ivan's son and successor, Prince
Đurađ Crnojević
Đurađ Crnojević ( sr-cyr, Ђурађ Црноjeвић, cu, Гюргь Цьрноевыкь; d. 1514) was the last Serbian medieval Lord of Zeta between 1490 and 1496, from the Crnojevic dynasty. The son of Ivan Crnojević and Goisava Arianiti ...
(1490-1496), opened a
printing house
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses.
Printers can include:
*Newspaper printers, often owned by newspaper publishers
*Magazine printers, usually independe ...
in Cetinje, run by
Hieromonk Makarije
Hieromonk Makarije ( sr, Јеромонах Макарије; 1494–d. after 1528) is the founder of Serbian and Romanian printing, having printed the first book in Serbian and the first book in the territory of Walachia (part of modern-day Rom ...
, and produced the first ever book to be printed among the
South Slavs
South Slavs are Slavic peoples who speak South Slavic languages and inhabit a contiguous region of Southeast Europe comprising the eastern Alps and the Balkan Peninsula. Geographically separated from the West Slavs and East Slavs by Austria, Hu ...
. It was the "
Cetinje Octoechos
The ''Cetinje Octoechos'' ( sr, Цетињски октоих or ''Cetinjski oktoih'') is an Orthodox liturgical book printed in 1494 in Cetinje, the capital of the Principality of Zeta (present-day Montenegro). It is the first incunabulum writte ...
", a Serb-Slavonic translation from the original
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
of a service book that is still used to this day in the daily cycle of services in the Orthodox Church. In 1496, entire Zeta, including Montenegro, fell to the
Turks
Turk or Turks may refer to:
Communities and ethnic groups
* Turkic peoples, a collection of ethnic groups who speak Turkic languages
* Turkish people, or the Turks, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
* Turkish citizen, a citizen of the Republic o ...
, but the Metropolitanate survived.
Eparchy of Cetinje in 16th and 17th century
After 1496, the ''Eparchy of Cetinje'' (), as well as other eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church, continued to exist under the new Ottoman rule. It had diocesan jurisdiction over
Old Zeta
The early written records of the history of Montenegro begin with Illyria and its various kingdoms until the Roman Republic incorporated the region into the province of Illyricum (later Dalmatia and Praevalitana) after the Illyro-Roman Wars.
...
, known now as
Old Montenegro
Old Montenegro ( sr, Стара Црна Гора, Stara Crna Gora), also known as Montenegro proper ( sr, Права Црна Гора, Prava Crna Gora), or True Montenegro ( sr, Истинска Црна Гора, Istinska Crna Gora), is a ...
, keeping its seat in Cetinje. It had spiritual influence over the territory between
Bjelopavlići
Bjelopavlići ( cyrl, Бјелопавлићи; sq, Palabardhi), ) is a historical tribe (pleme) of Albanian origin and a valley in the Brda region of Montenegro, around the city of Danilovgrad.
Geography
The ''Bjelopavlići'' valley (also kno ...
and
Podgorica
Podgorica (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Подгорица, ; Literal translation, lit. 'under the hill') is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Montenegro, largest city of Montenegro. The city was formerly known as Titograd ...
to the
Bojana River
The Bojana ( cnr, Бојана), also known as the Buna ( sq, Bunë), is a river in Albania and Montenegro which flows into the Adriatic Sea. An outflow of Lake Skadar, measured from the source of the lake's longest tributary, the Morača, t ...
. The eparchy also included some parts of
Herzegovina
Herzegovina ( or ; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Hercegovina, separator=" / ", Херцеговина, ) is the southern and smaller of two main geographical region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being Bosnia. It has never had strictly defined geogra ...
, from Grahovo to Čevo. From 1557 to 1766, eparchy was under constant jurisdiction of the
Serbian Patriarchate of Peć
The Serbian Patriarchate of Peć ( sr, Српска патријаршија у Пећи, ''Srpska patrijaršija u Peći'') or just Patriarchate of Peć ( sr, Пећка патријаршија, ''Pećka patrijaršija''), was an autocephaly, a ...
.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the bishops and the local Christian leaders led armed resistance against the Ottomans on several occasions, with some degree of success. Though the Ottomans nominally ruled the
Sanjak of Montenegro
The Sanjak of Montenegro ( Montenegrin and sr-cyr, Санџак Црне Горе/''Sandžak Crne Gore''; tr, Karadağ Sancağı, literally Sanjak of the Black Mountain) was a province (sanjak) of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkan Peninsula rough ...
