View source for Serbian Orthodox Church

{{short description|Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| icon               = Serbian Cross1.svg
| icon_width         = 28px
| icon_alt           = Serbian Orthodox Cross
| name               = Serbian Orthodox Church
| native_name        = {{lang|sr-Cyrl|Српска православна црква}}<br/>{{lang|sr-Latn|Srpska pravoslavna crkva}}
| native_name_lang   = sr
| image              = Temple_Saint_Sava.jpg
| imagewidth         = 250px
| alt                = 
| main_classification = [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]]
| orientation        = [[Serbian Orthodoxy]]
| polity             = [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal]]
| governance         = [[Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church]]
| structure          = [[Koinonia|Communion]]
| caption            = [[Church of Saint Sava]] in [[Belgrade]], [[Serbia]]
| abbreviation       = {{lang|en|SOC}}, {{lang|sr-Cyrl|СПЦ}}, {{lang|sr-Latn|italic=no|SPC}}
| type               = 
| scripture          = [[Septuagint]], [[New Testament]]
| theology           = [[Eastern Orthodox theology]]
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = Primate
| leader_name1       = [[Serbian Patriarch|Patriarch]] [[Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch|Porfirije]]
| leader_title3      = Bishops
| leader_name3       = 44
| division_type      = Parishes
| division           = 3,100
| area               = 
| language           = [[Church Slavonic language|Church Slavonic]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]]
| headquarters       = [[Building of the Patriarchate, Belgrade|Building of the Patriarchate]], [[Belgrade]]; traditionally [[Patriarchate of Peć (monastery)|Patriarchate of Peć]]
| territory          = [[Europe]] ([[Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovci|Serbia]], [[Metropolitanate of Dabar-Bosnia|Bosnia and Herzegovina]],  [[Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral|Montenegro]], [[Metropolitanate of Zagreb and Ljubljana|Croatia]], [[Eparchy of Raška and Prizren|Kosovo]], [[Metropolitanate of Zagreb and Ljubljana|Slovenia]], [[Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Düsseldorf and all of Germany|Germany]], [[Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Western Europe|France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal]], [[Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Britain and Scandinavia|United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden]], Romania, Bulgaria, [[Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Austria and Switzerland|Austria, Switzerland]])<br/>[[Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America|America]] ([[Canada]], [[United States of America]], [[Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Buenos Aires and South America|South America]]), <br/>[[Oceania]] ([[Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand|Australia, New Zealand]])
| possessions        = 
| origin_link        = 
| founder            = [[Saint Sava]]
| liturgy            = [[Byzantine Rite]]
| independence       = 1219–1463<br />1557–1766<br />1879–present
| reunion            = 
| recognition        = 1219 {{small|(Autocephalous archbishopric)}}<br />1346 {{small|(Autocephalous Patriarchate)}}<br />1557 {{small|(Autocephalous Patriarchate)}}<br />1879 {{small|(Autocephalous metropolis)}}<br />1920 {{small|(Autocephalous Patriarchate)}}
| separated_from     = [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
| branched_from      = 
| merger             = 
| absorbed           = 
| separations        = [[Macedonian Orthodox Church]]<br/>[[Montenegrin Orthodox Church]]<br/>[[Greek Catholic Church of Croatia and Serbia]]
| merged_into        = 
| defunct            = 
| congregations_type = 
| congregations      = 
| members            = 8<ref>[https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/serbian-orthodox-church World Council of Churches: Serbian Orthodox Church]</ref> to 12 million{{sfn|Johnston|Sampson|1995|p=330}}
| ministers_type     = 
| ministers          = 
| missionaries       = 
| churches           = 
| hospitals          = 
| nursing_homes      = 
| aid                = 
| primary_schools    = 
| secondary_schools  = 
| tax_status         = 
| associations       = [[World Council of Churches]]<ref>[https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/serbian-orthodox-church Serbian Orthodox Church] at [[World Council of Churches]]</ref>
| tertiary           = 
| publications       = 
| website            = {{URL|spc.rs}}
| slogan             = 
| logo               = 
| founded_date       = 1219
| founded_place      = [[Kingdom of Serbia (medieval)|Kingdom of Serbia]]
| footnotes          = 
| other_names        = {{ubl|Serbian Church|Serbian Patriarchate}}
}}
{{Eastern Orthodox sidebar|expanded= jurisdictions}}

The '''Serbian Orthodox Church''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl-Latn|Српска православна црква|Srpska pravoslavna crkva}}) is one of the [[autocephalous]] (ecclesiastically independent) [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]] [[Eastern Orthodox Church#Constituencies|Christian churches]].{{sfn|Radić|2007|p=231–248}}{{sfn|Fotić|2008|p=519–520}}

The majority of the population in [[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]] and [[Republika Srpska]] of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] are [[Baptism|baptised]] members of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is organized into [[metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|metropolitanates]] and [[eparchies]], located primarily in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and [[Croatia]]. Other congregations are located in the [[Serb diaspora]]. The [[Serbian Patriarch]] serves as [[first among equals]] in his church. The current patriarch is [[Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch|Porfirije]], enthroned on 19 February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=His Holiness Porfirije, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch enthroned|url=http://www.spc.rs/eng/his_holiness_porfirije_archbishop_pec_metropolitan_belgrade_and_karlovci_and_serbian_patriarch_enthr|access-date=4 April 2021|website=Serbian Orthodox Church [Official web site]}}</ref>

The Church achieved [[Autocephaly|autocephalous]] status in 1219,{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=28}} under the leadership of [[Saint Sava]], becoming the independent [[Archbishopric of Žiča]]. Its status was elevated to that of a [[patriarchate]] in 1346,{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=64-65}} and was subsequently known as the [[Serbian Patriarchate of Peć]]. This patriarchate was abolished by the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1766,{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=177}} though several regional sections of the church continued to exist, most prominent among them being the [[Metropolitanate of Karlovci]], in the [[Habsburg monarchy]].{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=149-151}} After the re-creation of [[Principality of Serbia|Serbia]], [[Autonomy (Eastern Orthodoxy)|ecclesiastical autonomy]] was regained in 1831,{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=192-193}} and the [[autocephaly]] was renewed in 1879. The modern Serbian Orthodox Church was re-established in 1920, after the unification of the [[Metropolitanate of Belgrade]], the [[Patriarchate of Karlovci]], and the [[Metropolitanate of Montenegro]].{{sfn|Radić|2007|p=235-236}}

==History==

===Early Christianity===
Christianity started to spread throughout the [[southeastern Europe]] during the 1st century. Early martyrs [[Florus and Laurus]] from the 2nd century, who were murdered along with other 300 Christians in [[Ulpiana]], near modern [[Lipljan]], are venerated as Christian saints. Bishop [[Irenaeus of Sirmium]] was also martyred, in 304. Emperor [[Constantine the Great]] (306–337), born in Naissus (modern [[Niš]] in Serbia), was the first Christian ruler of the [[Roman Empire]]. Several local bishops, seated in present-day Serbia, became prominent during the 4th century, such as [[Germinius of Sirmium]], [[Ursacius of Singidunum]] and [[Secundianus of Singidunum]] (modern [[Belgrade]]), while several [[Councils of Sirmium|Councils were held in Sirmium]].{{sfn|Popović|1996|p=}}

