Danilo Jakšić

Saint Danilo Jakšić was born in 1715 at Srpske Moravice, to parents Milet and Stoina, and died on 27 January 1771 at Plaški. He was a Serbian bishop of Upper Karlovac from 1751 until his death, with his see at Plaški. From his youth he entered Gomirje Monastery, where he learned to read and was tonsured; at nineteen he was ordained hierodeacon, then hieromonk by Bishop Danilo Ljubotina, whom he served at Plaški. He lived eighteen years at Gomirje, under Abbot Theodore Miletić, and became archimandrite of the monastery, then received the temporary administration of the diocese.

The synod elected him bishop of Upper Karlovac in 1750, but because of delays by the state authorities his consecration took place only on 4 November 1751 and his enthronement in 1752. Despite difficulties, he carried out a lively pastoral work and defended Orthodoxy in his diocese and beyond it. In 1769 the church and national assembly proposed him for Metropolitan of Karlovci and he received the majority of votes, but the authorities prevented his election. During his episcopate the diocese's borders were completed, covering all of Upper Krajina.

He is remembered as one of the most worthy and honoured hierarchs of the diocese. The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church numbered him among the saints in 2022.