Vasilije Božičković
Encyclopedia
Trifun Vasilije Božičković (or , 1719–1785) was the first bishop of the Eparchy of Križevci
from the erection in 1777 to his death in 1785.
. He entered in the monastic Order of Saint Basil the Great
in 1741, and in the same year he was sent to study in the College of the Propaganda in Rome
. He was ordained a priest
in 1744. When in 1845 he got his doctorate in theology, he could not return in his monastery
of Marča (located near Ivanić Grad
) because it was passed to the Serbian Orthodox Church
, so he was sent in Poland
to teach philosophy. In 1752 he was chosen by his Basilian Order
as representative of the Order in Rome.
On 4 September 1759 Božičković was appointed eparch (bishop) of Marča, i.e. apostolic vicar for the Greek Rite
population under the Latin Archdiocese of Zagreb, succeeding to Gabrijel Palković, and on 11 November 1759 he was consecrated bishop
in Máriapócs
by M. Olsavszky
, Eparch of Mukachevo
.
On 17 June 1777, Pope Pius VI
, on suggestion of the Hasburg monarch
Empress Maria Theresa, erected the Greek Rite Eparchy of Križevci
separating it from Latin Latin Archdiocese of Zagreb and superseding the previous Eparchy of Marča. Božičković, who played a prominent role in the erection of the eparchy, was chosen as first eparch, and so formally appointed on 23 June 1777.
Vasilije Božičković died on 9 May 1785, and he was buried in the church of Saint Mary in Gornji Tkalec.
Eparchy of Križevci
The Eparchy of Križevci, sometimes referred to as the Croatian Greek Catholic Church or the Croatian Byzantine Catholic Church, is a recognized sui iuris Catholic Church listed in the Annuario Pontificio among the Eastern Catholic Churches of Constantinopolitan or Byzantine tradition as the Church...
from the erection in 1777 to his death in 1785.
Life
Vasilije Božičković was born on 11 February 1719 in the village of Batinyan, near ZagrebZagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. He entered in the monastic Order of Saint Basil the Great
Order of Saint Basil the Great
The Order of St. Basil the Great also known as the Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat is an monastic religious order of the Greek Catholic Churches that is present in many countries and that has its Mother House in Rome. The order received approbation on August 20, 1631...
in 1741, and in the same year he was sent to study in the College of the Propaganda in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He was ordained a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in 1744. When in 1845 he got his doctorate in theology, he could not return in his monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Marča (located near Ivanić Grad
Ivanic Grad
Ivanić-Grad is a town in Zagreb County, Croatia. It is part of Moslavina.-Geography:Ivanić-Grad is located south-east from Zagreb, connected: by highway A3 by train on direction Zagreb - Slavonski Brod - Vinkovci.-Population:In the 2001 census, the total population is 14,544, in the following...
) because it was passed to the Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
, so he was sent in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
to teach philosophy. In 1752 he was chosen by his Basilian Order
Order of Saint Basil the Great
The Order of St. Basil the Great also known as the Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat is an monastic religious order of the Greek Catholic Churches that is present in many countries and that has its Mother House in Rome. The order received approbation on August 20, 1631...
as representative of the Order in Rome.
On 4 September 1759 Božičković was appointed eparch (bishop) of Marča, i.e. apostolic vicar for the Greek Rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
population under the Latin Archdiocese of Zagreb, succeeding to Gabrijel Palković, and on 11 November 1759 he was consecrated bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
in Máriapócs
Máriapócs
Máriapócs is a small town in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. It lies near Nyíregyháza. It is an important place for pilgrimage. It has a gorgeous Greek Catholic church, which houses the Weeping Black Madonna, an enormous and unbelievably...
by M. Olsavszky
Manuil Mykhailo Olsavszky
Manuil Mykhailo Olsavszky was the bishop of the Eparchy of Mukacheve from 1743 to his death in 1767.-Life:...
, Eparch of Mukachevo
Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Mukacheve
The Eparchy of Mukacheve is an eparchy of the Ruthenian Catholic Church, with territory located in the west of Ukraine.The eparchy, like the entire Ruthenian Catholic Church, is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church...
.
On 17 June 1777, Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
, on suggestion of the Hasburg monarch
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
Empress Maria Theresa, erected the Greek Rite Eparchy of Križevci
Eparchy of Križevci
The Eparchy of Križevci, sometimes referred to as the Croatian Greek Catholic Church or the Croatian Byzantine Catholic Church, is a recognized sui iuris Catholic Church listed in the Annuario Pontificio among the Eastern Catholic Churches of Constantinopolitan or Byzantine tradition as the Church...
separating it from Latin Latin Archdiocese of Zagreb and superseding the previous Eparchy of Marča. Božičković, who played a prominent role in the erection of the eparchy, was chosen as first eparch, and so formally appointed on 23 June 1777.
Vasilije Božičković died on 9 May 1785, and he was buried in the church of Saint Mary in Gornji Tkalec.