In 395, the Empire was divided, and its eastern half later became known as the [[Byzantine Empire]]. In 535, emperor [[Justinian I]] created the [[Archbishopric of Justiniana Prima]], centered in the emperor's birth-city of [[Justiniana Prima]], near modern [[Lebane]] in Serbia. The archbishopric had ecclesiastical jurisdiction over all provinces of the [[Diocese of Dacia]].{{sfn|Curta|2001|p=77}}{{sfn|Turlej|2016|p=189}} By the beginning of the 7th century, Byzantine provincial and ecclesiastical order in the region was destroyed by invading [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]] and [[South Slavs|Slavs]]. The church life was renewed in the same century in the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] and [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] after a more pronounced Christianization of the Serbs and other Slavs by the [[Holy See|Roman Church]].{{sfn|Curta|2001|p=125, 130}}{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=47}}{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=713}}{{Sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=44–47, 73–74}} In the 7th and mid-8th century the area was not under jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=47}}

===Christianization of Serbs===
[[File:Seal of Strojimir.gif|thumb|right|220px|Seal of prince [[Strojimir]] of [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Serbia]] (from the late 9th century),{{sfn|Živković|2007|p=23–29}} one of the oldest artifacts on the Christianization of the Serbs]]
The history of the early medieval [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Serbian Principality]] is recorded in the work {{Lang|la|[[De Administrando Imperio]]}} ({{abbr|DAI|De Administrando Imperio}}), compiled by the Byzantine Emperor [[Constantine VII|Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus]] ({{reign}} 913–959). The DAI drew information on the Serbs from, among others, a Serbian source.{{sfn|Živković|2010|p=117–131}} The Serbs were said to have received the protection of Emperor [[Heraclius]] (r. 610–641), and Porphyrogenitus stressed that the Serbs had always been under Imperial rule. According to De Administrando Imperio, the center from which the Serbs received their baptism was marked as [[Rome]].{{sfn|Živković|2010|p=121}} His account on the first Christianization of the Serbs can be dated to 632–638; this might have been Porphyrogenitus' construction, or may have encompassed a limited group of chiefs, with lesser reception by the wider layers of the tribe.{{sfn|Živković|2008|pp=38–40}} From the 7th until mid-9th century, the Serbs were under influence of the Roman Church.{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=74}} The initial ecclesiastical affiliation with a specific diocese is uncertain, probably was not an Adriatic centre.{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=397}} Early medieval Serbs are accounted as Christian by 870s,{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=35}} but it was a process that ended in the late 9th century during the time of [[Basil I]],{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=45–46}} and medieval necropolises until the 13th century in the territory of modern Serbia show an "incomplete process of Christianization" as local Christianity depended on the social structure (urban and rural).{{sfn|Špehar|2010|pp=216}}

The expansion of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] over the [[Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum]] is considered to have begun in 731 by Emperor [[Leo III the Isaurian|Leo III]] when he annexed [[Sicily]] and [[Calabria]],{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=116}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=354–355}} but whether the Patriarchate also expanded into the eastern parts of Illyricum and Dalmatia is uncertain and a matter of scholarly debate.{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=47–48}} The expansion most definitely happened since the mid-9th century,{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=47}} when the Byzantines emperors and patriarch demanded that the Church administrative borders follow political borders.{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=74}} In the same century, the region was also politically contested between the [[Carolingian Empire]] and Byzantine Empire.{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=38}} The most influential and successful was emperor [[Basil I]], who actively worked on gaining control over all the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum (from Greek, Bulgarian, Serbian to Croatian Slavic peoples).{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=46–48}}{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=712, 717}}{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=47–50, 74}}{{sfn|Špehar|2010|pp=203}} Basil I likely sent at least one embassy to [[Mutimir of Serbia]],{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=46}} who decided to maintain the communion of Church in Serbia with the Patriarchate of Constantinople when [[Pope John VIII]] invited him to get back to the jurisdiction of the bishopric of [[Sirmium]] (see also [[Archbishopric of Moravia]]) in a letter dated to May 873.{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=44–46}}{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=713, 717}}{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=73}}

[[Alexis P. Vlasto]] argued that the [[Eparchy of Ras]] was founded during Mutimir's rule, as a bishopric of Serbia, at [[Stari Ras|Ras]] with the [[Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul (Novi Pazar)|church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul]],{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=209}} as part of the general plan of establishing bishoprics in the Slav lands of the Empire, confirmed by the [[Fourth Council of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox)|Council of Constantinople]] in 879–880,{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=209}} most significantly related to the creation of the autonomous Archbishopric for Bulgaria of which Roman Church lost jurisdiction.{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=45}}{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=715}} However, according to Predrag Komatina, there is no mention of any bishopric in Serbia. In early medieval Europe, the existence of a Christian church without a bishop in a specific land was not uncommon, and being placed under the Pannonian Bishop implies that there was no local Serbian bishop at the time.{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=716}} [[Tibor Živković]] concluded, based on primary sources of the Church of Constantinople, that there was no information regarding the establishment of any new ecclesiastical center and organization in Serbia, that the Serbian ecclesiastical center and capital was at [[Destinikon]], while Ras in the mid-9th century was only a border fort which became the ecclesiastical center of the bishopric by 1019-1020.{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=48}} The imperial charter of [[Basil II]] from 1020 to the [[Archbishopric of Ohrid]], in which the rights and jurisdictions were established, has the earliest mention of the Bishopric/Episcopy of Ras, stating it belonged to the [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church#Autocephaly and Patriarchate|Bulgarian autocephal church]] during the time of [[Peter I of Bulgaria|Peter I]] (927–969) and [[Samuel of Bulgaria]] (977–1014).{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=717}}{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=76, 89–90}} It was of a small size.{{sfn|Popović|1999|p=38}} It is considered that it was possibly founded by the Bulgarian emperor,{{sfn|Popović|1999|p=401}}{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|pp=20, 30}} but most probably it represented the latest date in which it could have been integrated into the Bulgarian Church.{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=76–77, 398}} The episcopy was probably part of the Bulgarian [[Metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|metropolis]] of Morava, but certainly not of [[Dyrrhachium (theme)|Durrës]].{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=75, 88–91}} If it was on the Serbian territory, it seems that the Church in Serbia or part of the territory of Serbia became linked and influenced by the Bulgarian Church between 870 and 924.{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=717–718}}{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=77, 91}}{{sfn|Špehar|2010|pp=203, 216}}

