This paper aims to show us how the church and political reform in Russia during the 17th and 18th centuries influenced the situation in the Serbian Church. The reforms conducted by Nikon, the Russian Patriarch, had echoes in the Serbian Church. Emperor Peter the Great contributed to the development of education among the Serbs. Many Serbs during the 18th century were studying in Russia, among them the most famous was Jovan Rajić. Some settled in Russia and they had a significant role in ecclesiastical and political life.