Saint Sava
Serbian prince turned Athonite monk, first archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Bishop, Founder
- Life
- 1174 – 1236
- Era
- 13th century
- Feast
- 27 January
- Countries
- Serbia, Bulgaria
Life story
Sava was born Rastko, youngest son of Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja, founder of the Nemanjić dynasty. His birth year is uncertain: sources give 1169, about 1170 or about 1175. As a young man he left court for Mount Athos and took the name Sava on becoming a monk.
With his father, who had also become a monk under the name Simeon, he founded or restored the Hilandar monastery on Athos, which became a major religious and cultural centre for the Serbs. He was ordained deacon and priest there.
In 1219, at Nicaea, he was consecrated the first archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church. That year he also produced the Zakonopravilo, a nomocanon often called Serbia's first constitution, and organised the dioceses. According to Serbian tradition he crowned his brother Stefan as king. He also wrote the Life of St Simeon, about his father, regarded as the first Serbian hagiography.
He made pilgrimages to the Holy Land, including a second after 1234, and died at Tarnovo in Bulgaria. He died in the mid-1230s (sources give 1235, 1236 or 1237) after falling ill following the liturgy of Epiphany. His relics were moved to Mileševa and burned by the Ottomans in Belgrade in 1594 or 1595. The Orthodox Church keeps his feast on 27 January (14 January old style).
Works and witness
- Founded or restored the Hilandar monastery on Mount Athos with his father
- Consecrated first archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church at Nicaea in 1219
- Wrote the Zakonopravilo and the Life of St Simeon
- Made pilgrimages to the Holy Land; died at Tarnovo
Saints from the same country
References
- Orthodox Church in America, Saint Savva I, first Archbishop of Serbia (oca.org)
- Britannica, Saint Sava; Serbian Orthodox Church; Stephen II Nemanja
- Orthodox Church in America, The Orthodox Faith: Thirteenth Century, Serbia and Bulgaria
- Sebastian Press, Saint Sava, Archbishop of Serbia (sebastianpress.org)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.