With Christianization in the 9th century, Christian names appear among the members of Serbian dynasties (Petar, Stefan, Pavle, Zaharije).{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=208}} Prince [[Petar Gojniković]] (r. 892–917) was evidently a Christian ruler,{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=208}} and Christianity presumably was spreading in his time.{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=141}} Since Serbia bordered Bulgaria, Christian influences and perhaps missionaries came from there, increasing during the twenty-year peace.{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=141–142}} The Bulgarian annexation of Serbia in 924 was important for the future direction of the Serbian church. By then, at the latest, Serbia must have received the Cyrillic alphabet and Slavic religious text, already familiar but perhaps not yet preferred to Greek.{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=209}}

===Archbishopric of Ohrid (1018–1219)===
[[File:Archbishopric of Ohrid in 1020, map by Dimitar Rizov (1917).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Map depicting the [[Archbishopric of Ohrid]] in ca. 1020]]
{{main|Archbishopric of Ohrid}}

Following his [[Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria|final subjugation]] of the Bulgarian state in 1018, [[Basil II]], to underscore the Byzantine victory, established the [[Archbishopric of Ohrid]] by downgrading the [[Bulgarian patriarchate]] to the rank of the archbishopric. The now archbishopric remained an [[autocephalous]] church, separate from the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]]. However, while the archbishopric was completely independent in any other aspect, its [[Primate (bishop)|primate]] was selected by the emperor from a list of three candidates submitted by the local [[church synod]]. In three ''[[Sigillion|sigillia]]'' issued in 1020 Basil II gave extensive privileges to the new see.{{sfn|Prinzing|2012|pp=358–362}} In the first and third charter of Basil II was mentioned Bishopric of Serbia, while in the second charter of Basil II, dated 1020, the [[Eparhy of Ras and Prizren|bishopric of Ras]] is mentioned, with the seat at the [[Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Ras]].{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=20, 40}}{{sfn|Stephenson|2000|p=75}} 

The 10th- or 11th-century Gospel Book ''[[Codex Marianus]]'', written in [[Old Church Slavonic]] in the [[Glagolithic]] script, is one of the oldest known Slavic manuscripts. It was partly written in the Serbian redaction of [[Old Church Slavonic]].{{sfn|Jagić|1883}} Other early manuscripts include the 12th-century [[Gršković's fragment of the Acts of the Apostles]] and [[Mihanović's fragment of the Acts of the Apostles]].

[[File:Timeline of the History of the main autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches, E. Orthodox point of view (2022).svg|thumb|left|Timeline showing the main autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches, from an Eastern Orthodox point of view, up to 2021]]

===Autocephalous Archbishopric (1219–1346)===
[[File:Sveti Sava Kraljeva Crkva.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Saint Sava]], first Serbian archbishop]]
Serbian prince [[Saint Sava|Rastko Nemanjić]], the son of [[Stefan Nemanja]], took monastic vows at [[Mount Athos]] as ''Sava'' (Sabbas) in 1192.{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}}{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=33}} Three years later, his father joined him, taking monastic vows as ''Simeon''. Father and son asked the Holy Community to found a Serbian religious centre at the abandoned site of [[Hilandar]], which they renovated. This marked the beginning of a renaissance (in [[Serbian arts|arts]], [[Serbian literature|literature]] and [[Religion in Serbia|religion]]). Sava's father died at Hilandar in 1199 and was canonized as St. Simeon.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=33}} Saint Sava stayed for some years, rising in rank, then returned to Serbia in 1207, taking with him the remains of his father, which he interred at the [[Studenica monastery]], after reconciling his two quarrelling brothers [[Stefan Nemanjić]] and [[Vukan Nemanjić|Vukan]].{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=35-36}} Stefan asked him to remain in Serbia with his clerics, which he did, providing widespread pastoral care and education to the people. Saint Sava founded several churches and monasteries, among them the [[Žiča monastery]]. In 1217, Stefan was proclaimed [[King of Serbia]], and various questions of the church reorganization were opened.{{sfn|Kalić|2017|p=7-18}}

Saint Sava returned to the Holy Mountain in 1217/18, preparing for the formation of an [[autocephalous]] Serbian Church. He was consecrated in 1219 as the first [[Archbishop#Orthodox churches|Archbishop]] of the Serbian Church, and was given [[autocephaly]] by [[Patriarch Manuel I of Constantinople]], then in exile at [[Nicaea]].{{sfn|Ferjančić|Maksimović|2014|p=37–54}}{{sfn|Marjanović|2018|p=41–50}} In the same year, Saint Sava published ''[[Zakonopravilo]]'' (St. Sava's Nomocanon). Thus the Serbs acquired both forms of independence: political and religious.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=43, 68}} After this, in Serbia, Sava stayed in Studenica and continued to educate the Serbian people in their faith. Later he called for a council outlawing the [[Bogomils]], whom he considered heretics. Sava appointed several bishops, sending them around Serbia to organize their dioceses.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=43}} To maintain his standing as the religious and social leader, he continued to travel among the monasteries and lands to educate the people. In 1221 a synod was held in the Žiča monastery, condemning [[Bogomilism]].{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|pp=222, 233}}

The following seats were newly created in the time of Saint Sava:
* Žiča, the seat of the Archbishop at [[Monastery of Žiča]];
* [[Eparchy of Zeta]] (''Zetska''), seated at Monastery of Holy Archangel Michael in [[Prevlaka]] near [[Kotor]] in [[Zeta (crown land)|Zeta]] region;
* [[Eparchy of Hum]] (''Humska''), seated at [[Monastery of the Holy Mother of God, Ston|Monastery of the Holy Mother of God]] in [[Ston]], in [[Principality of Hum|Hum]] region;
* [[Eparchy of Dabar]] (''Dabarska''), seated at [[Banja Monastery|Monastery of St. Nicholas]] in [[Priboj|Dabar (region)]];
* Eparchy of Moravica (''Moravička''), seated at [[Church of St. Achillius, Arilje|Monastery of St. Achillius]] in [[Moravica District|Moravica župa]];
* [[Eparchy of Budimlja]] (''Budimljanska''), seated at [[Đurđevi stupovi, Montenegro|Monastery of St. George]] in [[Budimlja]] region;
* Eparchy of Toplica (''Toplička''), seated at [[Church of St. Nicholas, Kuršumlija|Monastery of St. Nicholas]] in [[Toplica (region)|Toplica]] region;
* Eparchy of Hvosno (''Hvostanska''), seated at [[Our Lady of Hvosno|Monastery of the Holy Mother of God]] in [[Hvosno]] region (northern [[Metohija]]).

Older eparchies under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Archbishop were:
* [[Eparchy of Ras]] (''Raška''), seated at [[Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Ras|Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul]] near [[Stari Ras|Ras]] in [[Raška (region)|Raška]] region;
* [[Eparchy of Lipljan]] (''Lipljanska''), seated at [[Lipljan]] in [[Kosovo]];
* [[Eparchy of Prizren]] (''Prizrenska''), seated at [[Prizren]] in the south of [[Kosovo]].

