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Titular (united) sees ofServia. The history of these sees is as confused as their present plight is pitiful from theCatholic stand-point.Dalmatia andIllyria claim St. Titus, the disciple ofSt. Paul, as their firstChristian missionary; but the firstBishop of Belgrade, Theodosius, dates only from 1059. As the ancient Singidunum, however, it was anepiscopal see in the fourth century, but gradually declined during the invasions of the barbarianSlavs. Themedieval see was founded by the King of Croatia. The Hungarians and theVenetians disputed the possession of Belgrade (SerbBeograd, white city). The latter having destroyed the town (1126), theepiscopal see was transferred to the neighbouring Scardona, so extensively embellished by them that it received the name of Scardona Nova. Religion had long flourished there, for one of thebishops at the Council ofSalona (530) signs asEpiscopus Ecclesiae Scardinitanae. On the occasion of the transfer to Scardona the title of Belgrade disappears for centuries fromecclesiastical history. The neighbouring city of Smederevo (LatinSmendria) was also anepiscopal see.Gams gives the names of four of itsbishops from 1544 to 1605, a list, beginning 1334, ofbishops whom he styles "of Belgrade and Semendria" (Nadoralbenses et Belgradenses). It iscertain that in 1650Innocent X re-established the title and See of Belgrade; for aBrief (4 December, 1651) is extant addressed to Matthew Benlich,Episcopus Bellegradensis, Ecclesiae Samadiensis Administrator, creating himvicar Apostolic for those sees of theChurch ofHungary which were underTurkish domination.
In 1729 the two Dioceses of Belgrade and Smederevo were united byBenedict XIII, and in 1733 Vincent Bagradin became the first holder of the double title. Thenceforward the list ofbishops is regular and complete. The "Notizie di Roma" (the official annual of theHoly See) gives the names of all theprelates of this see. Until recent years Belgrade and Smederevo were considered residential sees; it is expressly so stated in the consistory of 1858. It was added that these two sees (ancient Alba Graeca and Singidunum respectively) were suffragans of themetropolitan See ofAntivari, and that thenomination to them resided in the Emperor ofAustria, "but as they are held by the infidels, their actual state is passed over in silence". For many years the title was given to the auxiliary of an Hungarianbishop (at present to the auxiliary of theArchbishop ofZagrab) who was bound to reside with his superior. The "Gerarchia" for 1906, without giving any notice of the change, has transferred this see to the list of titularbishoprics, though Bishop Krapac, who now holds the title, was named in 1904 as a residentialbishop.
The present condition of this Church is most lamentable. The limits of thediocese are those of the Kingdom of Servia, which has an area of 18,630 square miles and a population (1905) of 2,6786,989, belonging for the most part to theGreek schism, which is the official religion of the State. Since 1851 theBishop of Diokovar acts as administrator Apostolic; since 1886 the territory is united to theecclesiastical province ofScutari (Kirch. Handlex., I, 533). There are only two or threepriests, who divide their activities between the three principal stations of Belgrade (4,000Catholics), Kragujevatz (200), and Nish (2,000). There are also seven secondary stations, numbering about 1,000Catholics all told. (It is to be noted that according to the "Statesman's Year Book" for 1907, the Servian census of 1900 gives 10,243Catholics.) One church, twochapels, and two elementaryschools (at Belgrade and Nish respectively) complete the list of the mission's resources.
The statistics say nothing ofUniat Greeks, which leads us to suppose that these LatinCatholics are only westernEuropeans whose businessobliges them to reside inServia. Belgrade has (1905) a population of 80,747. Situated on the right bank of the Danube, just below the Save, it has always been a natural fortress, and as such is famous in military history. From 1522 to 1867 it passed alternately fromTurks to Austrians; in the latter year theTurkish garrison was withdrawn, and in 1878, by the Treaty of Berlin, Belgrade became the capital of the newChristian Kingdom of Servia.
Missiones Catholicae (1906); Gams,Series Episcoporum, 396; Eubel, I, 371, II, 219; Farlati,Ilyr. Sacr. (1769-1819), IV, 1-9, VIII, 144-151, 250-254; Kallay,Geschichte des Serben (1878); Mollat,La Serbie contemporaine (Paris, 1902).
APA citation.Battandier, A.(1907).Belgrade and Smederevo. InThe Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02407a.htm
MLA citation.Battandier, Albert."Belgrade and Smederevo."The Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 2.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1907.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02407a.htm>.
Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by Susan Birkenseer.
Ecclesiastical approbation.Nihil Obstat. 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
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