Serbian Orthodox Church

The history of the Serbian Orthodox Church can be traced back to the 9th century, when the Serbs were converted to Christianity by Byzantine missionaries. It became autocephalous in 1219, thanks to the efforts of Saint Sava, the first Serbian archbishop. Under Sava's leadership, the church played a key role in the development of Serbian culture and identity. During the 12th to the 14th centuries, Serbia was a formidable force in the region. It became a patriarchate in 1346. By the 15th century, however, the church's fortunes declined when Serbia was conquered by the Ottomans, remaining under their rule for over four centuries. During this time, the church played a vital role in preserving Serbian national identity and culture. In the early 19th century, Serbia gained its independence, and the church was re-established in 1831. It played a leading role in the unification of the Serbian people. In 1879, it was granted autocephaly by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. During the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941), the church thrived, however, it faced persecution during World War II when the Nazi-allied puppet state of Croatia committed genocide against Serbs and other minorities. The church also suffered under the communist regime. Since the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991, the church played a major role in the reconstruction of Serbia, and it continues to exert influence on various aspects of Serbian society to this day.