[[File:VergineTricherusa.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Trojeručica]] meaning "Three-handed [[Theotokos]]" is the most important icon of the SOC, and the main icon of [[Mount Athos]]]]

In 1229/1233, Saint Sava went on a pilgrimage to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] and in [[Jerusalem]] he met with Patriarch Athanasios II. Saint Sava saw [[Bethlehem]] where [[Jesus]] was born, the [[Jordan River]] where [[Christ]] was baptized, and the Great Lavra of Saint [[Sabbas the Sanctified]] ([[Mar Saba monastery]]). Sava asked Athanasios II, his host, and the Great Lavra fraternity, led by [[hegoumenos]] Nicolas, if he could purchase two monasteries in the [[Holy Land]]. His request was accepted and he was offered the monasteries of Saint John the Theologian on [[Mount Zion|Mount Sion]] and St. George's Monastery at [[Akona]], both to be inhabited by Serbian monks. The icon [[Trojerucica]] ([[Three-handed Theotokos]]), a gift to the Great Lavra from [[St. John Damascene]], was given to Saint Sava and he, in turn, bequeathed it to [[Hilandar]].

Saint Sava died in [[Veliko Tarnovo]], capital of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]], during the reign of [[Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria]]. According to his ''Biography'', he fell ill following the [[Divine Liturgy]] on the [[Feast of the Epiphany]], 12 January 1235. Saint Sava was visiting Veliko Tarnovo on his way back from the [[Holy Land]], where he had founded a [[hospice]] for Syrian pilgrims in [[Jerusalem]] and arranged for Serbian monks to be welcomed in the established monasteries there. He died of [[pneumonia]] in the night between Saturday and Sunday, 14 January 1235, and was buried at the [[Holy Forty Martyrs Church, Veliko Tarnovo|Cathedral of the Holy Forty Martyrs]] in Veliko Tarnovo where his body remained until 6 May 1237, when his sacred bones were moved to the monastery [[Mileševa]] in southern Serbia.

In 1253 the see was transferred to the [[Patriarchal Monastery of Peć|Monastery of Peć]] by archbishop Arsenije.{{sfn|Čanak-Medić|Todić|2017|p=}} The Serbian primates had since moved between the two.{{sfn|Pavlowitch|2002|p=11}} Sometime between 1276 and 1292 the [[Cumans]] burned the Žiča monastery, and King [[Stefan Milutin]] (1282–1321) renovated it in 1292–1309, during the office of [[Jevstatije II]].{{sfn|Vásáry|2005|p=100-101}} In 1289–1290, the chief treasures of the ruined monastery, including the remains of [[Saint Jevstatije I]], were transferred to Monastery of Peć.{{sfn|Ljubinković|1975|p=VIII}} During the rule of the same king, the [[Monastery of Gračanica]] was also renewed,{{sfn|Ćurčić|1979|p=}} and during the reign of King [[Stefan Uroš III]] (1321–1331), the [[Monastery of Dečani]] was built,{{sfn|Todić|Čanak-Medić|2013|p=}} under the supervision of Archbishop [[Danilo II, Serbian Archbishop|Danilo II]].{{sfn|Pantelić|2002|p=}}

===Medieval Patriarchate (1346–1463)===
[[File:Serbian Patriarch Danilo III.jpg|220px|thumb|left|Serbian Patriarch [[Danilo III (patriarch)|Danilo III]], [[fresco]] from the [[Patriarchal Monastery of Peć]]]]
{{main|Serbian Patriarchate of Peć}}

The status of the Serbian Orthodox Church grew along with the expansion and heightened prestige of the [[Kingdom of Serbia (medieval)|Serbian kingdom]]. After King [[Stefan Dušan]] assumed the imperial title of [[tsar]], the Serbian Archbishopric was correspondingly raised to the rank of [[Patriarchate]] in 1346. In the century that followed, the Serbian Church achieved its greatest power and prestige. In the 14th century Serbian Orthodox clergy had the title of [[Protos (monastic office)|Protos]] at Mount Athos.

On 16 April 1346 ([[Easter]]), Stefan Dušan convoked a grand assembly at [[Skopje]], attended by the Serbian Archbishop [[Joanikije II]], Archbishop [[Nicholas I of Ohrid]], Patriarch [[List of patriarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church|Simeon of Bulgaria]] and various religious leaders of [[Mount Athos]]. The assembly and clergy agreed on, and then ceremonially performed the raising of the autocephalous Serbian Archbishopric to the status of Patriarchate. The Archbishop was from now on titled ''Serbian Patriarch'', although some documents called him ''Patriarch of Serbs and Greeks'', with the seat at [[Patriarchal Monastery of Peć]]. The new Patriarch Joanikije II now solemnly crowned Stefan Dušan as "[[Basileus|Emperor]] and [[autocrator|autocrat]] of [[Serbs]] and [[Romaioi|Romans]]" (see [[Emperor of Serbs]]). The Patriarchal status resulted in raising bishoprics to metropolitanates, as for example the [[Metropolitanate of Skopje]]. The Patriarchate took over sovereignty on [[Mount Athos|Mt. Athos]] and the Greek archbishoprics under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople (the Archbishopric of Ohrid remained autocephalous), which resulted in Dušan's excommunication by Patriarch [[Callistus I of Constantinople]] in 1350.{{sfn|Fine|1994|pp=309–310}}

In 1375, an agreement between the Serbian Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Constantinople was reached.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=387-388}} The [[Battle of Kosovo]] (1389) and its aftermath had a lasting influence on medieval legacy and later traditions of the Serbian Orthodox Church.{{sfn|Šuica|2011|p=152-174}} In 1455, when Ottoman Turks conquered the Patriarchal seat in Peć, Patriarch Arsenije II found temporary refuge in [[Smederevo]], the capital city of [[Serbian Despotate]].{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=107, 134}}

Among cultural, artistic and literary legacies created under the auspices of the Serbian Orthodox Church during the medieval period were [[hagiographies]], known in Serbian as ''žitije'' (vita), that were written as biographies of rulers, archbishops and saints from the 12th up to the 15th century.{{sfn|Birnbaum|1972|p=243–284}}{{sfn|Thomson|1993|p=103-134}}{{sfn|Ivanović|2019|p=103–129}}

===Renewed Patriarchate (1557–1766)===
[[File:Patriarchate of Peć in the 16th and 17th century.png|thumb|200px|[[Serbian Patriarchate of Peć]] (16th–17th century)]]
{{main|Serbian Patriarchate of Peć}}

The [[Ottoman Empire]] conquered the [[Serbian Despotate]] in 1459, the [[Kingdom of Bosnia|Bosnian Kingdom]] in 1463, [[Herzegovina]] in 1482 and [[Montenegro]] in 1499. All of the conquered lands were divided into [[sanjak]]s. Although some Serbs converted to [[Islam]], most continued their adherence to the Serbian Orthodox Church. The church itself continued to exist throughout the Ottoman period, though not without some disruption. After the death of Serbian Patriarch [[Arsenije II]] in 1463, a successor was not elected. The Patriarchate was thus ''de facto'' abolished, and the Serbian Church passed under the jurisdiction of [[Archbishopric of Ohrid]] and ultimately the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] which exercised jurisdiction over all Orthodox of the Ottoman Empire under the ''[[millet (Ottoman Empire)|millet]]'' system.

