The Eparchy of Bačka () is an

eparchy Eparchy ( ''eparchía'' "overlordship") is an Ecclesiology, ecclesiastical unit in Eastern Christianity that is equivalent to a diocese in Western Christianity. An eparchy is governed by an ''eparch'', who is a bishop. Depending on the administra ...

(diocese) of the

Serbian Orthodox Church The Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Српска православна црква, Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Church#Constit ...

in the

Bačka Bačka ( sr-Cyrl, Бачка, ) or Bácska (), is a geographical and historical area within the Pannonian Plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east. It is divided between Serbia and Hungary. ...

region,

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

. It is situated in north-western parts of the autonomous province of

Vojvodina Vojvodina ( ; sr-Cyrl, Војводина, ), officially the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, is an Autonomous administrative division, autonomous province that occupies the northernmost part of Serbia, located in Central Europe. It lies withi ...

, and the seat of the eparchy is at Saint George's Cathedral in

Novi Sad Novi Sad ( sr-Cyrl, Нови Сад, ; #Name, see below for other names) is the List of cities in Serbia, second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pannoni ...

History

During the

middle ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, old counties of Bács and Bodrog belonged to the

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...

, that had ambivalent attitudes towards the presence of

Eastern Orthodox Christianity Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism ...

in its southern and eastern regions, depending on political relations with the

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

, and

medieval Serbia The medieval period in the history of Serbia began in the 6th century with the Slavic migrations to Southeastern Europe, and lasted until the Ottoman Serbia, Ottoman conquest of Serbian lands in the second half of the 15th century. The period i ...

. By the end of the 15th century,

Serbian Serbian may refer to: * Pertaining to Serbia in Southeast Europe; in particular **Serbs, a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans ** Serbian language ** Serbian culture **Demographics of Serbia, includes other ethnic groups within the co ...

presence in those regions was gradually enlarged by continuous migrations that were caused by Ottoman invasion of Serbian lands. The Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Bačka was established in the 16th century, under the jurisdiction of the

Serbian Patriarchate of Peć Serbian Patriarchate of Peć (, ''Srpska patrijaršija u Peći''), or simply Peć Patriarchate (, ''Pećka patrijaršija''), was an autocephaly, autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate that existed from 1346 to 1463, and then again from 155 ...

. In the beginning, the seat of the bishop was in

Segedin Segedin or Šegedin may refer to: * Sanjak of Segedin, an administrative territorial entity of the Ottoman Empire whose capital was Szeged * Szeged, a city in Hungary whose name in the Serbian language is Segedin * Leo Segedin Leopold Segedin ( ...

, the capital city of the Ottoman

Sanjak of Segedin Sanjak of Segedin or Sanjak of Szeged (; ; ) was an administrative territorial entity of the Ottoman Empire formed in the 16th century. It was located in the Bačka (Bácska) region. Initially, it was part of the Budin Province, but in the 17th ...

. Diocesan seat was later moved to various monasteries in Bačka proper, and was finally stabilized in

in the beginning of the 18th century. By that time, the region of Bačka was liberated from Ottoman rule and incorporated into the

Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...

. Since 1708, the eparchy belonged to the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Krušedol (Karlovci), independent (

autocephalous Autocephaly (; ) is the status of a hierarchical Christian church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop. The term is primarily used in Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. The status has been compared with t ...

) after 1766 (it became the

Patriarchate of Karlovci The Patriarchate of Karlovci () or Serbian Patriarchate of Sremski Karlovci (), was a patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox Church that existed between 1848 and 1920. It was formed when the Metropolitanate of Karlovci was elevated to the rank of ...

in 1848). In 1918, its territory was incorporated into the newly established

Kingdom of Yugoslavia The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1941. From 1918 to 1929, it was officially called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but the term "Yugoslavia" () h ...

, and in 1920 the eparchy entered into the reunited Serbian Orthodox Church.

Territory

The eparchy includes entire

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

n part of

, but also has supreme authority over some territories in present-day

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

, including counties Bács-Kiskun ( Baja),

Csongrád Csongrád (; , archaically also ''Црноград/Crnograd,'' ) is a town in Csongrád County in southern Hungary. History At the time of the Hungarian Conquest (the end of 9th century) the Maros Valley was under Bulgarian control. The fortre ...

(

Szeged Szeged ( , ; see also #Etymology, other alternative names) is List of cities and towns of Hungary#Largest cities in Hungary, the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county seat ...