, the Montenegrin mountains were never completely conquered. The bishops and local leaders often allied themselves with the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
. At the beginning of the 17th century, Montenegrins fought and won two important battles at Lješkopolje (1603 and 1613), under the leadership and command of metropolitan
Rufim Njeguš
Rufim Njeguš ( sr-Cyrl, Руфим Његуш; 1594–1631) was the Metropolitan of Cetinje between 1594 and 1636. He succeeded the Metropolitan duo of Nikanor and Stevan (s. 1591–93). Rufim Njeguš and Metropolitan Visarion of Trebinje (s. ...
. This was the first time that the metropolitan had led and defeated the Ottomans.
Metropolitanate of Cetinje under the Petrović-Njegoš
![Petar_II_Petrovic-2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Petar_II_Petrovic-2.JPG)
Entire territory of the Metropolitanate was severely affected during the
Morean War
The Morean War ( it, Guerra di Morea), also known as the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War, was fought between 1684–1699 as part of the wider conflict known as the "Great Turkish War", between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire. Military ...
, and in 1692 the old Cetinje Monastery was devastated. In 1697, new metropolitan
Danilo Petrović-Njegoš was elected, as first among several hierarchs from the
Petrović-Njegoš family, who would hold the same office in succession up to 1851. Metropolitan Danilo (1697-1735) was greatly respected, not only as a spiritual leader, but also as leader of the people. He combined in his hands both spiritual and secular power, thus establishing a form of "
hierocracy". He became the first
Prince-Bishop of the
Old Montenegro
Old Montenegro ( sr, Стара Црна Гора, Stara Crna Gora), also known as Montenegro proper ( sr, Права Црна Гора, Prava Crna Gora), or True Montenegro ( sr, Истинска Црна Гора, Istinska Crna Gora), is a ...
, and continued to oppose the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
, while maintaining traditional ties with the
Venetian Republic
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
. He also established direct ties with the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
, seeking and receiving financial aid and political protection.
His successors continued the same policy. Metropolitans
Sava II Petrović-Njegoš (1735–1750, 1766-1781) and
Vasilije Petrović-Njegoš Vasilije () is a South Slavic languages, South Slavic masculine given name, a variant of Greek language, Greek given name ''Vassilios'' ("Basil (name), Basil"). It may refer to:
*Vasilije, Serbian Patriarch (), Serbian cleric born Vasilije Jovanovi ...
(1750-1766) had to balance between Ottomans, Venetians, and Russians. During that time, metropolitans of Cetinje continued to be ordained by the
Serbian Patriarchs of Peć (until 1766), and later by the
Serbian Metropolitans of Karlovci in
Habsburg monarchy
The Habsburg monarchy (german: Habsburgermonarchie, ), also known as the Danubian monarchy (german: Donaumonarchie, ), or Habsburg Empire (german: Habsburgerreich, ), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities ...
(until 1830). After brief tenure of
Arsenije Plamenac
Arsenije Plamenac ( sr-cyr, Арсеније Пламенац; 1766 – 1784) was the Metropolitan of Cetinje between 1781 and 1784, earlier the co-adjutor to Metropolitan Sava Petrović during the reign of Šćepan Mali (1767–73). Plamenac (Pl ...
(1781–1784), several new policies were introduced by Metropolitan
Petar I Petrović-Njegoš
Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (Serbian Cyrillic: Петар I Петровић Његош; 1748 – 31 October 1830) was the ruler of the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro as the Metropolitan (''vladika'') of Cetinje, and Exarch (legate) of the Serbi ...
(1784–1830), who initiated the unification process between the
Old Montenegro
Old Montenegro ( sr, Стара Црна Гора, Stara Crna Gora), also known as Montenegro proper ( sr, Права Црна Гора, Prava Crna Gora), or True Montenegro ( sr, Истинска Црна Гора, Istinska Crna Gora), is a ...
and the region of
Brda. The same process was completed by his successor
Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
Petar II Petrović-Njegoš ( sr-cyrl, Петар II Петровић-Његош, ; – ), commonly referred to simply as Njegoš (), was a Prince-Bishop (''vladika'') of Montenegro, poet and philosopher whose works are widely considered ...
(1830–1851), who received consecration from the
Russian Holy Synod in 1833, establishing a practice that lasted until 1885. As a reformer of state administration, Petar II made preparations for separation of spiritual and secular power, and upon his death such separation was implemented. His successors became: Prince
Danilo Petrović-Njegoš as a secular ruler, and metropolitan
Nikanor Ivanović
Nikanor Ivanović ( sr-Cyrl, Никанор Ивановић; 1825 – 1894) was Bishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Highlands from 1858 to 1860.
Biography
Nikanor Ivanović was born in Drniš, where his family came from Njeg ...
as a spiritual leader, new metropolitan of Montenegro.
