Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral
Joanikije II
Map
Website
mitropolija.com

The

Joanikije II.[3] His official title is "Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral" (Serbian: Црногорско-приморски митрополит, romanized: Crnogorsko-primorski mitropolit).[4]

History

Eparchy of Zeta (1219–1346)

Remains of the Monastery of Prečista Krajinska (15th century)

The Eparchy of

Monastery of Holy Archangel Michael in Prevlaka (near modern Tivat). The first bishop of Zeta was St. Sava's disciple Ilarion (fl. 1219).[5][1][6]

Upon the proclamation of the

Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan.[7][8]

Metropolitanate of Zeta (1346–1496)

Remains of the original Cetinje Monastery near the new "Court Church" in Cetinje

After the dissolution of the

Skadar Lake), and St Nicholas's Monastery in Obod (Rijeka Crnojevića). Finally, it was moved to Cetinje, in the region of Old Montenegro, where the Cetinje Monastery was built in 1484, by Prince Ivan Crnojević of Zeta.[12]

The Cetinje Octoechos (1494)

Starting from the end of the 15th century, mountainous regions of Zeta became known as Crna Gora (Serbian: Црна Гора), meaning the Black Mountain, hence the Montenegro.[13] In 1493, Prince Ivan's son and successor, Prince Đurađ Crnojević (1490-1496), opened a printing house in Cetinje, run by Hieromonk Makarije, and produced the first ever book to be printed among the South Slavs.[14] It was the "Cetinje Octoechos", a Serb-Slavonic translation from the original Greek 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, but the Metropolitanate survived.[15]

Eparchy of Cetinje in 16th and 17th century

After 1496, the Eparchy of Cetinje (

Bojana River. The eparchy also included some parts of Herzegovina, from Grahovo to Čevo. From 1557 to 1766, eparchy was under constant jurisdiction of the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć.[17][18]

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 Montenegrin mountains were never completely conquered. The bishops and local leaders often allied themselves with the Republic of Venice. 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. This was the first time that the metropolitan had led and defeated the Ottomans.[19]

Metropolitanate of Cetinje under the Petrović-Njegoš

Metropolitan Petar I, canonized as St. Petar of Cetinje
Metropolitan Petar II Petrović-Njegoš (1830–1851)
See also: Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro

Entire territory of the Metropolitanate was severely affected during the

Venetian Republic. He also established direct ties with the Russian Empire, seeking and receiving financial aid and political protection.[21][22]

His successors continued the same policy. Metropolitans

Vasilije Petrović-Njegoš (1750-1766) had to balance between Ottomans, Venetians, and Russians.[23][24] During that time, metropolitans of Cetinje continued to be ordained by the Serbian Patriarchs of Peć (until 1766),[20] and later by the Serbian Metropolitans of Karlovci in Habsburg monarchy (until 1830).[25] After brief tenure of Arsenije Plamenac (1781–1784), several new policies were introduced by Metropolitan Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (1784–1830),[26] who initiated the unification process between the Old Montenegro and the region of Brda.[27][28] The same process was completed by his successor Petar II Petrović-Njegoš (1830–1851),[29] who received consecration from the Russian Holy Synod in 1833,[30] establishing a practice that lasted until 1885. As a reformer of state administration, Petar II made preparations for separation of spiritual and secular power,[31] and upon his death such separation was implemented.[32] His successors became: Prince Danilo Petrović-Njegoš as a secular ruler, and metropolitan Nikanor Ivanović as a spiritual leader, new metropolitan of Montenegro.[33][34]

A principal eparchy in Montenegro (1852–1918)

See also: Principality of Montenegro and Kingdom of Montenegro

The Eparchy was reorganized during the rule of Prince

Raška, with seat in Nikšić. 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 (1884-1920), when a Holy Synod was established,[38][35] formally consisting of two bishops, but because of the long vacancy in Nikšić, it did not start to function until 1908.[39]

Metropolitan Mitrofan Ban (1884–1920)

During the long reign of Prince and (from 1910) King

Peć (1913).[45]
From that time, the Holy Synod started to function in full capacity, with three bishops.

