Naslednost popovske službe u srednjovekovnoj Srbiji

Abstract

Rad se bavi pitanjem naslednosti kao osnovne odlike zatvorenog društvenog sloja. U periodu XIII-XIV veka parohijsko sveštenstvo u Srbiji postalo je brojan društveni sloj, da su, pored kanonskih, uvedena i druga ograničenja za buduće sveštenike. Nasleđivanje nije bilo bezuslovno, a poseban problem predstavlja pitanje popovskih sinova koji nisu postali popovi. Nasleđivanje službe u okviru crkvene jerahije, iako netipično u pravoslavnom svetu, postaje jedna od osnovnih odlika organizacije nižeg sveštenstva u srpskoj Crkvi srednjeg veka.

Although it was widespread in medieval social and state organization, inheritance of a service, social status and position is not characteristic of Church jerarchical organization. By the Decree of Decan hrisovulja, the service of parochial clergymen-priests in the Serbian church became exclusively inheritable. Inheritance was not unconditional, and future priests had to meet basic canon conditions of literacy and conformity to moral codes. The issue of priests' sons who did not inherit their fathers' service was resolved by their restitution to lower social level, 'sokalnici' and 'merophe'.