A principal eparchy in Montenegro (1852–1918)
The Eparchy was reorganized during the rule of Prince
Danilo I (1852-1860), first secular ruler of the newly proclaimed
Principality of Montenegro
The Principality of Montenegro ( sr, Књажевина Црна Горa, Knjaževina Crna Gora) was a principality in Southeastern Europe that existed from 13 March 1852 to 28 August 1910. It was then proclaimed a kingdom by Nikola I, who then ...
. Offices of ruling prince and metropolitan were separated, and diocesan administration was modernized. First metropolitan to be elected just as a church leader was
Nikanor Ivanović
Nikanor Ivanović ( sr-Cyrl, Никанор Ивановић; 1825 – 1894) was Bishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Highlands from 1858 to 1860.
Biography
Nikanor Ivanović was born in Drniš, where his family came from Njeg ...
in 1858. He was deposed and exiled in 1860 by new prince
Nikola
Nikola () is a given name which, like Nicholas, is a version of the Greek ''Nikolaos'' (Νικόλαος). It is common as a masculine given name in the South Slavic countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montene ...
(1860-1918), who established a firm state control over the church administration. During his long reign, metropolitans
Ilarion Roganović
Ilarion Roganović ( sr-Cyrl, Иларион Рогановић; 12 July 1828 – 15 January 1882) was the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Highlands from 1860 to 1882. Earlier, he was also the archimandrite of the Ždrebaonik, Ostrog and Cet ...
(since 1863), and
Visarion Ljubiša
Visarion Ljubiša ( sr, Висарион Љубиша; 28 February 1823 – 14 April 1884) was the Serbian Orthodox metropolitan bishop of Montenegro from 1882 to 1884.
Early life and schooling
Stefan Ljubiša was born in the village of Sveti St ...
(since 1882) undertook some important reforms of church administration. In 1878, the Principality of Montenegro was recognized as an independent state, and it was also enlarged, by annexing
Old Herzegovina
Old Herzegovina ( sr, Стара Херцеговина, Stara Hercegovina) is a historical region, covering the eastern parts of historical Herzegovina, outside the scope of modern Herzegovina. A large section of ''Old Herzegovina'' belongs to ...
and some other regions. Until that time, Eastern Orthodox Christians of the
Old Herzegovina
Old Herzegovina ( sr, Стара Херцеговина, Stara Hercegovina) is a historical region, covering the eastern parts of historical Herzegovina, outside the scope of modern Herzegovina. A large section of ''Old Herzegovina'' belongs to ...
belonged to the
Metropolitanate of Herzegovina
The Eparchy of Zahumlje, Herzegovina and the Littoral ( sr, Епархија захумско-херцеговачка и приморска, Eparhija zahumsko-hercegovačka i primorska) is an eparchy (diocese) of the Serbian Orthodox Church with ...
, centered in
Mostar
Mostar (, ; sr-Cyrl, Мостар, ) is a city and the administrative center of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina.
Mostar is sit ...
, still under the Ottoman rule. Such diocesan affiliation was no longer maintainable, and for the newly annexed regions a new bishopric was created, the Eparchy of
Zahumlje
Zachlumia or Zachumlia ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Zahumlje, Захумље, ), also Hum, was a medieval principality located in the modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia (today parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia ...
and
Raška, with seat in
Nikšić
Nikšić ( cnr, Никшић, italic=no, sr-cyrl, Никшић, italic=no; ), is the second largest city in Montenegro, with a total population of 56,970 located in the west of the country, in the centre of the spacious Nikšić field at the foot ...
. Since that time, there were two eparchies in Montenegro: the old Metropolitanate, still centered in Cetinje, and the newly created Eparchy of Zahumlje and Raška, centered in Nikšić. No ecclesiastical province with joint church bodies was created until 1904, under the metropolitan
Mitrofan Ban
Mitrofan Ban (Serbian Cyrillic: Митрофан Бан; 15 May 1841 – 30 September 1920) was Bishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro, and exarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He was also Archimandrite of the Cetinje monastery. He presid ...
(1884-1920), when a ''Holy Synod'' was established, formally consisting of two bishops, but because of the long vacancy in Nikšić, it did not start to function until 1908.
![Митрополит Митрофан (Бан)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/%D0%9C%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82_%D0%9C%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BD_%28%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%BD%29.JPG)
During the long reign of Prince and (from 1910) King
Nikola I Petrović
Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš ( sr-cyr, Никола I Петровић-Његош; – 1 March 1921) was the last monarch of Montenegro from 1860 to 1918, reigning as prince from 1860 to 1910 and as the country's first and only king from 1910 to 19 ...
(1860-1918), who was a Serbian patriot, rising political aspirations of his government included not only the securing of the Serbian throne for his dynasty, but also the renewal of the old
Serbian Patriarchate of Peć
The Serbian Patriarchate of Peć ( sr, Српска патријаршија у Пећи, ''Srpska patrijaršija u Peći'') or just Patriarchate of Peć ( sr, Пећка патријаршија, ''Pećka patrijaršija''), was an autocephaly, a ...