In Yugoslavia (1918–2006)

Gavrilo Dožić (1920–1938), who later became Serbian Patriarch
(1938–1950)

Following the end of the

Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was created,[47] 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.[48]

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".[49] 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, and it was presided by metropolitan Mitrofan Ban of Montenegro, who was also elected president of the newly created Central Synod.[50] 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 was also confirmed by King Alexander I.[51]

Old metropolitan Mitrofan Ban was succeeded in the autumn of 1920 by

Joanikije Lipovac was elected new Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, in 1940.[53]

Metropolitan Amfilohije Radović (1990–2020)

During the

Serbian Orthodox church
.

Under the

Saint Petar of Cetinje, and desecrated the tomb of metropolitan Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, who was buried there, replacing the church with a secular mausoleum.[62][63]

In 1990,

Constitution of Montenegro (1992), freedom of religion was restored. Political changes were followed by a period of church revival.[64] 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.[65] The number of parish priests also increased from 20 in 1991 to more than 60 today.[66] 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 was created.[67][68]

Recent history of the Eparchy (2006–2020)

Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, completed and consecrated in 2013.

In the spring of 2006, the

Irinej Gavrilović in 2010.[70]

Since Montenegro became a sovereign country in 2006, after a narrow

Serbian-Montenegrin unionism, Metropolitan Amfilohije was seen as an opponent to newly proclaimed Montenegrin independence, and thus a new political dimension to several ecclesiastical disputes was added.[71] One of those disputes was related to claims and activities of a separate Montenegrin Orthodox Church, that was created in 1993 by a group of Montenegrin nationalists, but never recognized as canonical.[72][73] 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.[74]

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[75] that lasted until the parliamentary election in August 2020 and the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) losing power.

Since 2020

On 5 September 2021, the new head of the diocese,

Joanikije Mićović, who had been the administrator of the Metropolitanate from 30 October 2020, was enthroned in the Cetinje Monastery by the Serbian Patriarch Porfirije Perić. The Serbian Orthodox Church's intention to hold the ceremony at a historic monastery in the town of Cetinje, the country′s former capital, further exacerbated political and ethnic tensions in Montenegro and provoked violent protests in Cetinje.[76][77][78]

List of metropolitans (Vladikas)

Main article: List of metropolitans of Montenegro
  1. Ilarion I (1220–1242)
  2. German I (1242–1250)
  3. Neofit (1250–1270)
  4. Jevstatije (1270–1279)
  5. Jovan (1279–1286)
  6. German II (1286–1292)
  7. Mihailo I (1293–1305)
  8. Andrija (1305–1319)
  9. Mihailo II (1319)
  10. David I (1391—1396)
  11. Arsenije I (1396—1417)
  12. David II (1417—1435)
  13. Jeftimije (1434—1446)
  14. Teodosije (after 1446)
  15. Josif (1453)
  16. Visarion I (1482–1485)
  17. Pahomije I (1491–1493)
  18. Vavila (1493–1495)
  19. Roman (1496)
  20. German III (1496–1520)
  21. Pavle (1520–1530)
  22. Vasilije I (1530–1532)
  23. Romil I (1532–1540)
  24. Nikodim (1540)
  25. Ruvim I (1540–1550)
  26. Makarije (1550–1558)
  27. Dionisije (1558)
  28. Romil II (1558–1561)
  29. Ruvim II (1551–1569)
  30. Pahomije II (1569–1579)
  31. Gerasim (1575–1582)
  32. Venijamin (1582–1591)
  33. Nikanor I and Stevan (1591–1593)
  34. Ruvim III (1593–1636)
  35. Mardarije (1637–1659)
  36. Rufim IV (1673–1685)
  37. Vasilije II (1685)
  38. Visarion II (1685–1692)
  39. Sava I (1694–1697)
  40. Danilo I (1697–1735)
  41. Sava II
    (1735–1781)
  42. Sava II and Vasilije III (1750–1766)
  43. Arsenije II (1781–1784)
  44. Petar I (1784–1830)
  45. Petar II (1830–1851)
  46. Danilo II
    (1851–1852)
  47. Nikanor II (1858–1860)
  48. Ilarion II (1860–1882)
  49. Visarion III (1882–1884)
  50. Mitrofan (1884–1920)
  51. Gavrilo (1920–1938)
  52. Joanikije I (1938–1945)
  53. Arsenije III (1947–1961)
  54. Danilo III (1961–1990)
  55. Amfilohije
    (1990–2020)
  56. Joanikije II
    (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, 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

Upper church of the Ostrog Monastery

The Metropolitanate has the following monasteries:[79]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.

