Jesuit Missionaries and the Orthodox Communities in the Northern Balkans in the 17th century

Since the founding of the order in 1540, the Jesuits have played a key role in disseminating knowledge about the everyday religiosity of the Eastern Orthodox communities throughout early modern Europe. From the Balkan Peninsula through Central and Eastern Europe to the Levant, Jesuit missionaries were among the main agents who came into contact with various local Orthodox groups and their leaders and reported regularly to their Roman superiors about these encounters. This was also the case of the Northern Balkans, comprising the historical regions of Slavonia-Srem and Banat. Even though the main objective of the fathers was to explore the Catholic communities in the region and provide them spiritual support. Their reports equally offer a unique, albeit biased glimpse into the everyday lives of various Orthodox groups.