Miroslav Gospel ( Serbian : Мирослављево jеванђеље / Miroslavljevo jevanđelje , pronounced [mǐrɔslaʋʎɛʋɔ jɛʋǎndʑɛːʎɛ] ) is a 362-page Serbian illuminated manuscript Gospel Book on parchment with very rich decorations. It is one of the oldest surviving documents written in the Serbian recension of Church Slavonic . The gospel is considered a masterpiece of illustration and calligraphy.
118-472: During Saint Sava 's time, a Serbian Prophliestologion (Cod. 313), a Novgorod Sticherarion (Cod. 301), and Kiev Irmologion (Cod. 308 with Old Church Slavonic musical neumatic notation were also found in the same place as Hilandar Fragments from the 10th and early 11th century (now in Odessa ). It is presumed that both Miroslav Gospel and Vukan's Gospel reached Hilandar at the same. Miroslav's Gospel
236-744: A book of directives, which shaped the eremitical monasticism all across the Serbian lands. He also wrote the Hilandar Typikon regulating spiritual life in monasteries, organization of services and duties of monastic communities. The Hilandar Typikon was modeled in part after the typikon of the Monastery of Theotokos Evergetis in Constantinople . After the Fourth Crusade and Crusaders ' sack of Constantinople in 1204,
354-427: A chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas built in, in addition to the newly erected monastery dining chamber. An unmatched iconographic work took place during Milutin's era starting from the main church, through the dining chamber, to the cemetery church. At that time the number of Serbian monks skyrocketed and monasticism flourished even further as Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos donated large pieces of land to
472-546: A charter which revoked the earlier decision, and instead not only granted Hilandar, but also the other abandoned monasteries in Mileis, to Simeon and Sava, to be a haven and shelter for Serb monks in Athos. The restoration of Hilandar quickly began and Grand Prince Stefan sent money and other necessities, and issued the founding charter for Hilandar in 1199. Sava wrote a typikon (liturgical office order) for Hilandar, modeled on
590-519: A contemporary of Serbian patriarch Pajsije , published a biography of St. Sava in Latin, in Rome in 1630–31, which was later translated into Serbian by Veselin Čajkanović (1881–1946); this biography has many historical inaccuracies. There are many transcripts preserved of Domentijan's biography, and many more of Teodosije's. Bishop of Bosnia Giovanni Thomas Marnavich wrote about him. The presence of
708-645: A depiction of St. Sava. He is most often depicted as an archiereus ( arhijerej , main priest), or together with his father, St. Simeon. The most notable of his fresco depictions are located in the monasteries of Studenica , Mileševa , Peć , Morača , Arilje , Sopoćani , Dečani , Hilandar , Bogorodica Ljeviška , Psača , Lesnovo , Marko's Monastery , Matejić , Nagoričano , Nikita , Andrijaš , Bela Crkva , Baljevac , Pavlica , Ljubostinja , Resava , Koporin , Prohor Pčinjski , Rudenica , Blagoveštenje and St. Nicholas in Ovčar , Ježevica , Poganovo and others; he
826-521: A diminutive of Rastislav , was born in 1169 or 1174 , in Gradina (modern-day Podgorica ). As the youngest son of Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja and his wife Ana , prince Rastko belonged to the first generation of the Nemanjić dynasty , alongside his brothers Vukan and Stefan . His biographers mention that he was born after a hiatus in the couple's childbearing and was therefore especially dear. At
944-503: A golden sealed chrysobulls donating the ancient monastery Helandaris, "to the Serbs as an eternal gift...," thereby designating it, "to serve the purpose of accepting the people of Serbian descent, who seek to pursue the monastic way of life, as monasteries belonging to Iberia and Amalfi endure on the Mount , exempt from any authority, including the authority of Protos ." Hilandar
1062-623: A monk with the name Sava ( Sabbas ). At Athos he established the monastery of Hilandar , which became one of the most important cultural and religious centres of the Serbian people. In 1219 the Patriarchate exiled in Nicea recognized him as the first Serbian Archbishop, and in the same year he authored the oldest known constitution of Serbia, the Zakonopravilo nomocanon , thus securing full religious and political independence. Sava
1180-549: A new wave of raids hit the monastic republic . In the early 14th century, pirate mercenaries of the Catalan Grand Company repeatedly raided the Holy Mountain , while looting and sacking numerous monasteries, stealing treasures and Christian relics, and terrorizing monks. Of the 300 monasteries and monastic communities on Athos , Hilandar was among only 35 that survived the violence of the first decade of
1298-739: A papal legate, becoming equal to the other kings, and was called "the First-Crowned King" of Serbia. Stefan's politics that led to the events of 1217 were somewhat in odds with the Serbian Orthodox tradition, represented by his brother, archimandrite Sava, who favored Eastern Orthodoxy and Byzantine ecclesiastical culture in Serbia. Though Sava left Serbia while talks were underway between Stefan and Rome (apparently due to disagreeing with Stefan's excessive reliance on Rome), he and his brother resumed their good relation after receiving
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#17327720517221416-566: A part of the historians as a reaction to his brother Stefan accepting the royal crown from Rome. Stefan had just prior to this made a large switch in politics, marrying a Venetian noblewoman, and subsequently asked the Pope for a royal crown and political support. With the establishment of the Latin Empire (1204), Rome had considerably increased its power in the Balkans. Stefan was crowned by
1534-712: A shelter for Serb pilgrims. Sava donated gold to many monasteries in Palestine, Thessaloniki, and especially Mount Athos. His ktetor activity was an expression of deep devotion and sincere loyalty to Christian ideals. And many other churches across Serbia, as well. And many other donations in Jerusalem and Serbia . Hilandar The Hilandar Monastery ( / h ˈ ɪ l ə n d ə r / , HEE -ləhn-dəhr , Serbian Cyrillic : Манастир Хиландар , romanized : Manastir Hilandar , Serbian pronunciation: [xilǎndaːr] , Greek : Μονή Χιλανδαρίου )
1652-677: A short stay at Studenica, Sava embarked on a four-year trip throughout the lands where he confirmed the theological teachings and delivered constitutions and customs of monastic life to be kept, as he had seen in Mount Athos, Palestine, and the Middle East. After the throne change in 1234, when King Radoslav was succeeded by his brother Vladislav , Archbishop Sava began his second trip to the Holy Land. Prior to this, Sava had appointed his loyal pupil Arsenije Sremac as his successor to
