kids encyclopedia robot

List of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
{{{name}}}
Patr.Porfirije (crop).jpg
Information
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.

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)
No. Primate Portrait Reign Notes
1 Sava
Сава
Sabbas
Saint Sava, fresco from Mileševa.jpg 1219–1233 The first Archbishop of the independent Serbian Church.

His main church was at Žiča. He was born as Rastko Nemanjić.

2 Arsenije I
Арсеније I
Arsenius I
Saint Arsenije I Sremac.jpeg 1233–1263 He was a student of Saint Sava.

He moved the church's main office to Peć because of a Hungarian invasion.

3 Sava II
Сава II
Sabbas II
Loza Nemanjica Decani e 5.jpg 1263–1271 He was Saint Sava's nephew.

He was born as Predislav Nemanjić.

4 Danilo I
Данило I
Daniel I
No image.png 1271–1272 He was replaced for reasons that are not known.
5 Joanikije I
Јоаникије I
Joannicius I
No image.png 1272–1276 He was a student of Sava II.

He is buried at Sopoćani.

No Archbishop from 1276–1279
6 Jevstatije I
Јевстатије I
Eustathius I
Свјетлопис живописа Светог Јевстатија превлаког и надвладике србског у капели у порти храма Св. Јована Владимира у Бару.jpg 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.

7 Jakov
Јаков
Jacob
No image.png 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
No image.png 1292–1309 He created seven new church areas (eparchies).
9 Sava III
Сава III
Sabbas III
No image.png 1309–1316 He was called "Archbishop of All Serb and Maritime Lands".
10 Nikodim I
Никодим I
Nicodemus I
Stefan Decanski Coronation.jpg 1316–1324 He helped found the Vratna monastery.
11 Danilo II
Данило II
Daniel II
DaniloII.jpg 1324–1337 He was a writer of saints' lives (hagiographer).
12 Joanikije II
Јоаникије II
Joannicius II
Joanikije II.jpg January 3, 1338 – April 6, 1346 He later became the first Patriarch.

Patriarchs (1346–1766)

First Serbian Patriarchate of Peć (1346–1463)
No. Primate Portrait Reign Notes
1 Joanikije II
Јоаникије II
Joannicius II
Joanikije II.jpg 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.

2 Sava IV
Сава IV
Sabbas IV
No image.png 1354–1375
3 Jefrem I
Јефрем I
Ephraem I
Serbian Patriarch Jefrem.jpg October 3, 1375 – 1380 This was his first time as Patriarch.
4 Spiridon I
Спиридон I
Spyridon I
Serbian Patriarch Spiridon.jpg 1380 – August 11, 1389
(3) Jefrem I
Јефрем I
Ephraem I
Serbian Patriarch Jefrem.jpg 1389–1390 This was his second time as Patriarch.
5 Danilo III
Данило III
Daniel III
Serbian Patriarch Danilo III.jpg 1390–1396
6 Sava V
Сава V
Sabbas V
No image.png 1396–1406
7 Danilo IV
Данило IV
Daniel IV
No image.png 1406
8 Kirilo I
Кирило I
Cyril I
No image.png 1407–1419
9 Nikon I
Никон I
Nicon I
No image.png 1420–1435
10 Teofan I
Теофан I
Theophanes I
No image.png 1435–1446
11 Nikodim II
Никодим II
Nicodemus II
No image.png 1446–1455
12 Arsenije II
Арсеније II
Arsenius II
No image.png 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
No image.png 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
Makarije Sokolovic.jpg 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.

14 Antonije I
Антоније I
Anthony I
No image.png 1571–1575 His last name was Sokolović.
15 Gerasim I
Герасим I
Gerasimus I
No image.png 1575–1586 His last name was Sokolović.
16 Savatije I
Саватије I
Sabbatios I
Savatije Sokolović.jpg 1586 He was from Prijepolje.
17 Nikanor I
Никанор I
Nicanor I
No image.png 1588 There are not many records about him.
18 Jerotej I
Јеротеј I
Hieroteos I
No image.png 1589–1590
19 Filip I
Филип I
Philip I
No image.png 1591–1592
20 Jovan II
Јован II
John II
Jovan Kantul, by Georgije Mitrofanović.jpg 1592–1613 His last name was Kantul.
21 Pajsije I
Пајсије I
Paisius I
PatrijarhPajsije.jpg 1614–1647 He was from Janjevo.
22 Gavrilo I
Гаврило I
Gabriel I
No image.png 1648–1655 He was from Štitkovo.
23 Maksim I
Максим I
Maxim I
No image.png 1655–1674 He was from Skopje.
24 Arsenije III
Арсеније III
Arsenius III
Arsenije III.jpg 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.

25 Kalinik I
Калиник I
Callinicus I
No image.png 1691–1710 He was Greek.

He kept the Serbian Patriarchate going during difficult times after the First Serbian Migration.

26 Atanasije I
Атанасије I
Athanasius I
No image.png 1711–1712
27 Mojsije I
Мојсије I
Moses I
No image.png 1712–1725 His last name was Rajović.
28 Arsenije IV
Арсеније IV
Arsenius IV
Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta.jpg 1725–1737 He led the Second Serbian Migration into the Habsburg monarchy.

He was from Peć.

29 Joanikije III
Јоаникије III
Joannicius III
No image.png 1739–1746 He was Greek.

He later became the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

30 Atanasije II
Атанасије II
Athanasius II
No image.png 1746–1752 He was from Skopje.
31 Gavrilo II
Гаврило II
Gabriel II
No image.png 1752 He was from Sarajevo.
32 Gavrilo III
Гаврило III
Gabriel III
No image.png 1752–1758
33 Vikentije I
Викентије I
Vicentius I
No image.png 1758 His last name was Stefanović.
34 Pajsije II
Пајсије II
Paisius II
No image.png 1758 He was Greek.
35 Gavrilo IV
Гаврило IV
Gabriel IV
No image.png 1758 He was Greek.
36 Kirilo II
Кирило II
Cyril II
No image.png 1758–1763
37 Vasilije
Василије
Basil
No image.png 1763–1765
38 Kalinik II
Калиник II
Callinicus II
No image.png 1765–1766 He was Greek.

He stepped down as Patriarch, which effectively ended the position.

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)
No. Primate Portrait Reign Notes
39 Dimitrije
Димитрије
Demetrius
Димитрије (Павловић).jpg 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
Патриарх Варнава.jpg 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
Патријарх Гаврило (Дожић).jpg 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
Vikentije Prodanov.jpg 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
Patrijarh Srpski German by Stevan Kragujevic (cropped).JPG 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.

44 Pavle
Павле
Paul
Patrijarh Pavle.jpg December 1, 1990 November 15, 2009 18 years, 11 months and 14 days He was born as Gojko Stojčević.
45 Irinej
Иринеј
Irenaeus
Патриарх Сербский Ириней 2019.jpg January 23, 2010 November 20, 2020 10 years, 9 months and 28 days He was born as Miroslav Gavrilović.
46 Porfirije
Порфирије
Porphyrios
Patr.Porfirije (crop).jpg 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

Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch Irinej, Serbian Patriarch Pavle, Serbian Patriarch German, Serbian Patriarch Vikentije II, Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo V, Serbian Patriarch Varnava, Serbian Patriarch Dimitrije, Serbian Patriarch

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
kids search engine
List of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.