References

  1. ^ a b Ćirković 2004, p. 43.
  2. ^ Aleksov 2014, p. 92-95.
  3. ^ N1 2021.
  4. ^ "Митрополит црногорско – приморски". Православна Митрополија црногорско-приморска (Званични сајт) (in Serbian). 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  5. ^ Fine 1994, p. 116-117.
  6. ^ Curta 2006, p. 392-393.
  7. ^ Fine 1994, p. 309-310.
  8. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 64-65.
  9. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 91-92.
  10. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 92-93.
  11. ^ Fine 1994, p. 520.
  12. ^ Fine 1994, p. 534, 603.
  13. ^ Fine 1994, p. 532.
  14. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 110, 138.
  15. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 110.
  16. ^ Fine 1994, p. 534.
  17. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 135.
  18. ^ Sotirović 2011, p. 143–169.
  19. ^ Станојевић 1975b, p. 97.
  20. ^ a b Aleksov 2014, p. 93.
  21. ^ Jelavich 1983a, p. 84-85.
  22. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 185-186.
  23. ^ Jelavich 1983a, p. 85-86.
  24. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 186.
  25. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 177.
  26. ^ Aleksov 2014, p. 93-94.
  27. ^ Jelavich 1983a, p. 86-88, 247-249.
  28. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 186-187.
  29. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 189-190.
  30. ^ Džankić 2016, p. 116.
  31. ^ Aleksov 2014, p. 94.
  32. ^ Jelavich 1983a, p. 249-254.
  33. ^ a b Ćirković 2004, p. 215.
  34. ^ Aleksov 2014, p. 94-95.
  35. ^ a b Aleksov 2014, p. 95.
  36. ^ Jelavich 1983b, p. 35.
  37. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 225.
  38. ^ Глас Црногорца, vol. 33 (1904), no. 1, p. 1.
  39. ^ Дурковић-Јакшић 1991, p. 64.
  40. ^ Jelavich 1983b, p. 34.
  41. ^ Дурковић-Јакшић 1991, p. 72.
  42. ^ Jelavich 1983b, p. 37.
  43. ^ Глас Црногорца, vol. 39 (1910), no. 35, p. 2.
  44. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 245.
  45. ^ Дурковић-Јакшић 1991, p. 74.
  46. ^ Ćirković 2004, pp. 251, 258.
  47. ^ Ćirković 2004, pp. 251–252.
  48. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 258.
  49. ^ Decision of the Holy Synod, No. 1169, 16 December 1918, Cetinje.
  50. ^ Вуковић 1996, p. 321.
  51. ^ Слијепчевић 1966, pp. 611–612.
  52. ^ Вуковић 1996, pp. 107–109.
  53. ^ Вуковић 1996, pp. 236–237.
  54. ^ Пузовић 2015, pp. 211–220.
  55. ^ Džankić 2016, p. 117.
  56. ^ Слијепчевић 1986, p. 135.
  57. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 275.
  58. ^ Слијепчевић 1986, pp. 215, 224, 259.
  59. ^ Вуковић 1996, pp. 37–38.
  60. ^ Слијепчевић 1986, pp. 259–260.
  61. ^ Вуковић 1996, p. 161.
  62. ^ Wachtel 2004, pp. 143–144, 147.
  63. ^ Džankić 2016, pp. 117–118.
  64. ^ Džankić 2016, p. 119.
  65. ^ Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral: Monasteries
  66. ^ Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral: Parishes
  67. ^ Džankić 2016, p. 122.
  68. ^ Будимљанско-никшићка епархија кроз историју
  69. ^ Communique of the Diocesan Council of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro (2010)
  70. ^ Buchenau 2014, pp. 79–80.
  71. ^ Džankić 2016, pp. 123–124.
  72. ^ Buchenau 2014, p. 85.
  73. ^ Džankić 2016, pp. 120–121.
  74. ^ Statement of The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Coastlands (2009)
  75. ^ Mass service held in Montenegro in defense of Serbian Church (2019)
  76. ^ "New Head Of Serbian Orthodox Church In Montenegro Inaugurated As Police Clash With Protesters". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2021-09-05.
  77. ^ "Police clash with opponents of Serbian church in Montenegro". Miami Herald. 2021-09-05.
  78. ^ "Montenegro clashes as Serb Orthodox Church leader installed". BBC. 2021-09-05.
  79. ^ Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral: Monasteries

Sources

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Metropolitanate_of_Montenegro_and_the_Littoral&oldid=1202929644"