Paisius I of Peć
His Holiness Paisius I (Janjevo) of Peć (in Serbian: Пајсије I (Јањевац) патријарх српски - Paisiie I (Janjevo) Serbian Patriarch) was the Serbian patriarch from 1614 to 1648.
Life
He was born in the town of Janjevo, Kosovo in 1542. His father Dimitrije was a priest. We don't know Paisius' baptismal name. He was taught by his father and later continued his education in the famous Janjevo school. His education continued in the monastery school in Gračanica. He claimed to be disciple of Patriarch Jovan (1592-1614). Patriarch Paisius later became famous as a bibliophile.
Metropolitan of Novo Brdo and Lipljan
Paisius was elected Metropolitan of Novo Brdo and Lipljan in 1612. He was consecrated by Patr. Jovan and the Metropolitans of Sentence Synod on July 15, 1612. Today there still exists one document in which he signed his name as Humble Pajsije, Metropolitan of Novo Brdo. When Patr. Jovan left for Constantinople, he appointed Paisius as locum tenens. Patr. Jovan was accused by the sultan's court and sentenced to death. He was executed on October 14, 1614.
Patriarch
When the news of Jovan's sentence arrived in Peć, Paisius was elected patriarch on October 4, 1614. The new patriarch soon established relations with Russia. His name appeared in Russian state documents beginning in 1622. He often traveled. He visited the half-devastated Žiča Monastery in 1620 and began its repair. He visited Belgard in 1632 and Šišatovac Monastery, which contains the relics of Saint Stefan Štiljanović on October 7, 1632. The patriarch, together with Metr. Jeftimije of Sophia, also visited the Bishop of Marča in Austro-Hungary (today in Croatia).
In November 1642, a Roman Catholic emissary, Franchesco de Leonardis, arrived in Peć. In the pope's name, he tried to start negotiations towards union. Patr. Paisius, together with two bishops, discussed this with him. Patr. Paisius was strongly against the filioque. He was ready to recognize the pope's primatum honoris, but only if the pope gave up the filioque, azyme, and other new teachings. This was stated in a synodical letter that was sent to Rome.
Patr. Paisius used his time in rebuilding and repairing churches, transliterating and translating books. The church in Morača Monastery was painted in 1614 by Hilandar monks. Serbian noblemen rebuilt the Monastey of Dobrilovina in 1614 and its church in Čukojevci. The patriarch was an avid book collector. Western diplomats who traveled to Constantinople bore witness that the Orthodox Church of Serbia was well-organized.
He canonized the last ruler from the Nemanjići dynasty, Emperor Stefan Uroš V, and wrote of his life and service. Patriarch Paisius was forced to visit Constantinople in 1641 to obtain protection from local Turkish governors.
Death
Patriarch Paisius was wounded by a bull in the village of Budosavci. He died a few days later on November 2, 1647 and was buried in Peć Monastery.
| Paisius I of Peć | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: ? |
Metropolitan of Novo Brdo 1612-1614 |
Succeeded by: ? |
| Preceded by: St. Jovan (Kantul) |
Patriarch of Serbia 1614-1648 |
Succeeded by: St.Gavrilo |
