Joanikije Lipovac

Metropolitan Joanikije Lipovac (born 16 February 1890, Stoliv – died 18 June 1945, Bukovik) was the Metropolitan of the Diocese of Montenegro and the Littoral. He was executed by the Yugoslav Partisans for collaborating with the Italian and German forces during World War II. He was named a saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Joanikije attempted to maintain the diocese as the area transitioned between German and communist rule. With the ascendency of communist control he attempted to leave the area with many of his priests. The attempt was unsuccessful and he and his party of priests were executed by the Partisans. In 1999, his name was added to the list of Serbian saints.

Jovan Lipovac was born to Špiro Lipovac and Marija (née Damjanović) Lipovac in Stoliv in the Bay of Kotor in what was then the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He finished elementary school in Prčanj and gymnasium in Kotor. He graduated in Orthodox theology in Zadar and philosophy at the University of Belgrade. After being ordained he served in Kotor and Lastva. From 1925–40 he taught as a professor in Belgrade. In 1939 he was named episcope of the Eparchy of Budim. The following year he was named metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.

Soon after taking the position of metropolitan, the April War brought the Second World War to Yugoslavia and resulted in the establishment of an independent Montenegro as the protectorate of Fascist Italy. Joanikije collaborated with occupying Italian and German forces and supported the activities of the Serbian Chetniks. He was at the head of the column of Montenegrin Chetniks which attempted to flee Yugoslavia through Germany at the end of the war.

Joanikije was captured by Yugoslav Partisans on May 12 near Celje and taken to Zagreb. On orders from Milovan Đilas, he was transferred to Belgrade. He and his party were executed by the Partisans at Bukovik near Aranđelovac on 18 June 1945.