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). 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. 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). Methodius was murdered on 26 January 1801, allegedly on Mustafa Pasha's orders. Archimandrite Hadži-Ruvim however claimed that he was drowned "due to his lawlessness and wrongdoings" having been a tyrant. 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. It was later proved that the Dahije (renegade Janissaries) had him killed, as was done with Mustafa Pasha soon afterwards. He was succeeded by Leontius.

Sources

• Đorđević, M.; Nedeljković, S. (2015). "Политичке прилике у београдском пашалуку у предвечерје српске револуције (1787-1804)". Teme-Časopis za Društvene Nauke: 965–979.
• Radosavljević, Nedeljko V. (2007). Православна црква у Београдском пашалуку 1766-1831: управа Васељенске патријаршије [The Orthodox 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.