After several failed attempts, made from c. 1530 up to 1541 by metropolitan [[Pavle of Smederevo]] to regain the [[autocephaly]] by seizing the throne of Peć and proclaiming himself not only Archbishop of Peć, but also Serbian Patriarch, the Serbian Patriarchate was finally restored in 1557 under the [[Sultan]] [[Suleiman the Magnificent|Suleiman I]], thanks to the mediation of [[pasha]] [[Sokollu Mehmet Pasha|Mehmed Sokolović]] who was Serbian by birth. His cousin, one of the Serbian Orthodox bishops [[Makarije Sokolović]] was elected Patriarch in Peć. The restoration of the Patriarchate was of great importance for the Serbs because it helped the spiritual unification of all Serbs in the Ottoman Empire. The Patriarchate of Peć also included some dioceses in western Bulgaria.{{sfn|Daskalov|Marinov|2013|p=29}}

In the time of Serbian Patriarch [[Jovan Kantul]] (1592–1614), the Ottoman Turks took the remains of Saint Sava from monastery [[Mileševa]] to the [[Vračar|Vračar hill]] in [[Belgrade]] where they were burned by [[Sinan Pasha]] on a stake to intimidate the Serb people in case of revolts (see [[Banat Uprising]]) (1594). The [[Temple of Saint Sava]] was built on the place where his remains were burned.{{sfn|Sotirović|2011|p=143–169}}

After consequent Serbian uprisings against the Turkish occupiers in which the church had a leading role, the Ottomans abolished the Patriarchate once again in 1766.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=177}} The church returned once more under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. This period of rule by the so-called "[[Phanariots]]" was a period of great spiritual decline{{Citation needed|reason=what evidence exists of spiritual decline?|date=June 2009}} because the [[Greeks|Greek]] bishops had very little understanding of their Serbian flock.

===Church in the Habsburg Monarchy===
[[File:Arsenije III.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Serbian Patriarch [[Arsenije III Crnojević|Arsenije III]], leader of the [[Great Migration of the Serbs (1690)|Great Serbian Migration]] of 1690]]
{{main|Metropolitanate of Karlovci|Patriarchate of Karlovci|}}

During this period, [[Christians]] across the Balkans were under pressure to convert to Islam to avoid severe taxes imposed by the Turks in retaliation for uprisings and continued resistance. The success of Islamization was limited to certain areas, with the majority of the Serbian population keeping its Christian faith despite the negative consequences. To avoid them, numerous Serbs migrated with their hierarchs to the [[Habsburg monarchy]] where their autonomy had been granted. In 1708, an autonomous Serbian Orthodox [[Metropolitanate of Karlovci]] was created, which would later become a [[Patriarchate of Karlovci|patriarchate]] (1848–1920).{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=149-151, 166-167}}

During the reign of [[Maria Theresa]] (1740-1780), several assemblies of Orthodox Serbs were held, sending their petitions to the Habsburg court. In response to that, several royal acts were issued, such as ''Regulamentum privilegiorum'' (1770) and ''Regulamentum Illyricae Nationis'' (1777), both of them replaced by the royal [[Declaratory Rescript of the Illyrian Nation|Declaratory Rescript]] of 1779, that regulated various important questions, from the procedure regarding the elections of Serbian Orthodox bishops in the Habsburg Monarchy, to the management of dioceses, parishes and monasteries. The act was upheld in force until it was replaced by the "Royal Rescript" issued on 10 August 1868.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=166-167, 196-197}}

===Modern history===
[[File:Timeline of the main schisms from the Serbian Orthodox Church (second quarter of the 19th century to 2022).svg|thumb|Timeline showing the main schisms which came out of the Serbian Orthodox Church, from the second quarter of the 19th century up to 2021]]
{{main|Metropolitanate of Belgrade|Patriarchate of Karlovci|}}
The church's close association with Serbian resistance to Ottoman rule led to Eastern Orthodoxy becoming inextricably linked with Serbian national identity and the new Serbian monarchy that emerged from 1815 onwards. The Serbian Orthodox Church in the [[Principality of Serbia]] gained its [[Autonomy (Eastern Orthodoxy)|autonomy]] in 1831 and was organized as the [[Metropolitanate of Belgrade]], remaining under the [[ecclesiastical jurisdiction]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]].{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=192-193}} The Principality of Serbia gained full political independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, and soon after those negotiations were initiated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, resulting in canonical recognition of full ecclesiastical independence ([[autocephaly]]) for the Metropolitanate of Belgrade in 1879.{{sfn|Kiminas|2009|p=20-21}}

At the same time, Serbian Orthodox eparchies in [[Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia and Herzegovina]] remained under the supreme ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, but after the [[Austro-Hungarian campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878|Austro-Hungarian occupation]] (1878) of those provinces, local eparchies gained internal autonomy, regulated by the Convention of 1880, signed by representatives of Austro-Hungarian authorities and the Patriarchate of Constantinople.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=231}}{{sfn|Tomić|2019|p=1445-1465}}

In the southern eparchies, that remained under the Ottoman rule, Serbian metropolitans were appointed by the end of the 19th century.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=244}} Thus, by the beginning of the 20th century, several distinctive Serbian ecclesiastical provinces existed, including the [[Patriarchate of Karlovci]] in the [[Habsburg monarchy]], the [[Metropolitanate of Belgrade]] in the [[Kingdom of Serbia]], and the [[Metropolitanate of Montenegro]] in the [[Principality of Montenegro]] ([[Kingdom of Montenegro]] after 1910).

During [[World War I]] (1914–1918), the Serbian Orthodox Church suffered massive casualties.{{sfn|Radić|2015|pp=263–285}}

====Reunification====
[[File:Димитрије (Павловић).jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Serbian Patriarch Dimitrije]] (1920–1930), first primate of the reunited Serbian Orthodox Church]]

After the liberation and political unification, that was achieved by creation of the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]] (1918), all Eastern Orthodox Serbs were united under one ecclesiastical authority, and all Serbian ecclesiastical provinces and eparchies were united into the single Serbian Orthodox Church, in 1920.{{sfn|Radić|2007|p=235-236}} The first primate of the united SOC was [[Serbian Patriarch Dimitrije]] (1920–1930). The SOC gained great political and social influence in the inter-war [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]], during which time it successfully campaigned against the Yugoslav government's intentions of signing a [[concordat]] with the [[Holy See]].

The united Serbian Orthodox Church kept under its jurisdiction the [[Eparchy of Buda]] in Hungary. In 1921, the Serbian Orthodox Church created a new eparchy for the [[Czech lands]], headed by bishop [[Gorazd Pavlik]]. At the same time, the Serbian Church among the diaspora was reorganized, and the [[Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of America and Canada|eparchy]] (diocese) for the United States and Canada was created.{{sfn|Vuković|1998}} In 1931 another diocese was created, called the [[Eparchy of Mukačevo and Prešov]], for the Eastern Orthodox Christians in [[Slovakia]] and [[Carpathian Rusynia]].