. On the occasion of the elevation of Montenegro to the rank of Kingdom, in 1910, the prime minister of Montenegro, Lazar Tomanović, stated: ''The Metropolitanate of Cetinje is the only
Saint Sava
Saint Sava ( sr, Свети Сава, Sveti Sava, ; Old Church Slavonic: ; gr, Άγιος Σάββας; 1169 or 1174 – 14 January 1236), known as the Enlightener, was a Serbian prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalou ...
's episcopal seat which has been preserved without interruption to this day, and as such it represents the lawful throne and a descendant of the
Patriarchate of Peć Patriarchate of Peć may refer to:
* Patriarchate of Peć (monastery), Eastern Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church, near the city of Peć
* Serbian Patriarchate of Peć, medieval Serbian Patriarchate, with seat in Patriarc ...
''. Such aspirations were strengthened after the liberation of
Peć
Peja (Definiteness, Indefinite Albanian language, Albanian Albanian morphology#Nouns (declension), form: ''Pejë'' ) or Peć ( sr-Cyrl, Пећ ) is the fourth largest List of cities and towns in Kosovo, city of Kosovo and seat of Peja Municipali ...
during the successful enlargement of state territory of Montenegro in 1912, when another eparchy was created for several annexed territories that until then belonged to the
Eparchy of Raška and Prizren
Eparchy of Raška and Prizren, al, Eparkia Rashkë - Prizren. Also known as the Eparchy of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija ( sr, / ; sq, Eparkia Rashkë - Prizren). is one of the oldest eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church, featuring t ...
. Its regions annexed to Montenegro were reorganized as the new Eparchy of
Peć
Peja (Definiteness, Indefinite Albanian language, Albanian Albanian morphology#Nouns (declension), form: ''Pejë'' ) or Peć ( sr-Cyrl, Пећ ) is the fourth largest List of cities and towns in Kosovo, city of Kosovo and seat of Peja Municipali ...
(1913). From that time, the ''Holy Synod'' started to function in full capacity, with three bishops.
In Yugoslavia (1918–2006)
Following the end of the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
(1914–1918), the Kingdom of Montenegro was united with the
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia ( sr-cyr, Краљевина Србија, Kraljevina Srbija) was a country located in the Balkans which was created when the ruler of the Principality of Serbia, Milan I, was proclaimed king in 1882. Since 1817, the Princi ...
on 26 (13
o.s.) November 1918, by the proclamation of the newly elected
Podgorica Assembly
The Great National Assembly of the Serb People in Montenegro ( sr, Велика народна скупштина српског народа у Црној Гори, Velika narodna skupština srpskog naroda u Crnoj Gori), commonly known as the Po ...
, and soon after that, on 1 December of the same year, the
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Kingdom commonly refers to:
* A monarchy ruled by a king or queen
* Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy
Kingdom may also refer to:
Arts and media Television
* ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...
was created, known after 1929 as the ''Kingdom of Yugoslavia''. The political and national unification was carried out under the auspices of the
Karađorđević dynasty, and thus a long-standing dynastic rivalry between the two royal families, the Petrović–Njegoš dynasty of Montenegro and the Karađorđević dynasty of Serbia, was finally resolved, without mutual agreement.
Political unification was followed by the unification of all Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions within the borders of the new state. Initial decision to include dioceses in Montenegro into the process of ecclesiastical unification was reached on 29 (16
o.s.) December 1918 by the ''Holy Synod'', consisted of all three hierarchs in Montenegro: Mitrofan Ban of Cetinje, Kirilo Mitrović of Nikšić, and Gavrilo Dožić of Peć. On that day, the ''Holy Synod'' met in Cetinje and unanimously accepted the following proposal: "The independent Serbian Orthodox Holy Church in Montenegro shall be united with the autocephalous Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Serbia". Soon after that, further steps towards ecclesiastical unification were made. From 24 to 28 May 1919, a conference of all Eastern Orthodox bishops within the borders of the unified state was held in
Belgrade
Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
, and it was presided by metropolitan Mitrofan Ban of Montenegro, who was also elected president of the newly created ''Central Synod''. Under his leadership, the ''Central Synod'' prepared the final proclamation of Church unification on 12 September 1920. The creation of the unified
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr-Cyrl, Српска православна црква, Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodox Christian denomination, Christian churches.
The majori ...
was also confirmed by King
Alexander I Alexander I may refer to:
* Alexander I of Macedon, king of Macedon 495–454 BC
* Alexander I of Epirus (370–331 BC), king of Epirus
* Pope Alexander I (died 115), early bishop of Rome
* Pope Alexander I of Alexandria (died 320s), patriarch of ...