1770-722: A sort of lex specialis , which allowed Studenica to have independent status ("Here, therefore, no one is to have authority, neither bishop nor any one else") in relation to the Bishopric of Raška and Archbishopric of Ohrid. The canonization of Nemanja and the Studenica Typikon would be the first steps towards the future autocephaly of the Serbian Church and elevation of the Serbian ruler to king ten years later. In 1217, archimandrite Sava left Studenica and returned to Mount Athos. His departure has been interpreted by
1888-421: A tired and sick man. When the sickness took a hold of him and he saw that the end was near, he sent part of his entourage to Serbia with the gifts and everything he had bought with his blessing to give "to his children". The eulogia consisted of four items. Domentijan accounted that he died between Saturday and Sunday, most likely on 27 January [ O.S. 14 January] 1235. Sava was respectfully buried at
2006-629: A tour of Athos in late autumn 1197 in order for Simeon to familiarize with all of its churches and sacred places; Nemanja and Ana donated to numerous monasteries, especially Karyes, Iviron and the Great Lavra. When Sava visited the Byzantine Emperor Alexios III Angelos at Constantinople, he mentioned the neglected and abandoned Hilandar , and asked the Emperor to grant him and his father permission to restore
2124-813: Is considered unique as it showed the transition between Old Church Slavonic and the first recognizably distinct Serbian language. In 2005, the Miroslav Gospel was inscribed in UNESCO 's Memory of the World Register in recognition of its historical value. This article about an illuminated manuscript is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Saint Sava Saint Sava ( Serbian : Свети Сава , romanized : Sveti Sava , pronounced [sʋɛ̂ːtiː sǎːʋa] ; Old Church Slavonic : Свѧтъ Сава / ⰔⰂⰤⰕⰟ ⰔⰀⰂⰀ ; Greek : Άγιος Σάββας ; 1169 or 1174 – 14 January 1236), known as
2242-777: Is depicted with the Nemanjić dynasty ( loza Nemanjića ) in Dečani , Peć and Orahovica . The translation of his relics are illustrated in the church of the Gradac Monastery , and in the Monastery of Peć (in the Bogorodica Odigitrije temple) the scene where Sava appoints his successor Arsenije is depicted. In the Church of St. George, also in the Monastery of Peć , an assembly of Sava is depicted. Iconographer ( zograf ) Georgije Mitrofanović illustrated events from
2360-484: Is gained mostly from renewable energy sources. During the 1980s, electrification of the monastery of Hilandar took place, generating power mostly for lights and heating. In 1990, Hilandar was converted from an idiorrhythmic monastery into a cenobitic one. On March 4, 2004, there was a devastating fire at the Hilandar monastery, which destroyed much of the walled complex and all the wooden elements. The library and
2478-469: Is one of the largest churches in the world. Divine Services , službe , were created in his honour following his burial. The earliest service date to the reign of king Vladislav, in which Saint Sava is mentioned along the killed monks on Sinai. In it, he is compared to the saints Sergius and Bacchus , whose relics are held at the Mileševa monastery. In the service, he is called an illuminator on earth, and
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#17327720517222596-558: Is one of the twenty Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Mount Athos in Greece and the only Serbian Orthodox monastery there. It was founded in 1198 by two Serbs from Grand Principality of Serbia , Stefan Nemanja (Saint Symeon) and his son Saint Sava . St. Symeon was the former Grand Prince of Serbia (1166–1196) who upon relinquishing his throne took monastic vows and became an ordinary monk . He joined his son Saint Sava who
2714-744: Is regarded as the founder of Serbian medieval literature . He is widely considered one of the most important figures in Serbian history . Sava is considered to be to the Serbs what Averroes is to the Muslims and Maimonides is to the Jews . Saint Sava is venerated by the Eastern Orthodox Church on January 27 [ O.S. January 14]. Many artistic works from the Middle Ages to modern times have interpreted his life. He
2832-491: Is the first work of the epistolary genre that has been preserved in the old Serbian literature. Theologian Lazar Mirković (1885–1968) noted "With a lot of feeling and longing for the fatherland in a distant world and caring for things in the homeland, Sava wrote this letter to Spiridon, reporting about him and his entourage, of them falling ill on the road, how they donated to the Holy sites, where he intended to travel, and along with
2950-546: Is the patron saint of Serbia, Serbs, and Serbian education. The Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade is dedicated to him, built on the site where the Ottomans burnt his remains in 1594, during an uprising in which Serbs used icons of Sava as their war flags; the church is one of the largest church buildings in the world . Rastko ( Serbian Cyrillic : Растко Немањић , Serbian pronunciation: [râstkɔ nɛ̌maɲitɕ] ),
3068-1183: The Three-handed Theotokos icon. His person is illustrated on numerous liturgical metal and textile items, while he and scenes from his life are illuminated in many manuscripts and printed books. Many Serbian poets have written poetry dedicated to St. Sava. These include Jovan Jovanović Zmaj 's (1833–1904) Pod ikonom Svetog Save and Suze Svetog Save , Vojislav Ilić 's (1860–1894) Sveti Sava and Srpkinjica , Milorad Popović Šapčanin 's (1841–1895) Svetom Savi , Aleksa Šantić 's (1868–1924) Pred ikonom Svetog Save , Pepeo Svetog Save , Sveti Sava na golgoti , Vojislav Ilić Mlađi 's (1877–1944) Sveti Sava , Nikolaj Velimirović 's (1881–1956) Svetitelju Savo , Reči Svetog Save and Pesma Svetom Savi , Milan Petrović 's (1902–1963) Sveti Sava , Vasko Popa 's (1922–1991) St. Sava's Journey , Momčilo Tešić 's (1911–1992) Svetom Savi , Desanka Maksimović 's (1898–1993) Savin monolog , Matija Bećković 's (b. 1939) Priča o Svetom Savi , Mićo Jelić Grnović 's (b. 1942) Uspavanka , and others. The earliest works of Sava were dedicated to ascetic and monastic life:
3186-746: The Bulgarian capital at Tarnovo , where he was warmly and friendly admitted by the Bulgarian Emperor Ivan Asen II (father-in-law of King Vladislav) and Bulgarian Patriarch Joakim. As on all his destinations, he gave rich gifts to the churches and monasteries: "[he] gave also to the Bulgarian Patriarchate priestly honourable robes and golden books and candlesticks adorned with precious stones and pearls and other church vessels", as written by Teodosije. Sava had after much work and many long trips arrived at Tarnovo
3304-657: The Crusader Latin plunder, King Uroš the Great constructed a large fortification surrounding the monastery with the protective tower named after the Transfiguration of Christ . King Dragutin also expanded proceeds to the monastery and land or metochion income. He participated in improving and reinforcing defensive fortifications. Following the end of the Latin Occupation of this part of Byzantium,