During the [[Second World War]] the Serbian Orthodox Church suffered severely from persecutions by the occupying powers and the rabidly [[anti-Serbian]] [[Ustaše]] regime of [[Independent State of Croatia]] (NDH), which sought to create a "[[Croatian Orthodox Church]]" which Orthodox Serbs were forced to join. Many Serbs were killed, expelled or forced to convert to Catholicism during the [[Persecution of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia|Serbian Genocide]]; bishops and priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church were singled out for persecution, and many Orthodox churches were damaged or destroyed.{{sfn|Stojanović|2017|p=269–287}} Out of the 577 Serbian Orthodox priests, monks and other religious dignitaries in the NDH, between 214 and 217 were killed and 334 were exiled to [[Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia|German-occupied Serbia]].{{sfn|Velikonja|2003|p=170}} Some of them were brutally tortured and mutilated by the Ustaše prior to being killed.{{sfn|Stojanović|2017|p=275}} In the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 71 Orthodox priests were killed by the Ustaše, 10 by the [[Yugoslav Partisans|Partisans]], 5 by the Germans, and 45 died in the first decade after the end of WWII.<ref name="Bećirović">{{cite journal |last1=Bećirović |first1=Denis |title=Komunistička vlast i Srpska Pravoslavna Crkva u Bosni i Hercegovini (1945-1955) - Pritisci, napadi, hapšenja i suđenja |journal=Tokovi Istorije |date=2010 |issue=3 |pages=76–78 |url=https://www.inisbgd.co.rs/celo/2010_3.pdf}}</ref>

====Under communist rule====
[[File:DJI 0249-12.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A panoramic view of the tower of the [[St. Michael's Cathedral, Belgrade|Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Michael]] and [[Building of the Patriarchate, Belgrade|Palace of the Serbian Patriarchate]] in [[Belgrade]]]]

After the war, the church was suppressed by the [[communist]] government of [[Josip Broz Tito]], which viewed it with suspicion due to the church's links with the leadership from the period of Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the nationalist [[Chetnik]] movement. According to [[Denis Bećirović]], aside from the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia]]'s ideological differences with the Church, this negative attitude was also influenced by the fact that some priests during the war supported the [[Chetniks|Chetnik movement]] which are mentioned in Documents of the Commission for Religious Affairs where is stated that among other things, that the majority of priests during the war supported and cooperated with the movement of [[Draža Mihailović]], and that the church spread "hostile propaganda" against the [[Yugoslav Partisans]] and appointed persons in the administration of church institutions who were convicted of collaborating with the occupier.<ref name="Bećirović" /> Along with other ecclesiastical institutions of all denominations, the church was subject to strict controls by the Yugoslav state, which prohibited the teaching of religion in schools, confiscated church property and discouraged religious activity among the population.<ref>.Vukic, Neven. 2021. “The Church in a Communist State: Justin Popovic (1894–1979) and the Struggle for Orthodoxy in Serbia/Yugoslavia.” ''Journal of Church & State'' 63 (2): 278–99.</ref>

In 1963, the Serbian Church among the diaspora was reorganized, and the eparchy for the United States and Canada was divided into three separate eparchies. At the same time, some internal divisions sparked in the Serbian diaspora, leading to the creation of the separate "Free Serbian Orthodox Church" under [[Dionisije Milivojević|Bishop Dionisije]]. Division was healed in 1991, and Metropolitanate of New Gračanica was created, within the united Serbian Orthodox Church.{{sfn|Spasović|2004|p=124-129}} In 1983, a fourth eparchy in North America was created specifically for Canadian churches: the [[Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rhodes |first1=Ran |title=The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations |date=2015 |publisher=Harvest House Publishers |isbn=978-0-73695-291-0 |page=328 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ovOUBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA328}}</ref>

The gradual demise of Yugoslav communism and the rise of rival nationalist movements during the 1980s also led to a marked religious revival throughout Yugoslavia, not least in Serbia. The [[Serbian Patriarch Pavle II|Serbian Patriarch Pavle]] supported the opposition to [[Slobodan Milošević]] in the 1990s.

Since the establishment of the Yugoslav federal unit of "[[Socialist Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]" (1944), communist authorities restricted the activities of SOC in that region, favoring the creation of a separate church.{{sfn|Slijepčević|1958|p=224, 242}} The [[Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archdiocese of Ohrid|Macedonian Orthodox Church]] was created in 1967, effectively as an offshoot of the Serbian Orthodox Church in what was then the [[Socialist Republic of Macedonia]], as part of the Yugoslav drive to build up a [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonian national identity]]. This was strongly resisted by the Serbian Church, which did not recognize the independence of its Macedonian counterpart.{{sfn|Radić|2007|p=236}}

Similar plans for the creation of an independent church in the Yugoslav federal unit of [[Socialist Republic of Montenegro|Montenegro]] were also considered, but those plans were not put into action before 1993, when the creation of the [[Montenegrin Orthodox Church]] was proclaimed. The organization was not legally registered before 2000, receiving no support from the Eastern Orthodox communion, and succeeding to attract only a minority of Eastern Orthodox adherents in Montenegro.{{sfn|Radić|2007|p=247}}{{sfn|Morrison|Čagorović|2014|p=151-170}}

====Recent history====
[[File:DJI_0807-12.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|View of the [[Church of Saint Sava]], [[Vračar]] plateau. Saint Sava Cathedral is one of the largest [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox churches]] in the world, being built continuously since the end of the 1980s on the site where the relics of Saint Sava were desecrated by the Ottomans]]

The [[Yugoslav wars]] greatly impacted the Serbian Orthodox Church. During this time, the church was embroiled during [[Slobodan Milošević]]'s policies and the wars in [[Croatian War of Independence|Croatia]], [[Bosnian War|Bosnia and Herzegovina]], and [[Kosovo War|Kosovo]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Moe |first=Christian |date=2006 |title=Religion in the Yugoslav conflicts: post-war perspectives |url=https://journal.fi/scripta/article/view/67312 |journal=Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis |volume=16 |pages=256–275 |doi=10.30674/scripta.67312 |access-date=13 February 2025|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Ramet2019">{{cite book |last=Ramet |first=Sabrina P. |author-link=Sabrina P. Ramet |date=2019 |orig-year=1995 |title=Beyond Yugoslavia: Politics, Economics, And Culture In A Shattered Community |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=diuNDwAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |pages=111–113 |isbn=9780429722325 |access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Saggau |first=Emil Hilton |date=2024 |title=Outline of a Serbian Orthodox Doctrine of Righteous War |journal=Religions |volume=15 |issue=12 |page=1473 |publisher=[[MDPI]] |doi=10.3390/rel15121473 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Many churches in [[Croatia]] were damaged or destroyed during the war in Croatia (1991–95). The bishops and priests and most faithful of the eparchies of [[Zagreb]], of [[Karlovac]], of [[Slavonia]] and of [[Dalmatia]] became refugees. The latter three were almost completely abandoned after the exodus of the Serbs from Croatia in 1995 ([[Operation Storm]]). The eparchy of Dalmatia also had its see temporarily moved to [[Knin]] after the  self-proclaimed [[proto-state]] [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]] was established. The eparchy of Slavonia had its see moved from [[Pakrac]] to [[Daruvar]]. After [[Operation Storm]], the [[Krupa monastery]] was particularly damaged and the [[Krka monastery]] was looted.

