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Serbia

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The is one of the Orthodox churches, ranking sixth after , , , , in the of . In the diptychs of the , it ranks seventh. It exercises jurisdiction over Orthodox Christians in Serbia and surrounding Slavic and other lands as well as and patriarchal representation churches around the world.|

The is one of the Orthodox churches, ranking sixth after , , , , in the diptychs of . In the diptych , it ranks seventh. It exercises jurisdiction over Orthodox Christians in Serbia and surrounding Slavic and other lands as well as and patriarchal representation churches around the world. The patriarch of Serbia serves as first among equals in his church; the current patriarch is His Holiness .|

Soccer Roundup; qualifying match between Serbia and Albania for the 2016 European Championship is abandoned after skirmishes break out involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the field by a drone; other soccer news noted.|

Op-Ed article by Columbia University scholar David L Phillips contends that minority rights are the key to dissolving enmity between Serbia and Kosovo.|

The is one of the Orthodox churches, ranking seventh after , , , , , and . It exercises jurisdiction over Orthodox Christians in Serbia and surrounding Slavic and other lands as well as and patriarchal representation churches around the world. The patriarch of Serbia serves as first among equals in his church; the current patriarch is His Holiness .|

Op-Ed article by Columbia University scholar David L Phillips contends that minority rights are the key to dissolving enmity between Serbia and Kosovo.|

Soon after their arrrival to the Balkans, the Serbian tribes were successively by Christian and became Orthodox Christians. The of St. as autocephalous archbishop of Serbia in 1219 strengthened various Serbian principalities even more in their ecclesiastical allegiance to and the Christian East. Later, as the medieval kingdom of Serbia grew in size and prestige and as Stefan Dusan, king of Serbia from 1331, assumed the imperial title of tsar (1346 to 1355), the archbishopric of Pec was correspondingly raised to the rank of . The period before the arrival of the Turks was the time of the greatest flourishing of the Serbian church. After the final Turkish conquest of the most influental Serbian principality in 1459, the greater portion of Serbian lands became a Turkish pasalik (province). After the death of 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 the . The Serbian patriarchate was restored in 1557 by the Turkish sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. , brother of the famous Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic, was elected patriarch in Pec.|

Soon after their arrrival to the Balkans, the Serbian tribes were successively by Christian and became Orthodox Christians. The of St. as autocephalous archbishop of Serbia in 1219 strengthened various Serbian principalities even more in their ecclesiastical allegiance to and the Christian East. Later, as the medieval kingdom of Serbia grew in size and prestige and as Stefan Dusan, king of Serbia from 1331, assumed the imperial title of tsar (1346 to 1355), the archbishopric of Pec was correspondingly raised to the rank of . The period before the arrival of the Turks was the time of the greatest flourishing of the Serbian church. After the final Turkish conquest of the most influental Serbian principality in 1459, the greater portion of Serbian lands became a Turkish pasalik (province). After the death of 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 the . The Serbian patriarchate was restored in 1557 by the Turkish sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. , brother of the famous Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic, was elected patriarch in Pec.|

The restoration of the patriarchate was of great importance for the Serbs because it helped the spiritual unification of all Serbs in the . After consequent Serbian uprisals against the Turkish occupation in which the church had a leading role, the Turks abolished the patriarchate once again in 1766. The church returned once more to the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constintinople. This period of so-called "" was a period of great spiritual decline because the Greek had very little understanding of their Serbian flock. This was also the period when a great number of Christians converted to to avoid the severe taxes imposed by the Turks in retaliation for uprisings and continued resistance. Many Serbs and their migrated to southern Hungary, where the church was autonomous. The seat of the archbishops was moved from Pec to Karlovci. The Serbian Orthodox Church finally regained its independence and became autocephalous again in 1879, the year after the recognition by the Allied powers of Serbia as an independent state. After World War I, all the Serbs were united under one ecclesiastical authority, and the patriarchate was reestablished in 1920 with election of Patriarch , the patriarch's full title being .|

The patriarch of Serbia serves as first among equals in his church. His Grace, Bishop Irinej (Gavrilovic) of Niš, 80, was elected by members of the Serbian Church’s Assembly of Bishops on Friday, , 2010. He became the 45th Patriarch of Serbia the next day. The previous patriarch was His Holiness who reposed on , 2009 the age of 95 after a lengthy illness.|

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. After consequent Serbian uprisals against the Turkish occupation in which the church had a leading role, the Turks abolished the patriarchate once again in 1766. The church returned once more to the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constintinople. This period of so-called "" was a period of great spiritual decline because the Greek had very little understanding of their Serbian flock. This was also the period when a great number of Christians converted to to avoid the severe taxes imposed by the Turks in retaliation for uprisings and continued resistance. Many Serbs and their migrated to southern Hungary, where the church was autonomous. The seat of the archbishops was moved from Pec to Karlovci. The Serbian Orthodox Church finally regained its independence and became autocephalous again in 1879, the year after the recognition by the Allied powers of Serbia as an independent state. After World War I, all the Serbs were united under one ecclesiastical authority, and the patriarchate was reestablished in 1920 with election of Patriarch , the patriarch's full title being .|

Soon after their arrrival to the Balkans, the Serbian tribes were successively by Christian and became Orthodox Christians. The of St. as autocephalous archbishop of Serbia in 1219 strengthened various Serbian principalities even more in their ecclesiastical allegiance to and the Christian East. Later, as the medieval kingdom of Serbia grew in size and prestige and as Stefan Dusan, king of Serbia from 1331, assumed the imperial title of tsar (1346 to 1355), the archbishopric of Pec was correspondingly raised to the rank of . The period before the arrival of the Turks was the time of the greatest flourishing of the Serbian church. After the final Turkish conquest of the most influential Serbian principality in 1459, the greater portion of Serbian lands became a Turkish pasalik (province). After the death of 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 the . The Serbian patriarchate was restored in 1557 by the Turkish sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. , brother of the famous Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic, was elected patriarch in Pec.|

The patriarch of Serbia serves as first among equals in his church. His Grace, Bishop Irinej (Gavrilovic) of Niš, 80, was elected by members of the Serbian Church’s Assembly of Bishops on Friday, , 2010. He became the 45th Patriarch of Serbia the next day. The previous patriarch was His Holiness who reposed on , 2009 the age of 95 after a lengthy illness.|

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