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Sofronije Kirilović (, ; died 28 February 1786) was a Serbian Orthodox bishop in the
Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...
.


Biography


Appointment to Transylvania

Following the October 1767 resignation of Dionisije Novaković as administrator of the
Transylvania Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
diocese, several proposals for a successor emerged.
Maria Theresa Maria Theresa (Maria Theresia Walburga Amalia Christina; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was the ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position suo jure, in her own right. She was the ...
named Jovan Đorđević to the office a year later. However, he did not have a chance to take up the position, as he became Metropolitan of Karlovci after a month. In December 1769, Đorđević called a church congress for the Serbs, and this meeting elected Kirilović, the former vicar of Novaković in the Eparchy of Buda, as the new bishop of Transylvania. In January 1770, the empress annulled the election on the basis that a Serbian congress could not elect a bishop for the Romanians of Transylvania, but at the same time named Kirilović the new bishop herself.Păcurariu, p. 19 The same restrictions placed on Novaković were extended to the activity of Kirilović, with two additions. First, he was barred from interacting with his priests, particularly through canonical visits, except as authorized by the provincial government. Second, he was not to allow the presence of priests ordained outside Transylvania (i.e., in Moldavia and Wallachia), and was to denounce any he found. Also in 1770, the empress decided that all liturgical books for the Orthodox peoples of the
Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...
were to be printing in Vienna, in an effort directed against the importation of texts from Moldavia and Wallachia.


Activity in Sibiu

Unlike Novaković, who was merely ''locum tenens'', Kirilović had the status of a regular bishop. Furthermore, his residence was fixed at
Sibiu Sibiu ( , , , Hungarian: ''Nagyszeben'', , Transylvanian Saxon: ''Härmeschtat'' or ''Hermestatt'') is a city in central Romania, situated in the historical region of Transylvania. Located some north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles th ...
: the provincial government was located there, and he could be more easily supervised. Consecrated at Karlovci in May 1770, he was enthroned at Sibiu two months later. He lived in a rented house and had no church, but with the help of the authorities, placed the local Greek and Aromanian Orthodox under his jurisdiction. These individuals had their own church, probably on the site of the present cathedral. According to a 1772 census, the diocese numbered 558,076 members.Păcurariu, p. 20 During his time in office, Sofronije met with difficulties from the
Romanian Greek-Catholic Church The Romanian Greek Catholic Church or Romanian Church United with Rome is a ''sui iuris'' Eastern Catholic Church, in full union with the Catholic Church. It has the rank of a Major Archbishop, Major Archiepiscopal Church and it uses the Byzanti ...
. For instance, in 1772, the Orthodox church in Roșia Montană was seized with the help of the army, handed over to the Greek-Catholics and the parish priest arrested. Such incidents, combined with the restrictions and lack of a residence, led the bishop to request transfer to a Serbian diocese in September 1773. As successor, he recommended his secretary and interpreter,
Dimitrie Eustatievici Dimitrie Eustatievici (1730 – 1796) was an Austrian philologist, scholar and pedagogue. He was in charge of all the schools professing the Eastern Orthodox religion, Eastern Orthodox faith in the Habsburg Empire. Biography Of Serbian origin but ...
. Moreover, the local authorities had reported him to Vienna for impeding Greek-Catholic efforts at conversion.


Later years

In August 1774, the empress named Kirilović bishop of Buda, an act that discontented the Serbs, whose bishops had to be elected by the church congress. He served at Buda until 1781, when this body, following canon law, elected him Bishop of
Timișoara Timișoara (, , ; , also or ; ; ; see #Etymology, other names) is the capital city of Timiș County, Banat, and the main economic, social and cultural center in Western Romania. Located on the Bega (Tisza), Bega River, Timișoara is consider ...
. Meanwhile, although he had left
Transylvania Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
, he was still responsible for ordaining its priests. These were recommended to him by archpriest Ioan Popovici of Hondol, who was vicar of the vacant see. Only in 1784, after ten years, did a new bishop arrive; in the interim, Greek-Catholic activity measurably increased under Bishop Grigore Maior. Sofronije ordained a number of Romanian priests at Buda and Timișoara; a number of their names are present in a document of 1805. The bishop died in 1786 and was buried in the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in
Timișoara Timișoara (, , ; , also or ; ; ; see #Etymology, other names) is the capital city of Timiș County, Banat, and the main economic, social and cultural center in Western Romania. Located on the Bega (Tisza), Bega River, Timișoara is consider ...
. name="p21">Păcurariu, p. 21


Notes


References

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Mircea Păcurariu Mircea Păcurariu (30 July 1932 – 13 January 2021) was a Romanian theologian, historian and priest in the Romanian Orthodox Church. Biography Born in Ruși, Hunedoara County, he was the son of the village priest. He enrolled in the History ...
, ''Cărturari sibieni de altădată''. Sibiu: Editura Andreiană, 2015. {{DEFAULTSORT:Kirilovic, Sofronije 1786 deaths Habsburg Serbs 18th-century Serbian people 18th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church 18th-century bishops in the Holy Roman Empire