The eparchies of Bihać and Petrovac, Dabar-Bosnia and Zvornik and Tuzla were also dislocated due to the [[war in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. The eparchy see of Dabar-Bosnia was temporarily moved to [[Sokolac]], and the see of Zvornik-Tuzla to [[Bijeljina]]. Over a hundred Church-owned objects in the Zvornik-Tuzla eparchy were destroyed or damaged during the war.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} Many monasteries and churches in the Zahumlje eparchy were also destroyed.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} Numerous faithful from these eparchies also became refugees.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

{{multiple image
| footer = '''Left:''' Destroyed Serbian Orthodox [[Church of Holy Trinity, Petrič|Holy Trinity Church]] in Petrić village, [[Kosovo]]<br />'''Right:''' [[Devič|Devič monastery]] after it was burned down in [[2004 unrest in Kosovo]]
| width1 = 215
| image1 = Intolerance.jpg
| width2 = 200
| image2 = 11-Devic.jpg
}}

By 1998, the situation had stabilized in both countries. The clergy and many of the faithful returned; most of the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church was returned to normal use and damaged and destroyed properties were restored. The process of rebuilding several churches is still underway,{{when|date=February 2021}} notably the cathedral of the [[Eparchy of Upper Karlovac]] in [[Karlovac]].{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Owing to the [[Kosovo War]], after 1999 numerous Serbian Orthodox holy sites in Kosovo left occupied only by clergy. Since the arrival of [[NATO]] troops in June 1999, 156 Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries have been damaged or destroyed.{{sfn|Bataković|2017|p=116}} In the aftermath of the 2004 [[unrest in Kosovo]], 35 Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries were burned or destroyed by Albanian mobs, and thousands of Serbs were forced to move from Kosovo due to the numerous attacks of Kosovo Albanians on Serbian churches and Serbs.{{sfn|Bataković|2007|p=255-260}}

The process of church reorganization among the diaspora and full reintegration of the Metropolitanate of New Gračanica was completed from 2009 to 2011. By that, full structural unity of Serbian church institutions in the diaspora was achieved.

==Adherents==
Based on the official census results in countries that encompass the territorial canonical jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church (the Serb autochthonous region of Western Balkans), there are more than 8 million adherents of the church. Orthodoxy is the largest single religious faith in [[Serbia]] with 5,387,426 adherents (81% of the population) according to the 2022 census,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maternji jezik, veroispovest i nacionalna pripadnost {{!}} O POPISU STANOVNIŠTVA |url=https://popis2022.stat.gov.rs/sr-latn/5-vestisaopstenja/news-events/20230616-st/?a=0&s=0 |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=popis2022.stat.gov.rs}}</ref> and in [[Montenegro]] with around 320,000 (51% of the population). It is the second-largest faith in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] with 31.2% of the population, and in [[Croatia]] with 4.4% of the population. Figures for eparchies abroad (Western Europe, North America, and Australia) are unknown although some estimates can be reached based on the size of the [[Serb diaspora]], which numbers over two million people.

==Structure==
The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the [[patriarch]], also serves as the head ([[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]]) of the Metropolitanate of [[Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovci|Belgrade and Karlovci]]. The current patriarch, [[Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch|Porfirije]], was inaugurated on 19 February 2021. Serbian Orthodox patriarchs use the style ''His Holiness the Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, Serbian Patriarch''.

The highest body of the Serbian Orthodox Church is the [[Bishops' Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church|Bishops' Council]]. It consists of the Patriarch, the [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]]s, [[Bishop]]s, and [[Vicar#Eastern Orthodox|Vicar]] Bishops. It meets annually – in spring. The Bishops' Council makes important decisions for the church and elects the patriarch.

The executive body of the Serbian Orthodox Church is the [[Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church|Holy Synod]]. It has five members: four bishops and the patriarch.<ref name="spc.rs">[http://www.spc.rs/eng/church Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church]</ref>
The Holy Synod takes care of the everyday operation of the church, holding meetings on regular basis.
[[File:Map of Eparchies of Serbian Orthodox Church (including Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric)-en.svg|thumb|right|300px|Eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Serbian autochthonous region of [[Western Balkans]]]]

===Territorial organisation===
{{Further|List of eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church}}
The territory of the Serbian Orthodox Church is divided into:<ref>See: [[List of Eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church]]</ref><ref>Official SPC site: [http://www.spc.rs/sr/linkovi/linkovi_eparhija Eparchies Links] {{in lang|sr}}</ref>
* 1 patriarchal [[Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovci|eparchy]], headed by the [[Serbian Patriarch]]
* 4 eparchies that are honorary [[metropolitanate]]s, headed by [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]]s
* 35 [[eparchies]] (''[[diocese]]s''), headed by [[bishop]]s

Dioceses are further divided into episcopal [[Deanery|deaneries]], each consisting of several [[Parish church|church congregations]] or [[parish]]es. Church congregations consist of one or more parishes. A parish is the smallest church unit – a communion of Orthodox faithful congregating at the [[Holy Eucharist]] with the parish priest at their head.

====Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric====
The [[Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric]] was an autonomous archbishopric in [[North Macedonia]] under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It was formed in 2002 in opposition to the [[Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archdiocese of Ohrid|Macedonian Orthodox Church]], and was dissolved in 2023. The Macedonian Orthodox Church had had a similar relationship with the Serbian Orthodox Church prior to 1967 when it unilaterally declared itself [[autocephalous]]. This archbishopric was divided into one metropolitanate, [[Metropolitanate of Skopje|Skopje]], and the six eparchies of Bregalnica, [[Eparchy of Debar and Kičevo|Debar and Kičevo]], [[Eparchy of Polog and Kumanovo|Polog and Kumanovo]], Prespa and Pelagonija, Strumica and Veles and Povardarje.

==Doctrine and liturgy==
The Serbian Orthodox Church upholds the [[Eastern Orthodox theology]], shared by all [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]] and based on doctrinal accomplishments of the [[Seven Ecumenical Councils]]. It is characterized by [[monotheism|monotheistic]] [[Trinitarianism]], a belief in the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|Incarnation]] of the [[Logos]] ([[Son of God]]), a balancing of [[cataphatic theology]] with [[apophatic theology]], a [[hermeneutics|hermeneutic]] defined by [[Sacred Tradition]], and a therapeutic [[soteriology]]. In the fields of Church organization and administration, Serbian Orthodox Church upholds traditions and principles of [[Eastern Orthodox ecclesiology]].{{sfn|Jovanović|2019|p=169-187}}

[[Christian liturgy|Liturgical]] traditions and practices of the Serbian Orthodox Church are based on the [[Eastern Orthodox worship]].{{sfn|Ubiparipović|2019|p=258-267}} Services cannot properly be conducted by a single person but must have at least one other person present. Usually, all of the services are conducted on a daily basis only in monasteries and cathedrals, while parish churches might only do the services on the weekend and major feast days. The [[Divine Liturgy]] is the celebration of the Eucharist. The Divine Liturgy is not celebrated on weekdays during the preparatory season of [[Great Lent]]. Communion is consecrated on Sundays and distributed during the week at the [[Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts]]. Services, especially the Divine Liturgy, can only be performed once a day on any particular altar.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}}

A key part of the Serbian Orthodox religion is the [[Slava (patron saint)|Slava]], a celebration of the Clan Patron Saint, placed into the Serb Orthodox religious canon by the first Serb archbishop [[Saint Sava]].

