List of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church facts for kids
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Established | 1219 (Archbishopric) 1346 and 1920 (Patriarchate) |
This article shares a list of the most important leaders of the Serbian Orthodox Church. These leaders are called archbishops and patriarchs. They have guided the church from its start as an independent (autocephalous) archbishopric in 1219, all the way to today's patriarchate.
Today, the church is led by a patriarch. His full title is Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Serbian Patriarch. The patriarch is chosen by a special meeting of church leaders called the Bishops' Council. He also leads the Holy Synod, which is like the church's main governing body.
The current patriarch is Porfirije. He was chosen on February 18, 2021. He officially started his role the next day, after a special ceremony called an enthronement in St. Michael's Cathedral in Belgrade. Patriarch Porfirije was later formally enthroned at the ancient Patriarchal Monastery of Peć on October 14, 2022.
The Serbian Archbishopric became independent in 1219. This was thanks to Sava, and it was approved by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Later, in 1346, when Stefan Dušan became emperor, he made the church in Peć a patriarchate. This new Serbian Patriarchate of Peć was officially recognized by Constantinople in 1375.
After the Ottomans took over the Serbian Despotate in 1459, the patriarchate became less powerful. Sometimes, the Ottoman government even made Greeks lead the church. From 1766 to 1920, the patriarchate was stopped completely. All church matters were then handled by the patriarch of Constantinople. However, a church leader (metropolitan) stayed in Belgrade from 1766. There were also independent Serbian Orthodox church areas in Karlovci and Montenegro.
In 1920, the church came back together. The patriarchate was started again, with its main office moving to Belgrade. However, it still kept its connection to the original throne of Saint Sava in Peć. The patriarch now leads the Orthodox Church in the area of the former Yugoslavia (except for Macedonia). He also leads Serbian Orthodox communities living in Western Europe, Australia, and the Americas.
Contents
Church Leader Titles
The full title for the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church today is "Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Serbian Patriarch". A shorter way to say it is "Serbian Patriarch". Over time, different titles have been used.
For example, Archbishop Sava (who served from 1219–1233) was called "Archbishop of Serb Lands". He was also known as "Archbishop of Serb Lands and the Littoral" (meaning coastal areas). Later, Archbishop Sava III (who served from 1309–1316) was called "Archbishop of All Serb and Littoral Lands".
Understanding the Table
Venerated to sainthood | Also served as Metropolitan of Karlovci | ||
Also served as Metropolitan of Belgrade | Current Serbian Patriarch |
Archbishops (1219–1346)
Serbian Archbishopric (1219–1346) | |||||
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No. | Primate | Portrait | Reign | Notes | |
1 | Sava Сава Sabbas |
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1219–1233 | The first Archbishop of the independent Serbian Church.
His main church was at Žiča. He was born as Rastko Nemanjić. |
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2 | Arsenije I Арсеније I Arsenius I |
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1233–1263 | He was a student of Saint Sava.
He moved the church's main office to Peć because of a Hungarian invasion. |
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3 | Sava II Сава II Sabbas II |
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1263–1271 | He was Saint Sava's nephew.
He was born as Predislav Nemanjić. |
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4 | Danilo I Данило I Daniel I |
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1271–1272 | He was replaced for reasons that are not known. | |
5 | Joanikije I Јоаникије I Joannicius I |
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1272–1276 | He was a student of Sava II.
He is buried at Sopoćani. |
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No Archbishop from 1276–1279 | |||||
6 | Jevstatije I Јевстатије I Eustathius I |
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1279 – January 4, 1286 | He moved the church's main office back to Žiča in 1285.
His holy remains are buried at Patriarchate of Peć. |
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7 | Jakov Јаков Jacob |
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1286–1292 | He moved the church's main office to Peć in 1291 due to an invasion. This was likely the final move. | |
8 | Jevstatije II Јевстатије II Eustathius II |
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1292–1309 | He created seven new church areas (eparchies). | |
9 | Sava III Сава III Sabbas III |
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1309–1316 | He was called "Archbishop of All Serb and Maritime Lands". | |
10 | Nikodim I Никодим I Nicodemus I |
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1316–1324 | He helped found the Vratna monastery. | |
11 | Danilo II Данило II Daniel II |
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1324–1337 | He was a writer of saints' lives (hagiographer). | |
12 | Joanikije II Јоаникије II Joannicius II |
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January 3, 1338 – April 6, 1346 | He later became the first Patriarch. |
Patriarchs (1346–1766)
First Serbian Patriarchate of Peć (1346–1463) | |||||
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No. | Primate | Portrait | Reign | Notes | |
1 | Joanikije II Јоаникије II Joannicius II |
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April 6, 1346 – September 3, 1354 | He was the first Patriarch of the Serbian Church.