) and

Heves Heves is a small town in eastern Hungary. About 100 km east of Budapest, Heves lies at the northern extreme of the Great Hungarian Plain, just south of the Mátra and Bükk hills and west of the Tisza River. Heves gave its name to Heves Cou ...

(

Eger Eger ( , ; ; also known by other #Names and etymology, alternative names) is the county seat of Heves County, and the second largest city in Northern Hungary (after Miskolc). A city with county rights, Eger is best known for Castle of Eger, its ...

Bishops and metropolitans

Filip Filip () is a masculine given name and a surname, cognate to Philip. The male name Filip comes from the Greek "philos" (love) and "hippos" (horse), which means "horse lover". In Croatia, the name Filip was among the most common masculine given nam ...

, bishop *

Sava The Sava, is a river in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. From its source in Slovenia it flows through Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally reac ...

, bishop * Makarije, bishop *

Simeon Simeon () is a given name, from the Hebrew (Biblical Hebrew, Biblical ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ''Šimʿôn''), usually transliterated in English as Shimon. In Greek, it is written Συμεών, hence the Latinized spelling Sy ...

, bishop * Georgije, metropolitan (1579) * Mardarije, metropolitan (1609) *

Mihailo Mihailo ( sr-cyr, Михаило) is a South Slavic masculine given name. It is a variant of the Hebrew name ''Michael (given name), Michael'', and its cognates include Mihajlo and Mijailo. Common as a given name among Serbs, it is an uncommon sur ...

, metropolitan (1651) * Georgije, bishop (1667) * Jeftimije Drobnjak, bishop (1695-1708) * Stevan Metohijac, bishop (1708-1709) * Hristofor Dimitrijević-Mitrović, bishop (1710-1712) *

Grigorije Dimitrijević Grigorije ( sr-cyr, Григорије) is a Serbian masculine given name, a variant of Greek ''Grēgorios'' (, , English: Gregory) meaning "watchful, alert". It has been used in Serbian society since the Middle Ages. It may refer to: *Grigorije t ...

, bishop (1713-1717) *

Sofronije Tomašević Sofronije may refer to: * Sofronije Podgoričanin (1668 - 1711), the Metropolitan of Karlovac * Sofronije Kirilović (died 1786), Serbian Orthodox bishop in the Habsburg * Sofronije Jugović-Marković (fl. 1789), Habsburg Serb writer and activist i ...

, bishop (1718-1730) *

Visarion Pavlović Visarion Pavlović ( sr-cyr, Висарион Павловић; 1670 – 18 October 1756, in Novi Sad) was a scholar, pedagogue and the Serbian Orthodox bishop of the Eparchy of Bačka (1731–1756). He succeeded Sofronije Tomašević, and was s ...

, bishop (1731-1756) *

Mojsije Putnik Mojsije Putnik ( sr-cyr, Мојсије Путник, ) (1728–1790) was the Metropolitan of Sremski Karlovci between 1781 and 1790, during the reign of Joseph II. He was known for publishing the Toleranzpatent (tolerance patent) meant to ens ...

, bishop (1757-1774) *

Arsenije Radivojević Arsenije ( sr-cyr, Арсеније; ) is a Serbian given name, a variant of the Greek name ''Arsenios''. Diminutives of the name include ''Arsen'', ''Arsa'' and ''Arso''. It may refer to: *Arsenije Sremac (died 1266), second Archbishop of the Ser ...

, bishop (1774-1781) *

Atanasije Živković Atanasije ( sr-cyr, Атанасије) is the Serbian variant of the Greek name '' Athanasios''. Diminutives of the name include Atanas and Tanasko. It may refer to: *Atanasije II Gavrilović (died 1752), Serbian Patriarch (1747–1752) *Athanasi ...

, bishop (1781-1782) *

Josif Jovanović Šakabenta Josif Jovanović Šakabenta (1743 – 31 December 1805) was a bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the eparchies part of the Habsburg Monarchy, in Croatia and Vojvodina. Early life Josif Jovanović Šakabenta was born in 1743 in Irig to reve ...

, bishop (1783-1786) * Jovan Jovanović, bishop (1786-1805) *

Gedeon Petrović Gideon (; ) also named Jerubbaal and Jerubbesheth, was a military leader, judge and prophet whose calling and victory over the Midianites is recounted in of the Book of Judges in both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible. Gideon was the ...

, bishop (1807-1832) * Stefan Stanković, bishop (1834-1837) *

Georgije Hranislav Georgije Hransislav (secular Gavrilo Hranislav; 8 November 1775 - 22 June 1843) was the bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Biography Bishop Georgije was born as Gavrilo Hranislav in Ruma on 8 November 1775, to father Pavle and mother Alka. He ...