===Social issues===
The Serbian Orthodox Church upholds traditional views on modern social issues,{{sfn|Radić|Vukomanović|2014|p=180-211}} such as [[separation of church and state]] (imposed since the abolition of monarchy in 1945), and [[social equality]].{{sfn|Kuburić|2014|p=399}} Since all forms of priesthood are reserved only for men, the role of women in church administration is limited to specific activities, mainly in the fields of religious education and religious arts, including the participation in various forms of charity work.{{sfn|Abramović|2019|p=243-262}}

===Inter-Christian relations===
The Serbian Orthodox Church is in [[full communion]] with the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] (which holds a special place of honour within Eastern Orthodoxy and serves as the seat for the Ecumenical Patriarch, who enjoys the status of ''[[Primus inter pares|first-among-equals]]'') and all of the mainstream autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church bodies except the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]. It has been a member of the [[World Council of Churches]] since 1965,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Serbian Orthodox Church|url=https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/serbian-orthodox-church|access-date=4 April 2021|website=World Council of Churches|date=January 1965 |language=en}}</ref> with [[German, Serbian Patriarch|Patriarch German]] even being elected to its central committee in 1968,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Todorovic |first1=Milos |title=Orthodoxy in Diplomacy: An Overview of the Serbian Orthodox Church's Religious Diplomacy and Role in International Relations |journal=Journal of Balkan and Black Sea Studies |date=2024 |issue=12 |page=123 |doi=10.56679/balkar.1449077 |url=https://www.academia.edu/121450973 |access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref> as well as of the [[Conference of European Churches]].

==Art==
===Architecture===
[[File:Gračanica Monastery, Kosovo.JPG|thumb|left|200px|An example of the [[Serbo-Byzantine architecture|Serbo-Byzantine style]] in the [[Gračanica monastery]] in [[Kosovo]] ([[World Heritage Site]])]]
{{See also|Serbian architecture}}

Serbian medieval churches were built in the Byzantine spirit. The [[Raška style]] refers to the Serbian architecture from the 12th to the end of the 14th century,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Panić-Surep |first1=Milorad |title=Yugoslavia: Cultural Monuments of Serbia |date=1965 |publisher=Turistička štampa |page=12 |quote=the Raška school.. began with the formation of the state at the end of the 12th century, lasted throughout the 13th century..}}</ref> exemplified by the monasteries of [[Studenica monastery|Studenica]], [[Hilandar]], and [[Žiča]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=McDonald |first1=Gordon C. |title=Area Handbook for Yugoslavia |date=1973 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=191 |quote=Examples of Raska architecture may be found at Studenica, where the major work of Stephen Nemanja's reign was completed around 1191, and at Zica...}}</ref> The [[Serbo-Byzantine architecture|Vardar style]], which is the typical one, was developed in the late 13th century combining [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] and Serbian influences to form a new architectural style ([[Gračanica monastery|Gračanica]], [[Patriarchal Monastery of Peć]]).  By the time of the [[Serbian Empire]], the Serbian state had enlarged itself over [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]], [[Epirus]] and [[Thessaly]] all the way to the [[Aegean Sea]], which resulted in stronger influences from [[Byzantine art]] tradition.  The [[Morava style]] refers to the period of the fall of Serbia under the Ottoman Empire, from 1371 to 1459 ([[Ravanica]], [[Ljubostinja]], [[Kalenić Monastery|Kalenić]], [[Resava Monastery|Resava]]).

During the 17th-century, many of the Serbian Orthodox churches that were built in [[Belgrade]] took all the characteristics of [[baroque]] churches built in the Habsburg-occupied regions where Serbs lived.  The churches usually had a bell tower, and a single nave building with the iconostasis inside the church covered with [[Renaissance]]-style paintings. These churches can be found in Belgrade and Vojvodina, which were occupied by the [[Austrian Empire]] from 1717 to 1739, and on the border with Austrian (later [[Austria-Hungary]]) across the Sava and Danube rivers from 1804 when Serbian statehood was re-established.

===Icons===
[[File:Radoslav gospel - Saint John (fragment).jpg|thumb|200px|"A Portrait of the Evangelist", a miniature from the [[Radoslav Gospel]] (1429)]]
[[Icon]]s are replete with [[symbol]]ism meant to convey far more meaning than simply the identity of the person depicted, and it is for this reason that Orthodox [[iconography]] has become an exacting science of copying older icons rather than an opportunity for artistic expression. The personal, idiosyncratic and creative traditions of [[Western Europe]]an [[religious art]] are largely lacking in Orthodox [[iconography]] before the 17th century, when [[Russian icons|Russian]] and Serbian [[icon]] painting was influenced by religious paintings and engravings from Europe.

Large icons can be found adorning the walls of churches and often cover the inside structure completely. Orthodox homes often likewise have icons hanging on the wall, usually together on an eastern facing wall, and in a central location where the family can pray together.

==Insignia==
[[File:Flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church.svg|thumb|right|230px|Flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church]]
The [[Flag of Serbia|Serbian tricolour]] with a [[Serbian cross]] is used as the official flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as defined in the Article 4 of the SOC Constitution.<ref name="spc.rs"/>

A number of other unofficial variant flags, some with variations of the cross, coat of arms, or both, exist.{{clarify|date=March 2019}}

==See also==
* [[List of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church]]
* [[List of eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church]]
* [[List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries]]
* [[List of Serbian saints]]
* [[Timeline of the Serbian Orthodox Church]]
* [[Archive of the Serbian Orthodox Church]]

==References==
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{{refend}}

== Further reading ==

*[http://www.srpskoblago.org Srpsko Blago | Serbian Treasure site – photos, QTVR and movies of Serbian monasteries and Serbian Orthodox art]
*[https://cnewa.org/eastern-christian-churches/toc/orthodox-church/the-autocephalous-churches/the-orthodox-church-of-serbia/ Article on the Serbian Orthodox Church by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111117213902/http://www.oeaw.ac.at/byzanz/repository/Popovic_Preiser_Hist96.pdf Article on the medieval history of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the repository of the Institute for Byzantine Studies of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (in German)]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Serbian Orthodox Church}}
*[http://www.spc.rs/ Official website]

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