СРПСКО МОНАШТВО У 19. И ПРВОЈ ДЕЦЕНИЈИ 20. ВЕКА
SERBIAN MONKHOOD IN THE 19th AND THE FIRST DECADE OF THE 20th CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: Monasteries under the jurisdiction of Patriarchate of Peć began to decline at the end of the 17th and in the first half of the 18th century. The reasons were: popular uprisings, wars, migrations and the indifference of the Greek bishop. Violation of monastic vows and serving more the national idea than the religion, was a product of historical circumstances, beginning with the participation of monks in the struggle against the Turks, and progressing in the 19th century with their involvment in the political struggle. Monastery reforms, which began to carry out in the Metropolitanate of Karlovci during the 18th century and in the Metropolitanate of Belgrade in the 19th century, advanced slowly and against great resistance of the monks. The monks were gradually getting more independent. Their educational level was low as well as their internal discipline. Property of monasteries, despite a series of reorganizations and trying's to save and improve it, continued to decline. Nevertheless, it did not influenece local theological thinkers and important theological works. By the early 20th century, there were no schools for special education of monks. The reasons for the declining of monasticism some found in the opening of secular and theological schools. Only monks in the monasteries could accustom to the strict monastic life and heavy physical work and learn how to run a household. Spiritual teachers were the key persons in forming the monks in monasteries, but such teachers were rare. Secular ideas that penetrated gradually in the society and secular life that provided increased opportunities for people, contributed to the decline of interest in monasticism. People entered the monkhood reluctantly and usually with family opposition. Contemporaries testified that the motives for monastic life were not every time devotional. Novices often went in monasteries, but not because of hopes for serving Christ, or because of the relief of all world temptations (celibacy, poverty and obedience), spiritual and physical loneliness. Reasons were more worldly, like finding “bread without the work”. The monkish life was interesting also to those who intended to build a church career, like future bishops. They were not staying in monasteries for long. After schooling they took over the episcopal chairs. Some of them were not ready and mature enough to lead the Church, but too desirous of comfortable life and power. In the late 19th century dissatisfaction with the state of monasticism was so big that there were opinions, even among leading politicians, that monasteries were outdated and needed to be closed.

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