, bishop (1839-1843) *

Platon Atanacković Platon Atanacković (Sombor, Vojvodina, Habsburg monarchy, 10 July 1788 – Novi Sad, Habsburg Monarchy, 21 April 1867) was a writer, linguist, patron of Serb culture, bishop of the Eparchy of Bačka and president of ''Matica srpska''. Born in t ...

, bishop (1851-1867) *

German Anđelić German Anđelić ( sr-Cyrl, Герман Анђелић; 1822–1888) was the Patriarch of Karlovci, the spiritual leader of Habsburg Serbs, from 1881 until his death in 1888. Biography He was son of Pavle Anđelić, parish priest of the Cath ...

, bishop (1874-1882) * Vasilijan Petrović, bishop (1885-1891) *

German Opačić German Opačić ( sr-Cyrl, Герман Опачић; August 8, 1857 – January 18, 1899) was the Serbian Orthodox prelate and a Bishop of Bačka.Sava Vuković, Srpski jerarsi: od devetog do dvadesetog veka', Evro, 1996 Early life and educati ...

, bishop (1893-1899) *

Mitrofan Šević Mitrofan is a Slavic name derived from Greek Μητροφάνης : μήτηρ "mother + φαίνω, "appear, shine". Its English equivalent is Metrophanes. Derived names: * Mitrokha/Mitroha/Mitroshka, Russian diminutive; Mitrofanushka, Russian h ...

, bishop (1900-1918) *Dr.

Irinej Ćirić Irinej is the Slavic form of the name Irenaeus. People bearing this name include: *Irinej, Serbian Patriarch (1930–2020), the 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church (2010–2020). *Irinej Bulović Irinej Bulović (born Mirko Bulović ...

, bishop (1922-1955) *

Nikanor Iličić Nicanor or Nikanor is the name of: People Ancient history * Nicanor (father of Balacrus), 4th century BC * Nicanor (son of Parmenion) (4th-century–330 BC), 4th century BC; a Macedonian officer under Alexander * Nicanor of Stageira, 4th cen ...

, bishop (1955-1986) *Dr.

Irinej Bulović Irinej Bulović (born Mirko Bulović; 11 February 1947) is a Serbian Orthodox cleric who was elected Bishop of Bačka in 1990. He serves as а professor of the New Testament exegesis and Greek language on the Faculty of Theology of the Universi ...

, bishop (1990-current)

Monasteries belonging to the eparchy

Kovilj Monastery The Kovilj Monastery ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Манастир Ковиљ, Manastir Kovilj) is a 13th-century Serb Orthodox monastery in the Bačka region, in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. According to the legend, the monastery was founded ...

municipality. The monastery was reconstructed in 1705-1707. According to the legend, the monastery of Kovilj was founded by the first Serb archbishop

Saint Sava Saint Sava (, ; Old Church Slavonic: ; Glagolitic: ; ; 1169 or 1174 – 14 January 1235/6), known as the Enlightener or the Illuminator, was a Serbs, Serbian prince and Eastern Orthodox Church, Orthodox monk, abbot of Studenica Monastery, Studeni ...

in the 13th century. *

Bođani Monastery The Bođani Monastery () is a Serbian Orthodox monastery in the Bačka region, in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. The monastery is near the village of Bođani, in the Bač municipality. Among the few Serbian Orthodox monasteries in ...

in Bač municipality. It was founded in 1478. *

Sombor Monastery The Sombor Monastery () is a Serb Orthodox monastery situated in the Bačka region, in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. It is in the Sombor municipality. It was founded in 1928–1933. See also *List of Serb Orthodox monasteries This ...

Sombor Sombor ( sr-Cyrl, Сомбор, ; ; ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the West Bačka District in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The city has a total population of 41,814 (), while its adminis ...

municipality. It was founded in 1928-1933. *In the outset of the 18th century there was a Serb monastery in

Bački Monoštor Bački Monoštor ( sr-cyr, Бачки Моноштор) is a village located in the municipality of Sombor, West Bačka District, Vojvodina, Serbia. As of 2011 census, it has a population of 3,485 inhabitant. The village has a Croat majority (that ...

near

References

Sources

* * * * * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Backa, Eparchy Of 16th-century establishments in Serbia Bačka Dioceses established in the 16th century Religious sees of the Serbian Orthodox Church Serbian Orthodox Church in Serbia Serbian Orthodox Church in Vojvodina Eparchy of Bačka