Нова сведочанства из живота митрополита Михаила: од свргнућа до поновног повратка (1881-1889)
New Testimonies from the Life of Metropolitan Mihailo: From Overthrow to Reappointment (1881–1889)

Summary/Abstract: After the Congress of Berlin, Serbia began to increasingly rely on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, at the same time distancing itself from Russia. The peak of Serbia’s foreign policy reorientation came in 1881, when the Secret Convention was signed and when Metropolitan Mihailo, a great Russophile and the supporter of good Serbian-Russian relations, was overthrown. The 1881–1889 period was very tumultuous in Serbian history and in the history of the Orthodox Church in the Principality/Kingdom of Serbia, as well as for Serbian-Russian relations. It ended with the abdication of King Milan and the formation of a regency, which ruled instead of Prince Aleksandar, who was still a minor. This work is a critical edition of twenty three documents, of various content, from six different archival institutions of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The edited documents enable us to see how Russia looked upon the events in Serbia and upon resolving of the “church question”. They also testify to details from the life of Metropolitan Mihailo on the eve of and during his emigration. What is especially valuable are the secret reports from Belgrade of minister resident A. I. Persiyani, which clearly show the official Russia’s stand, as well as a letter of Metropolitan Mihailo to Russian Emperor Alexander III, in which he asked him for help during emigration. Along with the documents of official state institutions, the edited personal correspondence also sheds light on Metropolitan Mihailo’s activities during emigration and upon his return to Serbia (1881–1890).

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