Ilija Janjić (born 20 September 1944) is a Catholic prelate who served as the Diocesan Bishop of

Kotor Kotor (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian language, Italian: ), is a town in Coastal Montenegro, Coastal region of Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has ...

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

since 11 March 1996 until his retirement on 28 September 2019.

Life

Bishop Janjić was born into a

Bosnian Croat The Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina (), often referred to as Bosnian Croats () or Herzegovinian Croats (), are native to Bosnia and Herzegovina and constitute the third most populous ethnic group, after Bosniaks and Serbs. They are also one of ...

Roman Catholic family of Ante and Jela in

Bosanska Posavina Posavina ( sr-cyr, Посавина) is a geographical region that stretches along the Sava river, encompassing only the inner areas of the Sava river basin, that are adjacent or near to the Sava river itself, namely catch region spanning from ...

as their first child. After graduation from schools in his native Vidovice and

Orašje Orašje ( sr-cyrl, Орашје) is a city and the capital of Posavina Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the banks of river ...

, he was admitted to the minor seminary in 1959, consequently joined the Major Theological Seminary in

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enter ...

in 1963, and was ordained as

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

on June 29, 1969 for the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotor 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 Roman civilization * Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter ...

, after completed his philosophical and theological studies. After his ordination Fr. Janjić served as parish administrator in Muo,

Škaljari Škaljari is a small town in the municipality of Kotor, Montenegro. It is located just south of Kotor Kotor (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian language, Italian: ), is a town in Coastal Monte ...

, Gornji Stoliv,

Budva Budva (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Будва, or ) is a town in the Coastal Montenegro, Coastal region of Montenegro. It had 27,445 inhabitants as of 2023, and is the centre of Budva Municipality. The coastal area around Budva, called the Budv ...

Prčanj Prčanj ( Montenegrin: Прчањ, ) is a small town along the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro. According to the 2011 census, the town has a population of 1128 people. It is located 5 kilometres west of Kotor, opposite to Dobrota and between the sett ...

and

Herceg Novi Herceg Novi (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Херцег Нови, ) is a town in Coastal Montenegro, Coastal region of Montenegro located at the Western entrance to the Bay of Kotor and at the foot of Mount Orjen. It is the administrative center of ...

. In the meantime, during 1975–1980, he also was a spiritual director in his alma mater – Major Theological Seminary in

. Last years before his nomination to the bishophood he was a

Canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the material accepted as officially written by an author or an ascribed author * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western canon, th ...

of the

Cathedral of Saint Tryphon The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=/, Katedrala Svetog Tripuna, Катедрала Светог Трипуна) in Kotor, Montenegro, is one of two Roman Catholic cathedrals in Montenegro. It is the seat of the Roman Catholi ...

and Dean of

. On March 11, 1996, he was appointed by

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

as the Diocesan Bishop of the

. On April 27, 1996, he was consecrated as bishop by his predecessor, Bishop emeritus

Ivo Gugić Bishop Ivo Gugić (2 March 1920 – 3 June 1996) was a Roman Catholic prelate from Croatia, who served as the Diocesan Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotor, Kotor in Montenegro. Life He was born on 2 March 1920 in the small town of Vela Lu ...

and other prelates of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. Retired on September 29, 2019 after reached age limit of 75 years old.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Janjić, Ilija 1944 births Living people People from Posavina Canton Croats of Montenegro Roman Catholic bishops of Kotor Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Montenegro 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Montenegro Montenegrin Roman Catholic bishops