He became Patriarch when Emperor Dušan was crowned. His main church was at Peć. |
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2 | Sava IV Сава IV Sabbas IV |
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1354–1375 | ||
3 | Jefrem I Јефрем I Ephraem I |
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October 3, 1375 – 1380 | This was his first time as Patriarch. | |
4 | Spiridon I Спиридон I Spyridon I |
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1380 – August 11, 1389 | ||
(3) | Jefrem I Јефрем I Ephraem I |
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1389–1390 | This was his second time as Patriarch. | |
5 | Danilo III Данило III Daniel III |
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1390–1396 | ||
6 | Sava V Сава V Sabbas V |
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1396–1406 | ||
7 | Danilo IV Данило IV Daniel IV |
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1406 | ||
8 | Kirilo I Кирило I Cyril I |
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1407–1419 | ||
9 | Nikon I Никон I Nicon I |
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1420–1435 | ||
10 | Teofan I Теофан I Theophanes I |
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1435–1446 | ||
11 | Nikodim II Никодим II Nicodemus II |
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1446–1455 | ||
12 | Arsenije II Арсеније II Arsenius II |
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1457–1463 | ||
First Time the Ottomans Ended the Patriarchate (1463–1557) | |||||
The Patriarchate was empty because the Ottoman Empire ended it. Church leadership was given to the Archbishopric of Ohrid. | |||||
No. | Primate | Portrait | Reign | Notes | |
Pavle I Павле I Paul I |
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1526–1541 | He tried to bring back the Serbian Patriarchate several times. He succeeded for a short period. | ||
Second Serbian Patriarchate of Peć (1557–1766) | |||||
No. | Primate | Portrait | Reign | Notes | |
13 | Makarije I Макарије I Macarius I |
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1557–1571 | His main church was at Peć.
His full title was "Archbishop of Peć and Patriarch of Serbs and Bulgarians". He was from Višegrad. |
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14 | Antonije I Антоније I Anthony I |
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1571–1575 | His last name was Sokolović. | |
15 | Gerasim I Герасим I Gerasimus I |
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1575–1586 | His last name was Sokolović. | |
16 | Savatije I Саватије I Sabbatios I |
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1586 | He was from Prijepolje. | |
17 | Nikanor I Никанор I Nicanor I |
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1588 | There are not many records about him. | |
18 | Jerotej I Јеротеј I Hieroteos I |
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1589–1590 | ||
19 | Filip I Филип I Philip I |
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1591–1592 | ||
20 | Jovan II Јован II John II |
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1592–1613 | His last name was Kantul. | |
21 | Pajsije I Пајсије I Paisius I |
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1614–1647 | He was from Janjevo. | |
22 | Gavrilo I Гаврило I Gabriel I |
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1648–1655 | He was from Štitkovo. | |
23 | Maksim I Максим I Maxim I |
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1655–1674 | He was from Skopje. | |
24 | Arsenije III Арсеније III Arsenius III |
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1674–1690 (1706) | He led the First Serbian Migration into the Habsburg monarchy.
After 1690, he organized and led the Serbian Church in the Habsburg Monarchy. |
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25 | Kalinik I Калиник I Callinicus I |
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1691–1710 | He was Greek.
He kept the Serbian Patriarchate going during difficult times after the First Serbian Migration. |
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26 | Atanasije I Атанасије I Athanasius I |
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1711–1712 | ||
27 | Mojsije I Мојсије I Moses I |
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1712–1725 | His last name was Rajović. | |
28 | Arsenije IV Арсеније IV Arsenius IV |
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1725–1737 | He led the Second Serbian Migration into the Habsburg monarchy.
