Nikola Dobrečić

Nikola Dobrečić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Добречић; 28 January 1872 – 14 November 1955) was a Roman Catholic priest, Archbishop of Bar and Primate of Serbia, restorer of the Roman Catholic Church in Montenegro, reformer, poet, philanthropist, theologian and philosopher, founder of the archbishop's residence in Bar.

While serving there, he taught elementary school and began his career in government and business affairs working as a stenographer for the Montenegrin National Assembly.

[4] Following the death of the incumbent, Simon Milinović, in 1910, the Roman Curia chose Dobrečić as the new Archbishop of Bar and Primate of Serbia, and he received his appointment in 1912.

Dobrečić went to the Holy See, where he successfully gained recognition for the newly created state, despite a note of protest from the self-proclaimed Montenegrin government-in-exile in France under the leadership of King Nicholas.

On 23 October 1923, he was hosted for lunch in Bar by King Alexander Karađorđević, which demonstrates that he was on good terms with the ruling dynasty.

During the interwar period Nikola Dobrečić traveled Europe and to the United States contacting émigrées and trying to arouse interest in investments in Montenegro.

He pointed out the need for vigorous development of the eastern Adriatic coast, often comparing the "Croatian Riviera" with "completely abandoned Serbian coastline".

This was in addition to an early form of kindergarten, when his residence included, for a time, an orphanage for abandoned children from the coastal region of Bar.

When in 1941 the country fell under the occupation of the Axis powers in World War II, Dobrečić supported the resistance despite great pressure from the Italian fascists.