3422-778: The Entry of the Lady Theotokos into the Temple between 1198-1200, while also adding Saint Sava 's Tower, the Kambanski Tower, and Saint Symeon 's monastic chambers - cells. Saint Symeon 's middle son and Saint Sava 's older brother, Serbian Grand Prince Stefan "the First-Crowned" King provided financial resources for this restoration. As Hilandar's founder, Saint Symeon issued a special founding charter or chrysobulls , which survived until World War II , when it
3540-590: The Fourth Crusade , Sava returned to Serbia in the winter of 1205–1206 or 1206–1207, with the remains of his father which he relocated to his father's endowment, the Studenica monastery , and then reconciled his quarreling brothers. Sava saved the country from further political crisis by ending the dynastic fight, and also completed the canonization process of Nemanja (Simeon) as a saint. Having spent 14 years in Mount Athos, Sava had extensive theological knowledge and spiritual power. According to Sava's biography, he
3658-746: The Hilandar Monastery library in 1845 was first publicly shown at an exhibition in Kiev in 1874. The earliest facsimile edition appeared in Vienna in 1897. The book was traditionally kept at the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos , before it was presented to King Alexander I of Serbia, on the occasion of his visit to the monastery in 1896. Today it is in the collection of the National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade . The book
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3776-602: The Holy Forty Martyrs Church . Sava's body was returned to Serbia after a series of requests, and was then buried in the Mileševa monastery , built by Vladislav in 1234. According to Teodosije, Archbishop Arsenije told Vladislav "It's neither nice nor pleasing, before God nor the people, leaving our father [Sava] gifted to us by the Christ. An equal to apostles – who made so many feats and countless efforts for
3894-685: The Latins , and then from there went to Jerusalem , to the Monastery of St. John the Apostle, "which he, as soon as arriving, redeemed from the Saracens , in his name". Sava had a prolonged stay in Jerusalem; he was again friendly and brotherly received by Patriarch Athanasius. From Jerusalem he went to Alexandria , where he visited Patriarch Nicholas, with whom he exchanged gifts. After touring
4012-482: The Life of St. Sava at Hilandar at the end of the 13th century. He based it on Domentijan's biography, though, unlike the latter, of which narratives are of thoughtful and solemn rhetoric, Teodosije's biography is warmer, with features of a hagiographic narrative . Teodosije's description of events give the impression of a novel , though it does not distort the historical course of events. Catholic bishop Ivan Mrnavić ,
4130-764: The Life of St. Sava in the dining room of Hilandar . "The Serbian miracle-workers" Sava and Simeon are depicted in the Archangel Sobor in Kremlin , in Moscow. In the chapel of the Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, the Life of St. Sava is depicted in eight compositions, and in the Athonite monastery of St. Panteleimon Monastery he is depicted as a monk. St. Sava is depicted with St. Simeon on an icon from
4248-457: The Life of St. Simeon (Stefan Nemanja, his father), the first Serbian hagiography. He has been given various honorific titles, such as "Father" and "Enlightener". The Serb people built the cult of St. Sava based on the religious cult; many songs, tales and legends were created about his life, work, merit, goodness, fairness and wisdom, while his relics became a topic of national and ethnopolitical cult and focus of liberation ideas. In 1840, at
4366-534: The Lim region with Bijelo Polje while Rastko held Hum. After two years, in autumn 1192 or shortly afterwards, Rastko left Hum for Mount Athos . Miroslav may have continued as ruler of Hum after Rastko had left. Athonite monks were frequent visitors to the Serbian court – lectures perhaps made him determined to leave. Upon arriving at Athos, Rastko entered the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery where he received
4484-589: The Metohija region of Serbia . Saint Symeon died in the monastery on February 13, 1200 where he was buried next to the main church of the Entry of the Lady Theotokos into the Temple . His body remained in Hilandar until 1208 when his myrrh -flowing remains were transferred to Serbia and interred into the mother-church of all Serbian churches the Studenica Monastery according to his original desire, which he previously completed in 1196. Following
4602-563: The Middle Ages and the Ottoman rule . Saint Sava is the protector of the Serb people: he is venerated as a protector of churches, families, schools and artisans. His feast day is also venerated by Greeks, Bulgarians, Romanians and Russians. Numerous toponyms and other testimonies, preserved to this day, convincingly speak of the prevalence of the cult of St. Sava. St. Sava is regarded the father of Serbian education and literature; he authored
4720-632: The typikon of the monastery of Theotokos Euergetis in Constantinople. Besides Hilandar, Sava was the ktetor (sr. ktitor ; founder, donator) of the hermitage at Karyes (seat of Athos) for the monks who devoted themselves to solitude and prayer. In 1199, he authored the typikon of Karyes . Along with the hermitage, he built the chapel dedicated to Sabbas the Sanctified , whose name he received upon monastic vows. His father died on 13 February 1199. In 1204, after 13 April, Sava received
4838-464: The "namesake monk of royal blood from a faraway land" who would experience, during his pilgrimage to the monastery, the fall of his hegumen cane to the floor, previously affixed above his grave, while venerating icons and praying on that spot. Serbian kings Stefan Radoslav and Stefan Vladislav , who were Saint Sava 's nephews, significantly endowed the monastery with new land possessions and proceeds. In order to effectively deal with consequences of
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4956-584: The 14th century which is held in the National Museum in Belgrade, and on an icon held in the National Museum in Bucharest. The pair is depicted on tens of icons held in Hilandar. Other icons of them are found in the monasteries of Lepavina and Krka , and on the triptych of Orahovica. On an icon of Morača, beside a scene from his life, he is depicted with St. Simeon, knez Stefan and St. Cyril
5074-409: The 14th century. The monastery owes this fortune to its very experienced and skillful deputy hegumen at the time Danilo, who later became the Serbian Archbishop Danilo II . Consequently, Serbian King Milutin played a major role in building the Hilandar monastery complex by reconstructing and expanding it. In 1320 he completely reconstructed the main church of the Entry of the Lady Theotokos into
