Social Status of Serbian Military Chaplains, 1839–1918 Cover Image

Социјални статус војних свештеника српске војске 1839–1918.
Social Status of Serbian Military Chaplains, 1839–1918

Author(s): Miljan Milkić
Subject(s): History, Military history
Published by: Istorijski institut, Beograd
Keywords: military chaplains; Army of the Principality and Kingdom of Serbia; social status; status of military chaplains; social background; educational structure

Summary/Abstract: The religious service in the Army of the Principality and Kingdom of Serbia institutionally started in 1839 by adopting the first Military Law. Solutions adopted by the Serbian military authorities for facilitating the exercise of religious rights provided unrestricted living for all religious groups in the Serbian Army. The vast majority of the population in Serbia belonged to the Orthodox faith and the Serbian Church had the status of a state church. In the following years different laws and regulations were adopted and various segments of the religious service in the Serbian Army were regulated. Chaplains were government officials appointed by the King’s decree on the proposal of the Minister of War. The religious service in the Serbian Army was headed by a desk officer for confessional affairs in the Ministry of War. He was an orthodox priest with protopresbyter rank. In order to understand the social status of Serbian military chaplains it is important to analyse their social background, educational structure, financial income and personal skills. After the 1904 Military Law was adopted, Serbian military chaplains lost most of their rights. They could be only part¬time Army members and their rank was not strictly determinate. The negative consequences of this Law were particularly manifest during the First World War. There were not enough trained chaplains, and there were no clear criteria for their selection. The social status of military chaplains was bad because of the financial problems they were facing.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 66
  • Page Range: 321-340
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Serbian