Hubbry Logo
search
logo
329274

Eparchy of Lipljan

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Write something...
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
See all
Eparchy of Lipljan

Eparchy of Lipljan (Serbian: Епархија липљанска, romanizedEparhija lipljanska), later known as the Eparchy of Gračanica or the Eparchy of Novo Brdo, is a former historical Eastern Orthodox eparchy located in the central parts of Kosovo.

In older research, the toponym of Lipjan was linked to Ulpiana, an important city of Roman antiquity. Archaeological and historiographical research in the recent decades has ruled out any links between the two sites.

After the successful Byzantine conquests of 1018 and the establishment of imperial rule in Bulgarian and Serbian lands, by the order of emperor Basil II a new and autonomous Archbishopric of Ohrid was created in 1019, under the supreme ecclesiastical jurisdiction the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Imperial charters of 1019 and 1020 mention the Bishopric of Lipjan among eparchies under the jurisdiction of the autonomous Archbishopric of Ohrid. Until the beginning of the 13th century, archbishops of Ochrid were titled as metropolitans of all Bulgaria and Serbia.

During 11th and 12th century Byzantines and Serbs fought several battles over the city of Lipjan. Sometime between 1185 and 1195, during the rule of Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja (1168-1196), Byzantine Empire finally ceded Lipljan to Serbia, but Eparchy of Lipljan still remained under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Ohrid.

The autocephaly of Orthodox Church in medieval Serbia was established in 1219 by Saint Sava who was consecrated as first Serbian archbishop by the Byzantine patriarch residing at that time in Nicaea. Since then, Eparchy of Lipljan was under the constant jurisdiction of Archbishop of Serbia. During the 13th century, bishops of Lipjan known by name were: Mavrojan, Varnava, Sava, and Jovan. Eparchy had jurisdiction over counties of Lipjan, Binačka Morava and Topolnica. At the beginning of the 14th century, bishops of Lipljan were Antonije and Ignjatije. In that time, during the final years of the reign of Serbian king Stefan Milutin (1282-1321), the grand complex of the Gračanica Monastery was built as the seat for bishops of Lipjan.

In 1346, Serbian Archbishopric was raised to the rank of Patriarchate with its see remaining in Peć. At the same time the Eparchy of Lipljan was raised by title to the rank of Metropolitanate. Bishops of Lipjan kept under their jurisdiction the region of central Kosovo with Gračanica and Novo Brdo. Period from the beginning of 13 century to the end of 14 century was the golden age for Orthodox Church in the region of central Kosovo with many monasteries and churches built by Serbian rulers and local Serbian nobility. In the middle of the 14th century, Bishop of Lipljan was Teodor, and second half of the 14th century, metropolitan of Lipjan was Simeon. In the first half of the 15th century, metropolitans of this eparchy were Dionisije and Dositej.

In the time of Ottoman conquests, in the middle of the 15th century, Serbian Orthodox Church suffered great devastation. Region of Kosovo finally fell under Ottoman rule around 1455. Metropolitan Venedikt of Lipljan had to flee from his eparchy, finding refuge at the Court of Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković in Smederevo. By the beginning of the 15th century, Eparchy of Lipljan was returned to the jurisdiction of Archbishopric of Ohrid. In the first half of 16. century, metropolitan of Lipjan was Nikanor (around 1530-1545).

Serbian Patriarchate was renewed in 1557 by patriarch Makarije Sokolović. In that time (16th–18th century), Eparchy of Lipljan remained under constant jurisdiction of Serbian Patriarchate. In the second half of the 16th century, metropolitans of Lipljan were Dionisije (around 1570) and Vasilije (around 1587-1598). In 1614, Metropolitan Pajsije of Lipljan became Serbian Patriarch. After him, Metropolitan of Lipljan was Longin (1616).

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.