5192-495: The 17th century the number of Serbian monks dwindled, and the disastrous fire in 1722 saw a decline: in his account of 1745, Russian pilgrim Vasily Barsky wrote that Hilandar was headed by Bulgarian monks, even though the presence of Serbian monks was also noted. Ilarion Makariopolski , Sophronius of Vratsa and Matey Preobrazhenski had all lived there, and it was in this monastery that Saint Paisius of Hilendar began his revolutionary Slavonic-Bulgarian History . The monastery
5310-403: The Emperor himself, Dusan's aristocracy also supported the monastery. In 1347 Emperor Dusan sought refuge in Hilandar while escaping the plague pandemics that devastated Europe. He also took his wife Empress Jelena with him, thus creating a precedent and violating the strict tradition of "avaton" that bars women from stepping into Mount Athos. Oral tradition holds that during her stay in Hilandar,
5428-552: The Empress was not allowed to plant her foot on the Athos ground as she was carried around by her escort. In memory of Emperor Dusan's visit, the Hilandar monks erected big cross and planted the "imperial olive tree " on the spot where they welcomed him. Serbian Emperor also built the Church of St. Archangels and expanded the monastery's hospital around 1350, while Empress Jelena endowed the Karyes monastic cell dedicated to St. Sava which belongs to Hilandar. Both Hilandar and Mount Athos already enjoyed tremendous reverence in Serbia as
5546-452: The Enlightener , was a Serbian prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church , the founder of Serbian law , and a diplomat . Sava, born as Rastko Nemanjić ( Serbian Cyrillic : Растко Немањић ), was the youngest son of Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja (founder of the Nemanjić dynasty ), and ruled the appanage of Zachlumia briefly in 1190–92. He then left for Mount Athos , where he became
5664-585: The Holy Mother of God in Ston ; Dabar , seated at Monastery of St. Nicholas on the Lim; Moravica, seated at Monastery of St. Achillius in the Moravica region; Budimlja, seated at Monastery of St. George; Toplica, seated at Monastery of St. Nicholas in the Toplica region; Hvosno, seated at Monastery of the Holy Mother of God in the Hvosno region; Žiča, seated at Žiča , the seat of the Church; Raška, seated at Monastery of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Peć ; Lipljan, seated at Lipljan ; Prizren, seated at Prizren . Among his bishops were Ilarion and Metodije . In
5782-509: The Karyes Typikon and Hilandar Typikon. In their nature, they are Church law, based strictly on non-literary works, however, in them some moments came to expression of indirect importance for the establishment of an atmosphere in which Sava's original and in the narrow sense, literary works, came to exist. In addition, characteristics of Sava's language and style come to light here, especially in those paragraphs which are his specific interpretations or independent supplements. The organization of
5900-443: The Orthodox Serbs, while his grave was also a pilgrim site for Catholics and Muslims. Foreign 16th-century writers, Jean Sesno (1547) and Catherine Zen (1550) noted that Muslims respected the tomb of St. Sava, and feared him. Benedicto Ramberti (1553) said that Turks and Jews gave more charity to Mileševa than Serbs. When the Serbs in Banat rose up against the Ottomans in 1594, using the portrait of Saint Sava on their war flags ,
6018-479: The Ottomans retaliated by incinerating the relics of St. Sava on the Vračar plateau in Belgrade . Grand Vizier Koca Sinan Pasha , the main commander of the Ottoman army, ordered for the relics to be brought from Mileševa to Belgrade, where he set them on fire on 27 April. Monk Nićifor of the Fenek monastery wrote that "there was great violence carried out against the clergy and devastation of monasteries". The Ottomans sought to symbolically and really, set fire to
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#17327720517226136-478: The Philosopher. Graphical illustrations of St. Sava are found in old Serbian printed books: Triode from the Mrkšina crkva printing house (1566), Zbornik of Jakov of Kamena Reka (1566), as well as Sabornik of Božidar Vuković (1546) where he is depicted with St. Simeon. There are notable depictions of Sava in chalcography , one of which was made by Zaharije Orfelin (1726–1785). In Hilandar, there are two wood-cuts depicting St. Sava and St. Simeon holding
6254-411: The Serb determination of freedom, which had become growingly noticeable. The event, however, sparked an increase in rebel activity, until the suppression of the uprising in 1595. It is believed that his left hand was saved]; it is currently held at Mileševa. The Church of Saint Sava was built near the place where his relics were burned. Its construction began in the 1930s and was completed in 2004. It
6372-409: The Serbian church with united areas was set on a completely new basis. The activity of major monasteries developed; caretaking of missionary work was put under the duty of the proto-priests ( protopopovi ). Legal regulations of the Serbian Church was constituted with a code of a new, independent, compilation of Sava – the Nomocanon or Krmčija ; with this codification of Byzantine law, Serbia already at
6490-523: The Serbian court the brothers received a good education in the Byzantine tradition, which exercised great political, cultural and religious influence in Serbia. He grew up in a time of great foreign relations activities in Serbia. Rastko showed himself serious and ascetic ; as the youngest son, he was made Prince of Hum at an early age, in ca. 1190. Hum was a province between Neretva and Dubrovnik ( Ragusa ). Having his own court with magnates ( velmože ), senior officials and selected local nobility ,
6608-443: The Serbian lands, decorating it with churches and the kingdom, the archbishopric and bishops, and all constitutions and laws – that his relics lie outside his fatherland and the seat of his church, in a foreign land". King Vladislav twice sent delegations to his father-in-law Asen, asking him to let the relics of Sava be transferred to the fatherland, but the Emperor was unappealing. Vladislav then personally visited him and finally got
6726-425: The Temple which finally took its present shape as it became a symbol of Hilandar. The monastery complex was expended further north to encompass new monastic cells and fortifications. During his reign, several towers were completed, notably the Milutin Tower, located between monastery's docks and its eastern wall, and the Hrussiya or Basil's Tower situated on the shore. Milutin also added a new main entrance gate which
