POLOŽAJ SRPSKE PRAVOSLAVNE CRKVE U USTAVIMA MODERNE SRBIJE

Abstract

In this paper the author first presents the history of Serbian Orthodox church which dates from the Middle Ages, pointing out its autonomous status which was proclaimed in 1219. The development of Serbian Orthodox Church and its rising to the highest dignity lasted one and half century when its further progress was interrupted by Ottoman conquest. The period of their rule was very harsh for Serbia and its people, as well as for their church since the Ottomans systematically vandalized and destroyed medieval monasteries and Orthodox churches. Its rise to the rang of patriarchate in 1346 lasted only one century, since after the fall of Smederevo in 1459 the Patriarchate of Peć was terminated. The following century was Dark Age for the survival of our church and the fight for its revival. Finally in 1557, the patriarchate was restored with its seat in Peć and remained there for two centuries to be terminated again in 1776. It was not before the middle of the 19th century that the hierarchy in Karlovac established the Patriarchate of Serbian Church in Sremski Karlovci which at that time belonged to Habsburg Monarchy. However, the position of Serbian Orthodox Church did not improve and only with the passing of Hattisharif, the Sultan’s charter, in 1830, did the Serbian Orthodox Church receive the true autonomy with the prospects of better days ahead. Yet, again, the First World War brought new destruction of churches and persecution of priests and church dignitaries. The creation of the first state of South Slavs, Yugoslavia, and the events that followed gave hope that a comprehensive revival of the church would take place, along with its improved position. But this hope was dispersed with the outbreak of the Second World War. After the war and the establishment of a communist government and its repression of all religious activities, the Serbian Orthodox Church faced bleak future. Only in 1990s did the situation change. The author of this paper has followed the origin, development, position, status and all other relevant aspects of Serbian Orthodox Church analyzing the available documentation, particularly the constitutions that were adopted in various historical periods, all the way up to the latest one, so called Mitrovdan Constitution, adopted in 2006.