The Karlovci Archbishopric and the Legacy of Antiquity in 18th Century
The Karlovci Archbishopric and the Legacy of Antiquity in 18th Century

Summary/Abstract: The Karlovci Archbishopric was the most significant Serbian institution in the Habsburg Monarchy. It underwent numerous changes throughout the long 18th century, which in turn had an influence on the Orthodox faithful and led the archbishops to found secondary schools. Special instructors were brought in to teach Latin, and students encountered for the first time the legacy of antiquity, primarily by reading original works from the Roman period. Furthermore, many ancient Greek works had been translated into Serbian in the late medieval period and were available to the hierarchs in monastery libraries. Thus, the bishops had been exposed to ancient writers, especially ancient Greek writers, during their time as monks. It is no wonder that citations from these works appeared in the archbishops’ letters in the early 18th century. In the mid-18th century, Greek schools, including two secondary schools, were a particular area of concern for the archbishops. This paper analyses how familiar the Serbian archbishops and bishops were with antiquity and its legacy, to what extent they encouraged the study of ancient works, and what the effects were for Serbian society in the Habsburg Monarchy.

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