 Tekelija was a big patron of the "Matica Srpska" and he opened a "Matica" library in the Tekelijanum.He is related to Peter Tekeli and Jovan Tekelija (Thököly).Born in Arad in the Habsburg Monarchy (today's Romania) Tekelija studied at a Serb elementary school, went to a Buda Gymnasium, and studied law and commerce in Pest.