Eparchy of Raška and Prizren

Eparchy of Raška and Prizren (Serbian: Епархија рашко-призренска, Eparhija raško-prizrenska) or Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija is one of the oldest eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church, featuring the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church; the Patriarchate of Peć, as well as Visoki Dečani, which together are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Serbia.

The Eparchy directly serves the Serbian Orthodox of Kosovo and the lower Raška District (Tutin and Novi Pazar).

Early History

The Bishopric of Ras (Raška, Rascia) was established before 879-880. Both the Bishoprics of Ras and Prizren are mentioned in 1019 by Basil II as separate dioceses part of the autonomous Ochrid Archbishopric.

Bishopric of Ras

Mutimir of Serbia was baptized by missionaries Cyril and Methodius during the rule of Byzantine Emperor Basil I (867–886), who sent the priests after Mutimir acknowledged Byzantine suzerainty. The Serbs were fully Christianized by 873 (871), seen in the tradition of theophoric names (e.g. Petar Gojniković, Pavle Branović) and the fact that he maintained the communion with the Eastern Church (Constantinople) when Pope John VIII invited him to recognize the jurisdiction of the bishopric of Sirmium. The Serbs and Bulgarians adopted the Old Slavonic liturgy instead of the Greek.^[1] Mutimir may have founded the Serbian bishopric of Ras earlier than 871, confirmed by the Fourth Council of Constantinople in 879–80.^[2]

Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimiskes (969-976) recognized Ras as being the seat of the Serbian lands.^[3]

Bishopric of Prizren

The Bishopric of Prizren is mentioned in the 10th century.

Autocephaly and abolishment

The Serbian Orthodox Church is established in 1219.

In 1346, the Bishopric of Prizren is raised to a Metropolitanate.

Modern history

After 1766, the Eparchy of Novo Brdo (Gračanica, historical Hvosno and Lipljan bishoprics) is added to the Eparchy of Prizren.

In 1808 the Eparchies of Raška and Prizren are merged into the current Eparchy.

Church-buildings

Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul

Main article: Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul

Church of Saints Peter and Paul

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Seat of the Bishopric of Ras
Oldest known church-building of Serbia

The Church of Peter and Paul served as a seat of the Bishopric of Ras, situated in the capital of Serbia.^[4][5]

The present church (7th-9th century) has been built on several earlier churches of which remains have been well preserved. The foundation of the church, the massive columns, ground-plan and the octagonal tower which conceals a inner cupola are examples of the circular mausoleal architectural type used after Emperor Constantine (306-312).^[4] Saint Sava (1175–1235), a Serbian prince, brother of the Serbian king Stefan Prvovenčani and the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church was baptised in the church. Stefan Nemanja held the council that outlawed the Bogumils at the church.^[4] The frescoes date to 10th, 12th and 13th century, some frescoes were repainted in the mid-13th century.^[5]

Petar Gojniković who ruled Serbia 892-917 was entombed in this church.^[6] In the chrysobulls of Basil II dated to 1020, the Ras bishopric is mentioned as serving the whole of Serbia, with the seat at the Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul.^[4][5]

The church was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Serbia.^[5]

Monasteries

Main article: List of Serbian monasteries

Eparchy of Ras and Prizren, which includes whole of Kosovo

English	Serbian Cyrillic	Founded
In Kosovo and Metohia
Saint Archangels Monastery	Манастир Свети Арханђели	1343
Banjska Monastery	Бањска	1312
Binač (Buzovik) Monastery	Бинач/Бузовик	14th century
Our Lady of Ljeviš	Богородица Љевишка	1307
Budisavci Monastery	Будисавци	14th century
Devič Monastery	Девич	1434
Dobra Voda Monastery	Добра вода	14th century
Dolac Monastery	Долац	14th century
Draganac Monastery	Драганац	1381
Duboki Potok Monastery		14th century
Globarica Monastery	Глобарица	16th century
Gorioč Monastery	Гориоч	early 14th century
Grabovac Monastery	Грабовац	14th century
Gračanica Monastery	Грачаница	1310
Kmetovce Monastery	Кметовце	early 14th century
Mušutište Monastery	Мушутиште	early 14th century
Patriarchate of Peć	Пећка патријаршија	early 13th century
Saint Barbara Monastery
Saint Marko Koriški	Свети Марко Коришки	1467
Saint Uroš Monastery	Свети Урош	>1371
Sokolica Monastery	Соколица	14th century
Studenica Hvostanska	Студеница Хвостанска	early 13th century
Tamnica Monastery	Тамница	14th century
Ubožac Monastery	Убожац	late 13th century
Visoki Dečani Monastery	Високи Дечани	1327
Vračevo Monastery
Zočište Monastery	Зочиште	before 1327

Heads

Early:

• Leontius (fl. 1123-1126)
• Cyril (fl. 1141–1143)
• Euthemius (fl. 1170)
• Kalinik (fl. 1196)

Since the resurrection of the Serbian Patriarchate in 1920:

• Mihajlo Šiljak (1920—1928)
• Serafim Jovanović (1928—1945)
• Vladimir Rajić (1945—1956)
• Pavle Stojčević (1957—1990)
• Artemije Radosavljević (1991—2010)
• Atanasije Jevtić (2010)
• Amfilohije Radović (2010)
• Teodosije Šibalić (2010-)

External links

• Official site of the Eparchy(Званична страница епархије рашко-призренске)
• Official site of the Serbian Orthodox Church
• Kosovo.net Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohia
• Monasteries of the Eparchy( Манастири епархије рашко-призренске)
• Теодосије нови епископ рашко-призренски („Политика“, 18. новембар 2010)
• Устоличење новоизабраног Епископа рашко-призренског Теодосија - Призрен,, 26. децембар 2010.

References

1. ^ The wars of the Balkan Peninsula: their medieval origins ISBN 0810858460
2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=fpVOAAAAIAAJ
3. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=GpQ3AAAAIAAJ
4. ^ ^{a b c d} http://books.google.se/books?id=eFVjMocptcYC
5. ^ ^{a b c d} http://www.panacomp.net/content/view/133/206/lang,english/
6. ^ CHRONICLE OF THE PRIEST OF DUKLJA (Ljetopis' Popa Dukljanina)

Sources

• [1]
• The entry of the Slavs into Christendom
• A history of Christianity in the Balkans: a study in the spread of Byzantine culture among the Slavs