Methodius, Metropolitan of Belgrade

Methodius (Serbian: Metodije) was the Metropolitan of Belgrade from 1791 to 1801. He served during the return of Ottoman rule to central Serbia following the Austro-Turkish War (1788–91).

Methodius
Metropolitan of Belgrade
Church	Ecumenical Patriarchate
Province	Sanjak of Smederevo
Metropolis	Metropolitanate of Belgrade
Installed	September 1791
Term ended	26 January 1801
Predecessor	Dionysius
Successor	Leontius
Orders
Rank	Metropolitan
Personal details
Born	Ottoman Empire
Died	(1801-01-26)26 January 1801 Belgrade, Ottoman Empire
Nationality	Rum Millet (Greek)
Denomination	Eastern Orthodox
Residence	Belgrade (1791–1801)

Metropolitan of Belgrade Dionysius fled to Austria at the end of the Austro-Turkish War, prior to the fall of Belgrade (Treaty of Sistova).^[1] The Ecumenical Patriarchate ordained Methodius his successor in September 1791, when the Ottomans returned their sovereignty to northern Serbia.^[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, his disciple.