.
Old metropolitan Mitrofan Ban was succeeded in the autumn of 1920 by
Gavrilo Dožić, who became new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral. In 1931, under the provisions of the newly adopted Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the ''Eparchy of Zahumlje and Raška'' with its seat in
Nikšić
Nikšić ( cnr, Никшић, italic=no, sr-cyrl, Никшић, italic=no; ), is the second largest city in Montenegro, with a total population of 56,970 located in the west of the country, in the centre of the spacious Nikšić field at the foot ...
was abolished, and its territory was added to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral. In the same time, the Eparchy of
Kotor
Kotor (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian: ), is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative c ...
and
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik (), historically known as Ragusa (; see notes on naming), is a city on the Adriatic Sea in the region of Dalmatia, in the southeastern semi-exclave of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterran ...
was also abolished, and divided, its
Bay of Kotor region being added to the Metropolitanate. In 1938, Metropolitan Gavrilo Dožić of Montenegro was elected
Serbian Patriarch
This article lists the heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church, since the establishment of the church as an autocephalous archbishopric in 1219 to today's patriarchate. The list includes all the archbishops and patriarchs that led the Serbian Ortho ...
, and
Joanikije Lipovac
Metropolitan Joanikije Lipovac (16 February 1890 – 18 June 1945) was the Metropolitan of the Diocese of Montenegro and the Littoral. He was executed by the Communist-led Yugoslav Partisans for his collaboration with occupying Axis powers duri ...
was elected new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, in 1940.
![04 04 2008 Mitropolit Amfilohije B&W -potpisana-s](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/04_04_2008_Mitropolit_Amfilohije_B%26W_-potpisana-s.JPG)
During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Yugoslavia was occupied by
Axis powers
The Axis powers, ; it, Potenze dell'Asse ; ja, 枢軸国 ''Sūjikukoku'', group=nb originally called the Rome–Berlin Axis, was a military coalition that initiated World War II and fought against the Allies. Its principal members were ...
in 1941, and the territory of Montenegro was organized as the
Italian governorate of Montenegro
The Italian governorate of Montenegro ( it, Governatorato del Montenegro) existed from October 1941 to September 1943 as an occupied territory under military government of Fascist Italy during World War II. Although the Italians had intended t ...
(1941–1943), followed by the
German occupation of Montenegro (1943–1944). The Metropolitanate was affected severely during the occupation, and more than hundred priests and other clergymen from the territory of Montenegro lost their lives during the war. During that time, Montenegrin fascist
Sekula Drljević
Sekula Drljević (; 7 September 1884 – 10 November 1945) was a Montenegrin nationalist, Yugoslav jurist, politician, orator, and theoretician. During World War II, he was a collaborator with the Ustaše in the German puppet state of th ...
tried to create an independent ''Kingdom of Montenegro'', as a satellite state of
Fascist Italy
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology and movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the ...
and
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
, but that project failed because of the lack of support among people. His attempt was challenged by the
13 July Uprising
The Uprising in Montenegro (), commonly known as the 13 July Uprising () was an uprising against Italian occupation forces in Montenegro ( Axis occupied Yugoslavia). Initiated by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia on 13 July 1941, it was suppresse ...
in 1941, which had support from both sides of the political spectrum. Metropolitan
Joanikije Lipovac
Metropolitan Joanikije Lipovac (16 February 1890 – 18 June 1945) was the Metropolitan of the Diocese of Montenegro and the Littoral. He was executed by the Communist-led Yugoslav Partisans for his collaboration with occupying Axis powers duri ...
co-operated closely with several right-wing movements, and also tried to mediate with local Italian and German officials in occupied Montenegro, thus provoking animosity of the left-wing
Yugoslav Partisans
The Yugoslav Partisans,Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian, Slovene: , or the National Liberation Army, sh-Latn-Cyrl, Narodnooslobodilačka vojska (NOV), Народноослободилачка војска (НОВ); mk, Народноослобод ...
. In 1944, when
Yugoslav Communists
Yugoslav or Yugoslavian may refer to:
* Yugoslavia, or any of the three historic states carrying that name:
** Kingdom of Yugoslavia, a European monarchy which existed 1918–1945 (officially called "Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes" 1918–1 ...
took the power, he had to flee, but was arrested and executed without trial in 1945. In 2001, he was sanctified as a
hieromartyr
In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, a hieromartyr is a martyr (one who dies for his beliefs) who was a bishop or priest. Analogously, a monk who is a priest is known as a hieromonk.
See also
*New Martyr
The title of New Martyr or Neomartyr ( el ...
by the
Serbian Orthodox church
The Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr-Cyrl, Српска православна црква, Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodox Christian denomination, Christian churches.
