Belgrade episcopate between Orthodoxy and Catholicism (XI - the first decade of the XIV century)
Authors: Mitrovic Katarina , Koprivica Marija 
Published: February 2017

After two centuries of Bulgarian domination, Belgrade came under Byzantum
empire rule in 1018. Together with other fifteen cities, Belgrade was
mentioned as a bishop centre in a thorough act of the Ohrid Archbishopric,
the first sigilion of Tzar Vasilije II Macedonian, from 1019. Belgrade
episcopate also comprised Church centres in Gradac, Uzice, Bela Crkva and
Glavetin with 40 clergymen and 40 village mayors, which means that it was one
of the richest diocese of the Ohrid Archbisopric. Since Belgrade came under
Byzantium rule, there have not been any big changes in the character of
Church authorities as the Ohrid Archdiocese was established on the spiritual
and cultural traditions of The first Bulgaran empire and Samuil`s state, its
head was called an archbishop of Bulgaria and in terms of jurisdiction, it
was completely independent of Contantinople patriarch. Short reign of
Hungarian king Salomon in Belgrade (1071/72) did not lead to any changes in
Church organistaion, although certain bishop Franco was mentioned by the
King`s counselors. The consolidation of the Catholic Church organisation was
enabled only from the fourth decade of the XIII century when Belgrade
belonged to the Hungarian king. No later than the beginning of March 1232,
according to the decision of the Pope Gregory IX of the Orthodox Eparchy,
Belgrade and Branicevo were united with the newly established Episcopate of
Syrmia which was founded as a missionary one with the clearly defined aim of
the spread of Catholicism among the population of the other part of Syrmia
(the regions on the south of the Sava, between the rivers of Drina and
Kolubara) which, not long time ago, had been a part of the Diocese of Syrmia
under the jurisdiction of the Ohrid Archbishopric. In the period of
1284-1389, Belgrade was under Serbian rule. King Dragutin built the Temple,
the headquarters of the bishop of Macva of Serbian Church with the famous
Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, a well-known relic from the period of
Byzantium rule, and some other churches, so there were many Orthodox priests
in Belgrade and its surroundings. Episcopate of Macva Serbian Church was
established in the period of 1284-1290, and it was situated on the country of
Macva, i.e. Syrmia. The river Sava was on its northern border, the river of
Drina was on the western one, while the Kolubara and the slopes of Avala and
Kosmaj were on the eastern border, and the territory reached Crna Gora and
Rudnik on the south. Its territory covered the regional unit of Macva only
partially. On the basis of the data written down by the Archbishop Danilo II,
an expert in Church issues of the time, it is quite uncertain whether there
was a metropolitan`s residence in Belgrade. In order to solve the puzzle,
some hypotheses were outlined in the reference to the political circumstances
and Church practices. The firmly established organisation of the Serbian
Church endangered the rights of Belgrade Diocese of the Roman Church; that is
why the pope Nicholas IV (1288-1292) and John XXII (1316-1334) reacted in
order to establish the Catholic jurisdiction. Although Belgrade bishops
Martin and Benedict were mentioned in Latin sources from the nineties of the
XIV century, Albensis capitulum, Magister Theodor Albensis Ecclesie
Prepositus, Magister Demetrius Canonicus Albensis, those were only titlings.
The moment of the formal establishment of the already founded clerical
organisation was patiently awaited for. It happened after Belgrade had fallen
under Hungarian rule again. Hungarian king Charles Robert was active in the
strengthening of the position of the Roman Church. After 1319, the
headquarters of the Macva bishop was relocated from Belgrade, but the
Episcopate of Macva of the Serbian Church seemed to have continued its
activities. The counties of Ub, Nepricava, Rabas, Pepeljevac, Ljig, Toplica,
Upper and Lower Obna and the region of Crna Gora and Rudnik were under its
jurisdiction, undoubtedly under the authority of the Serbian King. Most
likely the Serbian bishop of Macva also had jurisdiction over the Orthodox
clergy and the religious people in the regional units of Macva which were
returned to Hungary in 1319.