Попис православних свештеника Петроварадинске регименте из 1760. године
Census of Оrthodox Priests of the Petrovaradin Regiment in 1760

Summary/Abstract: The census of Orthodox priests of the Petrovaradin Regiment in the Military Frontier of the Habsburg Monarchy was conducted by Austrian military authorities in 1760. Carried out during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), the register aimed to show how the number of priests in this regiment increased and brought about a decline in the military population. The data show the structure of priests’ households, i.e. the names, number, age and military status of their male members, as well as the structure of their land property. Orthodox priests were registered in 38 settlements of the Petrovaradin regiment (of 43 in total). There were 101 priests’ households with 392 male members. An average household had 3.88 male members and possession of 18.23 acres of arable land. As the military authorities aimed to point out to the growth in the number of priests, the register noted the difference between “old” and “new”priests, depending on whether they were appointed before or after 1756. The increase in the number of priests between 1756 and 1760 (from 70 to 107) was considered harmful for the military, because the newly privileged members of priests’ households were previously registered in active military service. Since the youngest “new” priest was only 13 years old and nine of them were under 16, it is reasonable to question the canonic legitimacy of their appointment and their real function in parishes. The circumstances in Orthodox parishes were not regulated before the last quarter of the 18th century, when the Assembly of the People and Clergy in 1769 and Church Regulations in 1770 mandated a reduction in the number of priests, and introduced a number of other reform measures regarding the organisation of episcopacies and parishes of the Karlovci Metropolitanate.

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