List of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church facts for kids
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Location | |
Ecclesiastical province | Belgrade and Karlovci |
Information | |
Established | 1219 (Archbishopric) 1346 and 1920 (Patriarchate) |
The Serbian Orthodox Church is a very old Christian church. Its leader is called the Serbian Patriarch. This article lists all the important leaders of the church, from when it became independent in 1219 until today.
The church started as an Archbishopric (led by an Archbishop) and later became a Patriarchate (led by a Patriarch). The current leader is Patriarch Porfirije. He became Patriarch on February 19, 2021. His official 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 Serbian Church became independent in 1219. This happened thanks to Saint Sava, who was its first Archbishop. In 1346, when Stefan Dušan became Emperor, he made the church's leader a Patriarch. This created the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć. Other Orthodox churches recognized this in 1375.
After the Ottoman conquest in 1459, the church faced many challenges. The Patriarchate was even abolished for a long time, from 1766 to 1920. During this time, other church leaders in places like Karlovci and Montenegro led parts of the Serbian Orthodox community.
In 1920, the church was reunited. The Patriarchate was brought back, and its main seat moved to Belgrade. Today, the Patriarch leads the Orthodox Church in the areas of the former Yugoslavia (except Macedonia). He also leads Serbian Orthodox communities around the world, including in Western Europe, Australia, and the Americas.
Contents
Understanding the Titles of Church Leaders
The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church has a long official title. It is "Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Serbian Patriarch." For short, people just say "Serbian Patriarch."
Over history, the title has changed a bit. For example, Archbishop Sava was sometimes called "Archbishop of Serb Lands." Later, other Archbishops used titles like "Archbishop of All Serb and Littoral Lands."
Key to the Tables
Considered a saint | Also led the church in the Habsburg Monarchy | ||
Also led the church in Belgrade before 1920 | The current Serbian Patriarch |
Archbishops (1219–1346)
These leaders guided the Serbian Church when it was an Archbishopric.
Serbian Archbishopric (1219–1346) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Leader | Picture | Years in Office | Important Facts | |
1 | Sava I Сава I |
1219–1233 | First Archbishop of the independent Serbian Church. | ||
2 | Arsenije I Арсеније I |
1233–1263 | A student of Sava I. Moved the church's main seat to Peć. | ||
3 | Sava II Сава II |
1263–1271 | Nephew of Sava I. | ||
4 | Danilo I Данило I |
1271–1272 | Served for a short time. | ||
5 | Joanikije I Јоаникије I |
1272–1276 | A student of Sava II. | ||
No Archbishop from 1276–1279 | |||||
6 | Jevstatije I Јевстатије I |
1279 – 1286 | Moved the seat back to Žiča briefly, then to Peć. | ||
7 | Jakov Јаков |
1286–1292 | Moved the church's seat to Peć permanently. | ||
8 | Jevstatije II Јевстатије II |
1292–1309 | Helped create seven new church regions. | ||
9 | Sava III Сава III |
1309–1316 | Known as "Archbishop of All Serb and Maritime Lands." | ||
10 | Nikodim I Никодим I |
1316–1324 | Helped found a monastery. | ||
11 | Danilo II Данило II |
1324–1337 | A writer of church history. | ||
12 | Joanikije II Јоаникије II |
1338 – 1346 | Became the first Patriarch. |
Patriarchs (1346–1766)
These leaders held the title of Patriarch during the first and second periods of the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć.
