Sava Petrović (; 18 January 1702 – 9 March 1782) was the Metropolitan of Cetinje between 1735 and 1781, ruling what is known in historiography as the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro; the polity in the hands of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty. He succeeded his relative Danilo I as Metropolitan in 1735, having served as Danilo's coadjutor since the 1719, when he was consecrated by Serbian Patriarch Mojsije I.
Sava was a lesser memorable figure in Montenegrin history, having served during a period of constant and bitter tribal rivalries and power struggles in tribal leadership.
History
In 1735 Sava officially became the Metropolitan (vladika, rendered as "prince-bishop") of Cetinje, succeeding Danilo I. He was a contemplative man and not as energetic as his predecessor, and sought to cultivate good relations with both Venice and Russia. That year, a new war broke out between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, with Austria on Russia's side. Tribesmen from Montenegro welcomed this as they saw an opportunity for their struggle for independence. Hajduk (bandit and rebel) activity increased as a result. Sava continued to seek some sort of appeasement with Venice, a policy that suited his conservative nature. His goal was securing more open borders for Montenegro, which was already suffering under blockades imposed by its invading Western and Eastern neighbors on all sides. Sava set off in person, and on reaching St. Petersburg the following spring he presented Montenegro's case to the newly enthroned Empress Elizabeth.
In 1767, he wrote to the Republic of Ragusa that the Cetinje Metropolitanate was "happy that the [Ragusan] government still used our Serbian language".
He was succeeded as Metropolitan by Arsenije Plamenac.
Title
- When introducing himself to Empress Elizabeth of Russia (r. 1741–1762), he used "Metropolitan of Skenderija, the Coast and Montenegro —
- "Metropolitan of Montenegro, Skenderija and the Coast, and Exarch of the Holy Throne of the Slav–Serb Patriarchate in Peć" —
Annotations
- Name: In modern historiography his full name is sometimes written Sava Petrović Njegoš (Сава Петровић Његош), or Sava Petrović-Njegoš. Other spellings include Sava Petrović Njeguš (Сава Петровић Његуш)