The majori ...
.
Under the
Yugoslav Communist
The League of Communists of Yugoslavia, mk, Сојуз на комунистите на Југославија, Sojuz na komunistite na Jugoslavija known until 1952 as the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, sl, Komunistična partija Jugoslavije mk ...
rule (1944–1989), the Metropolitanate suffered constant repression at the hands of the new regime. Persecution was particularly severe during the first years of Communist rule (1944–1948) The new regime exerted direct pressure on the clergy in order to crush all forms of anti-communist opposition. In the same tame, many church properties were confiscated, some under the provisions of new laws, while other were taken illegally and forcefully. Several churches and even some minor monasteries were closed, and their buildings turned into police stations and warehouses. In the same time, new
Montenegrin nation was proclaimed, as distinctive and separate from
Serbian nation. In 1954, Metropolitan ''Arsenije Bradvarević'' (1947–1960) was arrested, tried and sentenced as an enemy of the communist regime. He was imprisoned from 1954 to 1958, and then kept under house arrest until 1960. He was succeeded by Metropolitan ''Danilo Dajković'' (1961–1990), whose activities were also monitored closely by state authorities. In 1970–1972, the communist regime destroyed the Lovćen Church, dedicated to
Saint Petar of Cetinje, and desecrated the tomb of metropolitan
Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
Petar II Petrović-Njegoš ( sr-cyrl, Петар II Петровић-Његош, ; – ), commonly referred to simply as Njegoš (), was a Prince-Bishop (''vladika'') of Montenegro, poet and philosopher whose works are widely considered ...
, who was buried there, replacing the church with a secular mausoleum.
In 1990,
Amfilohije Radović
Amfilohije ( sr-Cyrl, Амфилохије; , English: Amphilochius; born Risto Radović, 7 January 193830 October 2020) was a bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, theologian, university professor, author and translator. He was first the bishop ...
was elected new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral. By that time, the communist regime in Yugoslavia was collapsing, and first democratic
elections in Montenegro
Montenegro holds national election for the Parliament and the office of President. Montenegro has a multi-party system with numerous parties. The Parliament has 81 members elected by a system of proportional representation using D'Hondt method for ...
were held in 1990. In 1992, the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Serbia and Montenegro ( sr, Cрбија и Црна Гора, translit=Srbija i Crna Gora) was a country in Southeast Europe located in the Balkans that existed from 1992 to 2006, following the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yu ...
was created, consisting of Montenegro and Serbia. Under the
Constitution of Montenegro (1992), freedom of religion was restored. Political changes were followed by a period of church revival. The number of priests, monks and nuns, as well as the number of the faithful, increased and many monasteries and parish churches were rebuilt and reopened. For example, from only 10 active monasteries with about 20 monks and nuns in 1991, Montenegro now has 30 active monasteries with more than 160 monks and nuns. The number of parish priests also increased from 20 in 1991 to more than 60 today. In 2001, diocesan administration in the region was reorganized: some northern and western regions were detached from the Metropolitanate, and on that territory new
Eparchy of Budimlja and Nikšić
Eparchy of Budimlja and Nikšić or Budimlja–Nikšić ( sr, Епархија будимљанско-никшићка / Eparhija budimljansko-nikšićka) is an eparchy (diocese) of the Serbian Orthodox Church, covering eastern, central, and wester ...
was created.
Recent history of the Eparchy (2006–2020)
![Cathedral of the Resurrection, Podgorica (30255687680)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Cathedral_of_the_Resurrection%2C_Podgorica_%2830255687680%29.jpg)
In the spring of 2006, the
independence referendum
An independence referendum is a type of referendum in which the residents of a territory decide whether the territory should become an Independence, independent sovereign state. An independence referendum that results in a vote for independence ...
was held, and Montenegro became a sovereign state. In the same time, the
Bishops' Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church
The Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, also known in English as the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr, Свети архијерејски сабор Српске православне цркве, Svet ...
decided to form a regional Bishops' Council for Montenegro, consisted of bishops representing dioceses on the territory of Montenegro. By the same decision, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral was appointed president of the regional Bishops' Council. In the autumn of 2007, due to illness and advanced age of Serbian Patriarch
Pavle Stojčević
Pavle ( sr-cyr, Павле, ''Paul''; 11 September 1914 – 15 November 2009) was the patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church from 1990 to his death. His full title was ''His Holiness the Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and ...
, Metropolitan Amflohije Radović of Montenegro was appointed administrator of the Patriarchal Throne, by the
Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church
The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr, Свети архијерејски синод Српске православне цркве, Sveti arhijerejski sinod Srpske pravoslavne crkve) serves by Church constitution as the executive bod ...
