Atanasije II Gavrilovi  was first mentioned in 1741 when the throne of Serbian Patriarchate of Pe was contested between the Serbs and the Ottomans brought a Joanikije III to the throne.
He was first mentioned in 1741 as the Metropolitan of Skopje. At that time, the throne of Serbian Patriarchate of Pec was contested between the Serbs, who were seen as rebels by the Ottomans, and Phanariote Greeks, who were very much loyal to the authorities. The Ottomans brought Joanikije III, a Greek, to the throne in Pec. 