He was from Peć. |
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29 | Joanikije III Јоаникије III Joannicius III |
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1739–1746 | He was Greek.
He later became the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. |
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30 | Atanasije II Атанасије II Athanasius II |
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1746–1752 | He was from Skopje. | |
31 | Gavrilo II Гаврило II Gabriel II |
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1752 | He was from Sarajevo. | |
32 | Gavrilo III Гаврило III Gabriel III |
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1752–1758 | ||
33 | Vikentije I Викентије I Vicentius I |
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1758 | His last name was Stefanović. | |
34 | Pajsije II Пајсије II Paisius II |
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1758 | He was Greek. | |
35 | Gavrilo IV Гаврило IV Gabriel IV |
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1758 | He was Greek. | |
36 | Kirilo II Кирило II Cyril II |
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1758–1763 | ||
37 | Vasilije Василије Basil |
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1763–1765 | ||
38 | Kalinik II Калиник II Callinicus II |
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1765–1766 | He was Greek.
He stepped down as Patriarch, which effectively ended the position. |
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Second Time the Ottomans Ended the Patriarchate (1766–1920) | |||||
After the Ottoman Empire ended the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć for the second and last time in 1766, Serbian Orthodox people in the Ottoman Empire were under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until 1920. Because of the Great Turkish War, many Serbs moved to the Habsburg monarchy in 1690. This led to the creation of a church area (metropolitanate) in Karlovci in 1708. This area became a patriarchate in 1848. This was a reward to Serbs who supported the Habsburgs during the 1848–49 revolutions. After the Principality of Serbia was founded, the independent Metropolitanate of Belgrade was created in 1831. It was under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It became fully independent in 1879. In 1920, it joined with the Patriarchate of Karlovci and the Metropolitanate of Montenegro to form the united Serbian Orthodox Church. |
Patriarchs (1920–Present)
Serbian Patriarchate of Belgrade (Peć) (1920–present) | ||||||
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No. | Primate | Portrait | Reign | Notes | ||
39 | Dimitrije Димитрије Demetrius |
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September 12, 1920 | April 6, 1930 | 9 years, 6 months and 25 days | He was the first Patriarch of the reunited Serbian Church.
His main church was in Belgrade. He was born as Dimitrije Pavlović. |
40 | Varnava Варнава Barnabas |
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May 12, 1930 | July 23, 1937 | 7 years, 2 months and 11 days | He died under unclear circumstances.
He was born as Petar Rosić. |
41 | Gavrilo V Гaврилo V Gabriel V |
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February 21, 1938 | May 7, 1950 | 12 years, 2 months and 16 days | He was commonly known as Gavrilo.
He was born as Gavrilo Dožić. |
42 | Vikentije II Викентије II Vicentius II |
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July 1, 1950 | July 5, 1958 | 8 years and 4 days | He died under unclear circumstances.
He was commonly known as Vikentije. He was born as Vitomir Prodanov. |
43 | German Герман Herman |
September 14, 1958 | November 30, 1990 | 32 years and 16 days | He was the longest-serving Patriarch.
He was the only Patriarch to retire during his lifetime. He was born as Hranislav Đorić. |
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44 | Pavle Павле Paul |
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December 1, 1990 | November 15, 2009 | 18 years, 11 months and 14 days | He was born as Gojko Stojčević. |
45 | Irinej Иринеј Irenaeus |
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January 23, 2010 | November 20, 2020 | 10 years, 9 months and 28 days | He was born as Miroslav Gavrilović. |
46 | Porfirije Порфирије Porphyrios |
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February 19, 2021 | Incumbent | 4 years, 4 months and 23 days (as of July 12, 2025) |
He was born as Prvoslav Perić. |
Timeline of Recent Patriarchs

See also
- Serbian Orthodox Church
- Patriarchate of Peć (monastery)
- Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovci
- Metropolitanate of Belgrade
- Metropolitanate of Karlovci
- Patriarchate of Karlovci
- Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral
- List of metropolitans of Montenegro
- Greek Catholic Church of Croatia and Serbia
- Greek Catholic Eparchy of Križevci
- Greek Catholic Eparchy of Ruski Krstur
- Religion in Serbia
- Religion in Vojvodina