. Old Patriarch Pavle died in 2009, and Metropolitan Amfilohije continued to administer the Patriarchal Throne until the election of new Serbian Patriarch
Irinej Gavrilović in 2010.
Since Montenegro became a sovereign country in 2006, after a narrow
independence referendum
An independence referendum is a type of referendum in which the residents of a territory decide whether the territory should become an Independence, independent sovereign state. An independence referendum that results in a vote for independence ...
, relations between state authorities and the Metropolitanate became increasingly complex. As a strong supporter of
Serbian-Montenegrin unionism
Serbia and Montenegro ( sr, Cрбија и Црна Гора, translit=Srbija i Crna Gora) was a country in Southeast Europe located in the Balkans that existed from 1992 to 2006, following the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yu ...
, Metropolitan Amfilohije was seen as an opponent to newly proclaimed Montenegrin independence, and thus a new political dimension to several ecclesiastical disputes was added. One of those disputes was related to claims and activities of a separate
Montenegrin Orthodox Church
, image =
, imagewidth =
, type = Eastern Christian
, main_classification = Independent Eastern Orthodox
, scripture=Septuagint, New Testament, theology = Orthodox theology
, polity ...
, that was created in 1993 by a group of Montenegrin nationalists, but never recognized as canonical. During the following years, various disputes arose, mainly over the question of historical and canonical legitimacy and effective control over some church objects and properties.
In 2019, relations with the state further deteriorated as authorities adopted a new legislation on religious organisations, which was interpreted by the Serbian Orthodox Church as aimed at potential confiscation of church properties. Prolonged
mass public manifestations ensued in support for the Metropolitanate that lasted until the
parliamentary election
A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...
in August 2020 and the
Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro ( cnr, Демократска партија социјалиста Црне Горе, Demokratska partija socijalista Crne Gore, DPS) is a populist political party in Montenegro. A former long-time ...
(DPS) losing power.
Since 2020
On 5 September 2021, the new head of the diocese,
Joanikije Mićović
Joanikije II ( sr-cyrl, Јоаникије, secular name Jovan Mićović, sr-cyrl, Јован Мићовић; born 20 April 1959) is a Serbian Orthodox metropolitan bishop serving as the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral and the pri ...
, who had been the administrator of the Metropolitanate from 30 October 2020, was enthroned in the Cetinje Monastery by the Serbian Patriarch
Porfirije Perić
Porfirije ( sr-Cyrl, Порфирије, en, Porphyrius; born Prvoslav Perić; born 22 July 1961) is the current and 46th patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He was the metropolitan bishop of Zagreb and Ljubljana, from 2014 to 2021. Befo ...
. The Serbian Orthodox Church's intention to hold the ceremony at a historic monastery in the town of
Cetinje
Cetinje (, ) is a town in Montenegro. It is the former royal capital (''prijestonica'' / приjестоница) of Montenegro and is the location of several national institutions, including the official residence of the president of Montenegro ...
, the country′s former capital, further exacerbated political and ethnic tensions in Montenegro and provoked
violent protests in Cetinje.
List of metropolitans (Vladikas)
#
Ilarion I (1220–1242)
# German I (1242–1250)
# Neofit (1250–1270)
#
Jevstatije (1270–1279)
# Jovan (1279–1286)
# German II (1286–1292)
# Mihailo I (1293–1305)
# Andrija (1305–1319)
# Mihailo II (1319)
# David I (1391—1396)
# Arsenije I (1396—1417)
# David II (1417—1435)
# Jeftimije (1434—1446)
# Teodosije (after 1446)
# Josif (1453)
# Visarion I (1482–1485)
# Pahomije I (1491–1493)
#
Vavila
Vavila ( sr-Cyrl, Вавила, before 1485 – 1520) was the Metropolitan of Zeta from c. 1494 to 1504.
Biography
The first mention of Vavila dates to January 4, 1485, in the charter issued by Ivan Crnojević (r. 1465–1490); the Old Cetinje ...
(1493–1495)
# Roman (1496)
# German III (1496–1520)
# Pavle (1520–1530)
# Vasilije I (1530–1532)
# Romil I (1532–1540)
# Nikodim (1540)
# Ruvim I (1540–1550)
# Makarije (1550–1558)
# Dionisije (1558)
# Romil II (1558–1561)
# Ruvim II (1551–1569)
# Pahomije II (1569–1579)
# Gerasim (1575–1582)
# Venijamin (1582–1591)
# Nikanor I and Stevan (1591–1593)
#
Ruvim III (1593–1636)
#
Mardarije (1637–1659)
#
Rufim IV (1673–1685)
# Vasilije II (1685)
# Visarion II (1685–1692)
#
Sava I (1694–1697)
#
Danilo I (1697–1735)
#
Sava II
Saint Sava II ( sr, Свети Сава II / ''Sveti Sava II''; 1201–1271) was the third archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, serving from 1263 until his death in 1271. He was the middle son of King Stefan the First-Crowned of the Nemanji ...