6844-455: The Three Hands ( Trojeručica ) is considered the monastery's abbess. The monastery contains about 45 working monks. The etymological meaning of "Hilandar" is probably derived from the Greek word chelandion , which is a type of Byzantine transport ship, whose skipper was called " helandaris ". The monastery was founded in 1198; prompted by the Mount Athos monastic community, Byzantine Emperor Alexios III Angelos (1195–1203) issued
6962-455: The adoration of his icon is mentioned. There are two services dedicated to Saint Sava: one dedicated to his Assumption (death), and the second to the translation of his relics. Nikola and Radoslav wrote the service on the translation of his relics in ca. 1330. Other services dedicated to the translation were also compiled in 1599 by inok Georgije, and written by protohegumen Visarion of Zavala in 1659–60. These services were superseded by
7080-442: The apparitions of the holy God-bearing fathers. And he consecrated them and made them bishops" (Domentijan). Sava gave the newly appointed bishops law books and sent them to bishoprics in all parts of Serbia. It is unclear how many bishoprics he founded. The following bishoprics were under his administration: Zeta ( Zetska ), seated at Monastery of Holy Archangel Michael in Prevlaka near Kotor; Hum ( Humska ), seated at Monastery of
7198-481: The approval, and brought the relics to Serbia. With the highest church- and state honours, the relics of Saint Sava were transferred from the Holy Forty Martyrs Church to Mileševa on 19 May [ O.S. 6 May] 1237. "The King and the Archbishop, with the bishops and hegumens and many noblemen, all together, little and great, carried the Saint in much joy, with psalms and songs". Sava was canonized, and his relics were considered miraculous; his cult remained throughout
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#17327720517227316-446: The arrival of his father (1197), he founded three chapels ( paraklisi ). He had the monastery church covered in lead , and was regarded as the second ktetor , also having donated highly valuable ecclesiastical art objects. Together with his father he was the great, second ktetor of the monasteries of Iviron , Great Lavra and churches in Karyes . The most important was Hilandar , together with his father (1198). He then founded
7434-539: The beginning of the 13th century received a firm legal order and became a state of law, in which the rich Greek-Roman law heritage was continued. His liturgical regulations include also Psaltir-holding laws (Ustav za držanje Psaltira), which he translated from Greek, or as possibly is the case with the Nomocanon, was only the initiator and organizer, and supervisor of the translation. A personal letter of his, written from Jerusalem to his disciple hegumen Spiridon in Studenica, shows Sava getting closer to literature. This
7552-583: The beginning of the 14th century, Serbian Archbishop Nikodim I (s. 1316–1324) dedicated a church to him. Helena of Bulgaria , the wife of Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55), founded a chapel on the top of the tower in Karyes, dedicated to St. Simeon and St. Sava. One of the churches of Rossikon on Mount Athos, as well as a church in Thessaloniki, are dedicated to him. Churches throughout Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro are dedicated to him, as well as churches in diaspora communities . There are close to no Serbian churches that do not have
7670-455: The beginning of the development of convenient literary genres in the independent Serbian literature. In the Hilandar Typikon, Sava included the Short Hagiography of St. Simeon Nemanja , which tells of Simeon's life between his arrival at Hilandar and death. It was written immediately after his death, in 1199 or 1200. The developed hagiography on St. Simeon was written in the introduction of the Studenica Typikon (1208). Very few manuscripts of
7788-525: The cell at Karyes, and in 1199 became ktetor of three more Authonite monasteries: Karakallou , Xeropotamou , and Philotheou . In 1197 he gave a large contribution to the Constantinopolitan monastery of the Holy Mother of God Euergetes, and did the same to Philokallou in Thessaloniki; "due to him also giving much gold for the erection of that monastery, the population there regard him the ktetor ", according to Teodosije. Returning to Serbia in 1206, Sava continued his work. The Mother of God Church in Studenica
7906-409: The crown. It is possible that Sava did not agree with everything in his brother's international politics, however, his departure for Athos may also be interpreted as a preparation for obtaining the autocephaly (independence) of the Serbian Archbishopric. His departure was planned, both Domentijan and Teodosije, Sava's biographers, stated that before leaving Studenica he appointed a new hegumen and "put
8024-417: The day they name as January 12 currently falls on January 25 of the modern Gregorian Calendar . The monastery also possesses the Wonderworking Icon of the Theotokos "Of the Three Hands" (Greek: Tricherusa , Serbian: Тројеручицa), traditionally associated with a miraculous healing of St. John Damascene . Around the year 717, St. John became a monk at Mar Sabbas monastery outside of Jerusalem and gave
8142-551: The end of the 14th century, Hilandar served as a refuge to numerous members of Serbian nobility. The Byzantine Empire was conquered in the 15th century by the Ottoman Turks and their newly established Ottoman Empire . The Athonite monks tried to maintain functioning relations with the Ottoman sultans and following Murad II 's occupation of Thessaloniki in 1430 they pledged their obedience to him. Murad II left Mount Athos its self-rule and allocated for some remaining privileges. Hilandar retained its property rights and autonomy in
8260-416: The fall of the Serbian Despotate to the Ottoman Turks in 1459, Hilandar lost major guardians and benefactors as its brotherhood looked for support from other sources. For a period of time, the Wallachians provided patronage to the monastery, initiated by Mara Branković , daughter of the Serbian despot Đurađ Branković . In 1503, the wife of Serbian Despot Stefan Brankovic , Angelina Brankovic asked for
8378-417: The feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God , Sava was consecrated by Patriarch Manuel I of Constantinople in Nicaea as the first Archbishop of the autocephalous (independent) Serbian Church. The patriarch of Constantinople and his Synod thus appointed Sava as the first archbishop of "Serbian and coastal lands." With the support of Emperor Theodore I Laskaris and "the Most Venerable Patriarch and
8496-564: The first time Grand Prince of Moscow Vasili III Ivanovich to protect the monastery. Deputy hegumen Paisios with three other monks visited Moscow in 1550 and inquired about help and protection at High Porte in Istanbul from Russian Tsar Ivan IV , also known as Ivan the Terrible . He took Hilandar under his personal protection and built the new monastic cells. In March 1556, Tsar Ivan IV Vasilyevich , whose maternal grandmother Ana Jakšić
