Saint Joseph of Timișoara: Life and legacy of the Serbian saint

Saint Joseph of Timișoara, a saint of Serbian origin, was born in Dubrovnik in 1568. After completing his education, he became a monk on Mount Athos, serving in various monasteries including Pantokrator, Vatopedi, Hilandar, Lavra, Xirokemptos, and Koutloumoushi, where he eventually became an abbot.

In 1650, Patriarch Gavrilo I of Peć appointed him Metropolitan of Timișoara. During the period of Ottoman rule, Joseph actively cared for his flock and the Christian people, utilizing his knowledge of the Turkish language. He also established a school for the training of clergy.

In his later years, he retired to the Partoș Monastery in Banat, where he passed away in 1656 at the age of 88. His relics are currently kept in the cathedral in Timișoara. Recognized as a miracle worker during his lifetime, he was officially named Saint Joseph the New by the Banat Metropolitanate in 1686. Both the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church have included him in their liturgical calendars.