Methodius, Metropolitan of Belgrade

In September 1791, during the renewal of Ottoman structures in northern Serbia after the Austro-Turkish War (1788–91), Methodius (Serbian: Metodije) was appointed the new Metropolitan of Belgrade after Dionysius had fled to Austria prior to the fall of Belgrade (Treaty of Sistova).^[1] Methodius was described as cleverful in church and political matters, and was obliged by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to cooperate with Hadji Mustafa Pasha, the Vizier of Belgrade.^[2] Apart from the Metropolitanate of Belgrade, he was given to manage almost all of the Eparchy of Vidin (which territory was under the governorship of Mustafa Pasha).^[2] Methodius was murdered on 26 January 1801,^[2] allegedly on Mustafa Pasha's orders.^[3] Archimandrite Hadži-Ruvim however claimed that he was drowned "due to his lawlessness and wrongdoings" having been a tyrant.^[3] Serbian historian Milenko Vukićević, most likely based on Lazar Batalaka (who did not cite a source), described him as a good-hearted elder, killed after his disciple Leontius falsely accused him of guilt to Mustafa Pasha.^[4] It was later proved that the Dahije (renegade Janissaries) had him killed, as was done with Mustafa Pasha soon afterwards.^[4] He was succeeded by Leontius.

References

1. Radosavljević 2007, p. 95.
2. Radosavljević 2007, p. 96.
3. Radosavljević 2007, p. 97.
4. Radosavljević 2007, p. 98.

Sources

• Đorđević, M.; Nedeljković, S. (2015). "Политичке прилике у београдском пашалуку у предвечерје српске револуције (1787-1804)". Teme-Časopis za Društvene Nauke.
• Radosavljević, Nedeljko V. (2007). Православна црква у Београдском пашалуку 1766-1831: управа Васељенске патријаршије [The Ortodox Church in Belgrade Pashaluk 1766-1831: The Administration of the Universal Patriarchy]. Istorijski institut. ISBN 978-86-7743-065-8.
• Radosavljević, Nedeljko V. (2009). Шест портрета православних митрополита 1766-1891 [Portraits of Six Orthodox Mitropolitans 1766-1891]. Istorijski institut. ISBN 978-86-7743-078-8.