8614-459: The further fate of the Serbian Church largely depended on the personality of the successor. Sava began his trip from Budva , then via Brindisi in Italy to Acre . On this road he experienced various bad events, such as an organized pirate attack in the rough Mediterranean Sea , which however ended well. In Acre he stayed in his monastery dedicated to St. George, which he had earlier bought from
8732-502: The general cultural level of the whole people, striving to develop human virtues and a sense of civic duty. The Serbian state thought of the Nemanjić dynasty was created politically by Nemanja, but spiritually and intellectually by Sava. After the crowning of his nephew Radoslav , the son of Stefan, Sava left the Serbian maritime in 1229 for a trip to Palestine . He visited almost all the holy places and endowed them with valued gifts. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Athanasius , along with
8850-552: The governance in Hum was not only an honorary title but constituted a practical school of state administration. Teodosije the Hilandarian said that Rastko, as a ruler, was "mild and gentle, kind to everyone, loving the poor as few others, and very respecting of the monastic life". He showed no interest in fame, wealth, or the throne. The governance of Hum had previously been held by his uncle Miroslav , who continued to hold at least
8968-554: The hegumen said with the fear of God", as witnessed by Teodosije. From Hilandar, Sava traveled to Thessaloniki , to the monastery of Philokalos, where he stayed for some time as a guest of the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Constantine the Mesopotamian, with whom he was a great friend ever since his youth. His stay was of great benefit as he transcribed many works on law needed for his church. Upon his return to Serbia, he
9086-401: The hinterland. This was additionally confirmed and secured in 1457 by Sultan Mehmed II following the 1453 Fall of Constantinople . Thus, the Athonite independence was somewhat ensured. In the second half of the 15th century, Hilandar moved to third place in the hierarchy of Athionite monasteries. It also became a refuge for Serbian monks seeking to evade the conflicts of the time. Following
9204-639: The holy places in Egypt , he returned to Jerusalem, from where he went to the Sinai , where he spent Lent . He returned briefly to Jerusalem, then went to Antiochia , and from there across Armenia and the "Turkic lands" he went on the "Syrian Sea" and then returned on a ship to Antiochia. On the ship, Sava became sick, and was unable to eat. After a longer trip he arrived at Constantinople where he briefly stayed. Sava first wanted to return home via Mount Athos (according to Domentijan), but he instead decided to visit
9322-562: The icon to the monastic community there. Later the icon was offered to St. Sava of Serbia , who gave it to the Hilandar. A copy of the icon was sent to Russia in 1661, from which time it has been highly venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church . This icon has two feast days: June 28 (July 11) and July 12 (July 25). Also Emperor Stefan Dušan 's sword is in the monastery treasure . There are some 1200 Slavic manuscripts. Archives include 172 Greek and 154 Serbian documents from
9440-850: The independent status of that monastery in the Studenica Typikon. He used the general chaos in which the Byzantine Empire found itself after the siege of Constantinople (1204) into the hands of the Crusaders, and the strained relations between the Despotate of Epirus (where the Archbishopric of Ohrid was seated, which the Serbian Church was subordinated to) and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Nicaea , into his advantage. The Studenica Typikon became
9558-544: The letter he sent gifts: a cross, pleat, cloth and pebbles. The cross and pleat had laid on Christ's grave, and hence these gifts received greater value. Sava perhaps found the cloth in Jordan". The letter has been preserved in 14th-century copies held in the Velika Remeta monastery . The proper literary nature of Sava is however revealed only in his hagiographical and poetic compositions. Each in its genre, they stand at
9676-651: The miraculous icon of the Three-handed Theotokos ( Trojeručica ) painted by St. John of Damascus . According to St. John of Damascus ' last will, he ordered the Mar Saba monastery brethren to add this miraculous icon to the old prophesy made by the monastery's founder Saint Sabbas the Sanctified . Saint Sabbas the Sanctified adjured his monks centuries earlier to donate the icon of the Milk-feeding Theotokos and his hegumen cane to
9794-463: The monastery and transfer it to Vatopedi. The Emperor approved, and sent a special letter and considerable gold to his friend Stefan Nemanja ( monk Simeon ). Sava then addressed the Protos of Athos, asking them to support the effort so the monastery of Hilandar might become a haven for Serb monks. All Athonite monasteries, except Vatopedi, accepted the proposal. In July 1198, Emperor Alexios III issued
9912-464: The monastery in good, correct order, and enacted the new church constitution and monastic life order, to be held that way", after which he left Serbia. The elevation of Serbia into a kingdom did not fully mark the independence of the country, according to that time's understanding, unless the same was achieved with its church. Rulers of such countries, with church bodies subordinated to Constantinople, were viewed as "rulers of lower status who stand under
10030-475: The monastery's deputy hegumen Sava became Serbian Patriarch Sava IV . Following Emperor Dusan's death in 1355, the monastery prospered even further. In addition to Dusan's son Serbian Emperor Uros V , powerful noblemen also supported Hilandar, such as Prince Lazar Hrebeljanovic who constructed the narthex along the west side of the main Entry of the Lady Theotokos into the Temple Church in 1380. By
10148-499: The monastery's estate in Greece. At the time of Serbian King and Emperor Dusan , the whole Mount Athos came under his sovereign power. This is the period of Hilandar's greatest prosperity. The Emperor significantly supported the monastery and bequeathed a number of land possessions in Serbia and Greece to it. Ever since his reign (14th century) and until today, Hilandar owns one fifth of the entire landmass on Athos . In addition to
10266-585: The monastery's many historic icons were saved or otherwise untouched by the fire. Vast reconstruction efforts to restore Hilandar are underway. Among the numerous relics and other holy objects treasured at the monastery is the Wonderworking Icon of the Theotokos "Of the Akathist ", the feast day of which is celebrated on January 12. Since Mount Athos uses the traditional Julian Calendar ,