First Serbian Patriarchate of Peć (1346–1463) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Leader | Picture | Years in Office | Important Facts | |
1 | Joanikije II Јоаникије II |
1346 – 1354 | First Patriarch of the Serbian Church. Elevated during Emperor Dušan's coronation. | ||
2 | Sava IV Сава IV |
1354–1375 | |||
3 | Jefrem I Јефрем I |
1375 – 1380 | First time in office. | ||
4 | Spiridon I Спиридон I |
1380 – 1389 | |||
(3) | Jefrem I Јефрем I |
1389–1390 | Second time in office. | ||
5 | Danilo III Данило III |
1390–1396 | |||
6 | Sava V Сава V |
1396–1406 | |||
7 | Danilo IV Данило IV |
1406 | |||
8 | Kirilo I Кирило I |
1407–1419 | |||
9 | Nikon I Никон I |
1420–1435 | |||
10 | Teofan I Теофан I |
1435–1446 | |||
11 | Nikodim II Никодим II |
1446–1455 | |||
12 | Arsenije II Арсеније II |
1457–1463 | |||
First Ottoman Abolishment (1463–1557) | |||||
The Patriarchate was abolished by the Ottoman Empire during this time. | |||||
No. | Leader | Picture | Years in Office | Important Facts | |
Pavle I Павле I |
1526–1541 | Tried to bring back the Serbian Patriarchate. | |||
Second Serbian Patriarchate of Peć (1557–1766) | |||||
No. | Leader | Picture | Years in Office | Important Facts | |
13 | Makarije I Макарије I |
1557–1571 | The Patriarchate was restored during his time. | ||
14 | Antonije I Антоније I |
1571–1575 | |||
15 | Gerasim I Герасим I |
1575–1586 | |||
16 | Savatije I Саватије I |
1586 | |||
17 | Nikanor I Никанор I |
1588 | Information about his time is limited. | ||
18 | Jerotej I Јеротеј I |
1589–1590 | |||
19 | Filip I Филип I |
1591–1592 | |||
20 | Jovan II Јован II |
1592–1613 | |||
21 | Pajsije I Пајсије I |
1614–1647 | |||
22 | Gavrilo I Гаврило I |
1648–1655 | |||
23 | Maksim I Максим I |
1655–1674 | |||
24 | Arsenije III Арсеније III |
1674–1690 (1706) | Led the First Serbian Migration to the Habsburg Monarchy. | ||
25 | Kalinik I Калиник I |
1691–1710 | A Greek leader who kept the Patriarchate going during difficult times. | ||
26 | Atanasije I Атанасије I |
1711–1712 | |||
27 | Mojsije I Мојсије I |
1712–1724 | |||
28 | Arsenije IV Арсеније IV |
1724–1737 | Led the Second Serbian Migration to the Habsburg Monarchy. | ||
29 | Joanikije III Јоаникије III |
1739–1746 | A Greek leader who later became the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. | ||
30 | Atanasije II Атанасије II |
1746–1752 | |||
31 | Gavrilo II Гаврило II |
1752 | |||
32 | Gavrilo III Гаврило III |
1752–1758 | |||
33 | Vikentije I Викентије I |
1758 | |||
34 | Pajsije II Пајсије II |
1758 | A Greek leader. | ||
35 | Gavrilo IV Гаврило IV |
1758 | A Greek leader. | ||
36 | Kirilo II Кирило II |
1758–1763 | A Greek leader. | ||
37 | Vasilije Василије |
1763–1765 | |||
38 | Kalinik II Калиник II |
1765–1766 | A Greek leader. He resigned, leading to the Patriarchate's abolition. | ||
Second Ottoman Abolishment (1766–1920) | |||||
After 1766, the Ottoman Empire abolished the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć for the last time. Serbian Orthodox people were then under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until 1920. Many Serbs moved to the Habsburg monarchy in 1690. This led to the creation of a church region in Karlovci in 1708. This region became a Patriarchate in 1848. When the Principality of Serbia was formed, the Metropolitanate of Belgrade was created in 1831. It became fully independent in 1879. In 1920, these different Serbian church regions reunited to form the modern Serbian Orthodox Church. |
Patriarchs (1920–Present)
These are the Patriarchs of the reunited Serbian Orthodox Church, based in Belgrade.
No. | Leader | Picture | Years in Office | Important Facts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
39 | Dimitrije Димитрије |
1920 | 1930 | 9 years, 6 months and 25 days | First Patriarch of the reunited Serbian Church. | |
40 | Varnava Варнава |
1930 | 1937 | 7 years, 2 months and 11 days | His death is still debated. | |
41 | Gavrilo V Гaврилo V |
1938 | 1950 | 12 years, 2 months and 16 days | ||
42 | Vikentije II Викентије II |
1950 | 1958 | 8 years and 4 days | His death is also debated. | |
43 | German Герман |
1958 | 1990 | 32 years and 16 days | Served the longest as Patriarch. | |
44 | Pavle Павле |
1990 | 2009 | 18 years, 11 months and 14 days | ||
45 | Irinej Иринеј |
2010 | 2020 | 10 years, 9 months and 28 days | ||
46 | Porfirije Порфирије |
2021 | Incumbent | 4 years, 5 months and 14 days (as of 23 July 2025) |
The current Serbian Patriarch. |
Timeline of Recent Patriarchs

More About the Serbian Orthodox Church
- 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
- Religion in Serbia
Important Notes
- The Ottoman rulers did not always officially recognize the title "Archbishop of Peć and Serbian Patriarch." However, church records still show these leaders as Patriarchs. They were seen as the protectors of the "throne of Saint Sava."
- The Patriarchs hold the title of Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Serbian Patriarch. They are considered the successors to the Patriarchal throne of Peć. But the main office of the Patriarch is in Belgrade, Serbia.