Serbian Orthodox Church

Serbian Orthodox Cross
Serbian Orthodox Church
Српска православна црква
Srpska pravoslavna crkva
AbbreviationSOC, СПЦ, SPC
ClassificationEastern Orthodox
OrientationSerbian Orthodoxy
ScriptureSeptuagint, New Testament
TheologyEastern Orthodox theology
PolityEpiscopal
GovernanceHoly Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church
StructureCommunion
PrimatePatriarch Porfirije
Bishops44
Parishes3,100
AssociationsWorld Council of Churches[1]
LanguageChurch Slavonic, Serbian
LiturgyByzantine Rite
HeadquartersBuilding of the Patriarchate, Belgrade; traditionally Patriarchate of Peć
TerritoryEurope (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Slovenia, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Switzerland)
America (Canada, United States of America, South America),
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand)
PossessionsOrthodox Ohrid Archbishopric
FounderSaint Sava
Origin1219
Kingdom of Serbia
Independence1219–1463
1557–1766
1879–present
Recognition1219 (Autocephalous archbishopric)
1346 (Autocephalous Patriarchate)
1557 (Autocephalous Patriarchate)
1879 (Autocephalous metropolis)
1922 (Autocephalous Patriarchate)
SeparationsMacedonian Orthodox Church
Montenegrin Orthodox Church
Members8[2] to 12 million[3]
Other name(s)
  • Serbian Church
  • Serbian Patriarchate
Official websitespc.rs

The Serbian Orthodox Church (Serbian: Српска православна црква / Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodox Christian churches.[4][5]

The majority of the population in Serbia, Montenegro and Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina are members of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is organized into 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, enthroned on 19 February 2021.[6]

The Church achieved autocephalous status in 1219,[7] under the leadership of Saint Sava, becoming the independent Archbishopric of Žiča. Its status was elevated to that of a patriarchate in 1346,[8] and was subsequently known as the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć. This patriarchate was abolished by the Ottoman Empire in 1766,[9] though several regional sections of the church continued to exist, most prominent among them being the Metropolitanate of Karlovci, in the Habsburg monarchy.[10] After the re-creation of Serbia, ecclesiastical autonomy was regained in 1831,[11] 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.[12]

  1. ^ Serbian Orthodox Church at World Council of Churches
  2. ^ World Council of Churches: Serbian Orthodox Church
  3. ^ Johnston & Sampson 1995, p. 330.
  4. ^ Radić 2007, p. 231–248.
  5. ^ Fotić 2008, p. 519–520.
  6. ^ "His Holiness Porfirije, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch enthroned". Serbian Orthodox Church [Official web site]. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 28.
  8. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 64-65.
  9. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 177.
  10. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 149-151.
  11. ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 192-193.
  12. ^ Radić 2007, p. 235-236.

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