10384-522: The monastic name of Sava ( Sabbas ). According to tradition, a Russian monk was his spiritual guide or mentor and was said to have had earlier visited the Serbian court with other Athonite monks. Sava then entered the Greek Vatopedi monastery, where he would stay for the next seven years, and became more closely acquainted with Greek theological and church-administrational literature. His father tried to persuade him to return to Serbia, but Sava
10502-653: The only feature of his fighting spirit. The determination of the seats of the newly established bishoprics was also performed with especially state-religious intention. The Archbishopric was seated in the Monastery of Žiča , the new endowment of King Stefan. The bishopric in Dabar on the Lim river was situated towards the border with Bosnia, to act on the Orthodox element there and suppress the Bogomil teaching . The bishopric of Zeta
10620-443: The opposite direction. After Sava's organization, Orthodoxy finally became the state religion of Serbia. Sava, in that respect, worked consistently and without any regard. The Bogomils had been prohibited already by his father, Nemanja, while Sava, as an Athonite Latinophobe, did his part all to prevent and weaken the influence of Catholicism. Through his clergy, which he directly influenced as an example and with teaching, Sava rose also
10738-558: The rank of archimandrite . As Nemanja had earlier (1196) decided to give the rule to Stefan , and not the eldest son, Vukan , the latter began plotting against Stefan in the meantime. He found an ally in Hungarian king Emeric with whom he banished Stefan to Bulgaria, and Vukan seized the Serbian throne (1202). Stefan returned to Serbia with an army in 1204 and pushed Vukan to Zeta , his hereditary land. After problems at Athos with Latin bishops and Boniface of Montferrat following
10856-612: The relics of St. Sava in Serbia had a church-religious and political significance, especially during the Ottoman period. No individual among the Serbs has been woven into the consciousness and being of the people as Saint Sava, from his time until the present day. In 1377, Bosnian Ban Tvrtko was crowned King in the presence of Sava's relics. In 1448, vojvoda Stefan Vukčić Kosača of Hum styled himself "herzog (duke) of Saint Sava". The cult collected all South Slavic peoples, especially
10974-471: The relocation of Saint Symeon 's remains, what would eventually become world-famous grapevines began growing on the spot of his old tomb, which gives to this day miraculous grapes and seeds that are shipped all over as a form of blessing to childless married couples. Following his father's death, Saint Sava moved to his Karyes hermitage cell, where he finished the writing of the Karyes Typikon ,
11092-541: The rest of the prelates, and especially monks, warmly greeted and welcomed him. Sava asked Athanasios II, his host, and the Great Lavra fraternity, led by hegoumenos Nicholas, if he could purchase two monasteries in the Holy Land . His request was accepted and he was offered the monasteries of Saint John the Theologian on Mount Sion and St. George's Monastery at Akkon - both to be inhabited by Serbian monks. On
11210-400: The same year Sava published Zakonopravilo (or "St. Sava's Nomocanon"), the first constitution of Serbia; thus the Serbs acquired both forms of independence: political and religious. The organizational work of Sava was very energetic, and above all, the new organization was given a clear national character. The Greek bishop at Prizren was replaced by a Serbian, his disciple. This was not
11328-479: The suggestion of Atanasije Nikolić , the rector of the Lyceum , the feast of Saint Sava was chosen to celebrate Education every year. It was celebrated as a school holiday until 1945 when the communist authorities abolished it. In 1990, it was reintroduced as a school holiday. The Serbian Orthodox Church venerates saint Sava on January 27 [ O.S. January 14]. The first, shorter, biography on St. Sava
11446-490: The throne of the Serbian Archbishopric. Domentijan says that Sava chose Arsenije through his "clairvoyance", with Teodosije stating further that he was chosen because Sava knew he was "evil-less and more just than others, prequalified in all, always fearing God and carefully keeps His commandments". This move was wise and deliberate; still in his lifetime he chose himself a worthy successor because he knew that
11564-483: The throne to his middle son, Stefan . The next day, Nemanja and his wife Ana took monastic vows. Nemanja took the monastic name Simeon and stayed in Studenica until leaving for Mount Athos in autumn 1197. The arrival was greatly pleasing to Sava and the Athonite community, as Nemanja as a ruler had donated much to the community. The two, with consent of hegumen (monastery head) Theostyriktos of Vatopedi, went on
11682-567: The top chief of the Orthodox Christian world – the Byzantine Emperor". Conditions in Serbia for autocephaly were largely met at the time, with a notable number of learned monks, regulated monastic life, stable church hierarchy, thus "its autocephaly, in a way, was only a question of time". It was important to Sava that the head of the Serbian church was appointed by Constantinople, and not Rome. On 15 August 1219, during
11800-615: The use of Teodosije's service. The unknown author of the Service of the Assumption of Saint Sava , a monk of Mileševa, speaks to him: "Father of Fathers – [of] clergy rules, wholewised model, virtue of monks, fortification of the church, lighthouse of love, seat of feelings, source of mercifulness, fire-inspired tongue, mouth of sweet words, a church vessel of God, intellectual heaven become – God-good hierarch of Christ". There are many temples ( hramovi ) dedicated to St. Sava. As early as
11918-577: The way back he visited Nicaea and the Byzantine Emperor John Vatatzes (r. 1221–1254), where he remained for several days. From there, he continued his journey to Mount Athos, Hilandar, and then via Thessaloniki to Serbia. While visiting Mar Saba , he had been gifted the Trojeručica (the "Three-handed Theotokos"), an icon of Nursing Madonna , and the crosier of Sabbas the Sanctified , which he brought to Hilandar. After
12036-456: The whole Athos came under the Latin Occupation which exposed the Athonite monasteries to an unprecedented pillage. As a result, Saint Sava travelled to Serbia to secure more resources and support for the monastery. He also undertook a voyage to the Holy Land where he visited The Holy Lavra of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified in Palestine . There he received Hilandar's most revered relic,
12154-595: The whole Constantinopolitan assembly" he received the blessing that Serbian archbishops receive consecration from their own bishops' assemblies without consenting with the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople . Sava had thus secured the independence of the church; in the Middle Ages, the church was the supporter and important factor in state sovereignty, and political and national identity. At the same time, both Laskaris and Manuel were delighted that Serbian policy
12272-655: The works of St. Sava have survived. Apart from the Karyes Typikon, of which copy, a scroll, is today held at Hilandar, it is believed that there are no original manuscript ( authograph ) of St. Sava. The original of the Charter of Hilandar (1198) was lost in World War I. St. Sava is regarded the founder of the independent medieval Serbian literature . Sava founded and reconstructed churches and monasteries wherever he stayed. While staying at Vatopedi, even before
12390-562: Was already in Mount Athos and who later became the first Archbishop of Serbia . Upon its foundation, the monastery became a focal point of the Serbian religious and cultural life, as well as assumed the role of "the first Serbian university". It is ranked fourth in the Athonite hierarchy of 20 sovereign monasteries. It is regarded as the historical Serbian monastery on Mount Athos, traditionally inhabited by Serbian Orthodox monks . The Mother of God through her Icon of
12508-486: Was asked to teach the court and people of Serbia the Christian laws and traditions and "in that way enwisen and educate". Sava then worked on the religious and cultural enlightenment of the Serbian people, educating in Christian morality, love and mercy, meanwhile also working on the church organization. Since his return in 1206, he became the hegumen of Studenica , and as its elder, self-willed entered regulations on
12626-533: Was by birth member the Serbian Jakšić noble family and paternal great-great-grandmother Helena, Empress Consort of Byzantium was also Serbian, also granted the Hilandar Monastery a plot of land with all necessary buildings in Moscow within a short walking distance from the Kremlin . The 16th century saw the monastery acquire significant estate in the area, cementing their presence in the Mount Athos region. In
12744-547: Was commissioned in the 12th century (in the year 1180) by Miroslav, the ruler ( knez ) of Hum and the brother of Stefan Nemanja , the Grand Prince of Serbia . The first to discover and study the manuscript were three Russian scholars: Vladimir Stasov , Fyodor Buslayev , and Nikodim Kondakov in 1874. A leaf of the book which the Archbishop Porphyrius Uspensky had cut out of the book from
12862-428: Was continuously looking towards Constantine the Great 's legacy – Byzantium – rather than Rome. From Nicaea, Archbishop Sava returned to Mount Athos, where he profusely donated to the monasteries. In Hilandar, he addressed the question of administration: "he taught the hegumen especially how to, in every virtue, show himself as an example to others; and the brothers, once again, he taught how to listen to everything
12980-620: Was destroyed as a result of the Operation Punishment and the notorious April 6, 1941 Nazi Germany bombing of Belgrade that leveled to the ground the National Library of Serbia building in Kosancicev Venac . Following 1199, hundreds of monks from Serbia moved to the monastery, while large pieces of land, metochions and tax proceeds from numerous villages were provided to the monastery, especially from
13098-458: Was determined and replied, "You have accomplished all that a Christian sovereign should do; come now and join me in the true Christian life". His young years at Athos had a significant influence on the formation of his personality, it was also here that he found models on which he would organize monastic and church life in Serbia. Stefan Nemanja took his son's advice – he summoned an assembly at Studenica and abdicated on 25 March 1196, giving
13216-454: Was dominated by Bulgarians until the late 19th century. However, in 1913, Serbian presence on Athos was quite big and the Athonite protos was the Serbian representative of Hilandar. In the 1970s, the Greek government offered power grid installation to all of the monasteries on Mount Athos. The Holy Council of Mount Athos refused, and since then every monastery generates its own power, which
13334-541: Was engaged in the organization of the Serbian church, especially regarding the structure of bishoprics, those that were situated on locales at the sensitive border with the Roman Catholic West. At the assembly in Žiča in 1219, Sava "chose, from his pupils, God-understanding and God-fearing and honorable men, who were able in managing by divine laws and by the tradition of the Holy Apostles , and keep
13452-713: Was located on the Prevlaka peninsula, Bay of Kotor , out of real Zeta itself, and the bishopric of Hum in Ston ; both of these were almost on the outskirts of the kingdom, obviously with the aim to combat the Catholic action which had spread especially from the Catholic dioceses of Kotor and Dubrovnik. In earlier times, also Orthodox monasteries were subjected to the supervision of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bar; after Sava's action that intercourse began to change in
13570-626: Was originally transcribed in Kotor in modern-day Montenegro between 1186 and 1190 from an earlier text. Most pages are by an unknown scribe from Zeta , with the last few pages written by the scribe Grigorije of Raška , also known as Grigorije the Scribe or Pupil. Although Miroslav's Gospel is one of the earliest Cyrillic -texted manuscripts, the document appeared later than other Serbian liturgical manuscripts written in Glagolitic . The language used
13688-574: Was painted, and two hermitages near Studenica were endowed. His most important architectural work was the Home of the Holy Saviour, called Žiča, the first seat of the Serbian Archbishopric. In Peć he built the Church of the Holy Apostles, and he was also involved in the building of the Mileševa monastery. In Palestine , on Mount Sinai , he founded the Monastery of St. John the Apostle, as
13806-404: Was thereby handed over to Saint Sava and Saint Symeon with the mission of establishing and endowing a new monastery, elevated to the imperial rank. Since then, the monastery became a cornerstone of the religious, educational and cultural life of Serbian people . Upon securing Serbian authority within the monastery, Saint Sava and Saint Symeon jointly constructed the monastery's Church of
13924-490: Was written by his successor, Archbishop Arsenije. The transcript is preserved in a manuscript on parchment dating to the 13th or 14th century. Domentijan (ca. 1210–after 1264), an Athonite monk, wrote the Life of St. Sava in 1253. He gifted it to Serbian king Stefan Uroš I (r. 1243–76). This biography describes Sava's life from his birth to his burial in Tarnovo. Teodosije (1246–1328), also an Athonite monk, wrote
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