After two centuries of Bulgarian domination, Belgrade came under Byzantum empire rule in 1018. Together with other fifteen cities, Belgrade was mentioned as a bishop centre in a thorough act of the Ohrid Archbishopric, the first sigilion of Tzar Vasilije II Macedonian, from 1019. Belgrade episcopate also comprised Church centres in Gradac, Užice, Bela Crkva and Glavetin with 40 clergymen and 40 village mayors, which means that it was one of the richest diocese of the Ohrid Archbisopric. Since Belgrade came under Byzantium rule, there have not been any big changes in the character of Church authorities as the Ohrid Archdiocese was established on the spiritual and cultural traditions of The first Bulgaran empire and Samuil`s state, its head was called an archbishop of Bulgaria and in terms of jurisdiction, it was completely independent of Contantinople patriarch. Short reign of Hungarian king Salomon in Belgrade (1071/72) did not lead to any changes in Church organistaion, although certain bishop Franco was mentioned by the King`s counselors. The consolidation of the Catholic Church organisation was enabled only from the fourth decade of the XIII century when Belgrade belonged to the Hungarian king. No later than the beginning of March 1232, according to the decision of the Pope Gregory IX of the Orthodox Eparchy, Belgrade and Braničevo were united with the newly established Episcopate of Syrmia which was founded as a missionary one with the clearly defined aim of the spread of Catholicism among the population of the other part of Syrmia (the regions on the south of the Sava, between the rivers of Drina and Kolubara) which, not long time ago, had been a part of the Diocese of Syrmia under the jurisdiction of the Ohrid Archbishopric. In the period of 1284-1389, Belgrade was under Serbian rule. King Dragutin built the Temple, the headquarters of the bishop of Mačva of Serbian Church with the famous Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, a well-known relic from the period of Byzantium rule, and some other churches, so there were many Orthodox priests in Belgrade and its surroundings. Episcopate of Mačva Serbian Church was established in the period of 1284-1290, and it was situated on the country of Mačva, i.e. Syrmia. The river Sava was on its northern border, the river of Drina was on the western one, while the Kolubara and the slopes of Avala and Kosmaj were on the eastern border, and the territory reached Crna Gora and Rudnik on the south. Its territory covered the regional unit of Mačva only partially. On the basis of the data written down by the Archbishop Danilo II, an expert in Church issues of the time, it is quite uncertain whether there was a metropolitan`s residence in Belgrade. In order to solve the puzzle, some hypotheses were outlined in the reference to the political circumstances and Church practices. The firmly established organisation of the Serbian Church endangered the rights of Belgrade Diocese of the Roman Church; that is why the pope Nicholas IV (1288-1292) and John XXII (1316-1334) reacted in order to establish the Catholic jurisdiction. Although Belgrade bishops Martin and Benedict were mentioned in Latin sources from the nineties of the XIV century, Albensis capitulum, Magister Theodor Albensis Ecclesie Prepositus, Magister Demetrius Canonicus Albensis, those were only titlings. The moment of the formal establishment of the already founded clerical organisation was patiently awaited for. It happened after Belgrade had fallen under Hungarian rule again. Hungarian king Charles Robert was active in the strengthening of the position of the Roman Church. After 1319, the headquarters of the Mačva bishop was relocated from Belgrade, but the Episcopate of Mačva of the Serbian Church seemed to have continued its activities. The counties of Ub, Nepričava, Rabas, Pepeljevac, Ljig, Toplica, Upper and Lower Obna and the region of Crna Gora and Rudnik were under its jurisdiction, undoubtedly under the authority of the Serbian King. Most likely the Serbian bishop of Mačva also had jurisdiction over the Orthodox clergy and the religious people in the regional units of Mačva which were returned to Hungary in 1319.