(1735–1781)
# Sava II and
Vasilije III (1750–1766)
#
Arsenije II (1781–1784)
#
Petar I (1784–1830)
#
Petar II (1830–1851)
#
Danilo II (1851–1852)
#
Nikanor II (1858–1860)
#
Ilarion II (1860–1882)
#
Visarion III (1882–1884)
#
Mitrofan (1884–1920)
#
Gavrilo
Gavrilo ( sr-cyr, Гаврило) is a predominantly Serbian male given name, also found scarcely in other Slavic languages, being a variant of the biblical name ''Gabriel''.
*Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo I, Serbian Patriarch (1648-1655)
* Serbian P ...
(1920–1938)
#
Joanikije I
Joanikije I ( sr, Јоаникије I) was the fifth Archbishop of Serbs, serving from 1272 to 1276. He succeeded Danilo I and was succeeded by Jevstatije I.
He was a disciple of Archbishop Sava II when Sava II was still a bishop. Together th ...
(1938–1945)
# Arsenije III (1947–1961)
#
Danilo III (1961–1990)
#
Amfilohije
Amfilohije ( sr-Cyrl, Амфилохије; , English: Amphilochius; born Risto Radović, 7 January 193830 October 2020) was a bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, theologian, university professor, author and translator. He was first the bisho ...
(1990–2020)
#
Joanikije II Joanikije ( sr-cyr, Јоаникије) is the Serbian variant of Greek name '' Ioannikios''. It may refer to:
*Joanikije I, Serbian Archbishop (1272–76)
*Joanikije II, Serbian Archbishop (1338–46) and first Serbian Patriarch (1346–54)
* Joan ...
(2020–present)
Media publications
''Svetigora'' (Serbian: Светигора, English: the Holy Mountain) is a periodical journal of the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, founded in 1992 by Metropolitan
Amfilohije Radović
Amfilohije ( sr-Cyrl, Амфилохије; , English: Amphilochius; born Risto Radović, 7 January 193830 October 2020) was a bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, theologian, university professor, author and translator. He was first the bishop ...
, and its currently published and edited by "Publishing and Information Institution of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral". Contains mostly the church teachings, poetry, lectures, spiritual lessons, reportages, news and chronicles from the Metropolitanate, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the all other Orthodox churches. During 1998, Metropolitan Amfilohije also started nationwide radio station ''Svetigora''.
Monasteries
![Monasterio de Ostrog, Montenegro, 2014-04-14, DD 11](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Monasterio_de_Ostrog%2C_Montenegro%2C_2014-04-14%2C_DD_11.JPG)
The Metropolitanate has the following monasteries:
Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral: Monasteries
/ref>
See also
* List of Metropolitans of Montenegro
* Eastern Orthodoxy in Montenegro
Eastern Orthodoxy in Montenegro refers to adherents, religious communities, institutions and organizations of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Montenegro. It is the largest Christian denomination in the country. According to the latest census of ...
* Christianity in Montenegro
Religion in Montenegro refers to adherents, communities, institutions and organizations of various religions in Montenegro. While Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religious denomination in Montenegro, there are also sizable numbers ...
* Serbs of Montenegro
Serbs of Montenegro ( sr, / ) or Montenegrin Serbs ( sr, / ),, meaning "Montenegrin Serbs", and meaning "Serbs Montenegrins". Specifically, Their regional autonym is simply , literal meaning "Montenegrins",Charles Seignobos, Political Histo ...
* Eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church
This is the list of eparchies (dioceses) of the Serbian Orthodox Church, based on the Article No. 14 of the Constitution of Serbian Orthodox Church and subsequent decisions of the Holy assembly of SOC (seeOfficial text of the Constitution ...
* Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Podgorica)
The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ ( sr, Саборни Храм Христовог Васкрсења, Saborni Hram Hristovog Vaskrsenja) in Podgorica, Montenegro,
is a cathedral of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral (MC ...
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External links
Official Pages of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral
Venice Commission (2015): Draft Joint Interim Opinion on the Draft Law on Freedom of Religion of Montenegro
Venice Commission (2019): Montenegro: Opinion on the Draft Law on Freedom of Religion or Beliefs and Legal Status of Religious Communities
Council of Europe (2019): Montenegro: Provisions on religious property rights include positive changes to out-dated legislation, but need more clarity, says Venice Commission
Freedom of Religion or Belief in Montenegro: Conclusions (2019)
{{Serbian Orthodox subdivisions
1219 establishments in Europe
Cetinje
Religious sees of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro