Saint Sava

{{Other uses|Sabbas (disambiguation){{!}}Sabbas}} {{IPA notice}} {{refimprove|date=November 2011}} '''Saint Sava''' ({{lang-sr|Свети Сава, ''Sveti Sava''}}, {{IPA-sh|sʋɛ̂ːtiː sǎːʋa|pron}}, also ''Saint Sabbas''}}; 1174 – 14 January 1236) was a [[Serb]]ian Prince and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] monk, the first [[Archbishop]] of the [[Autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Church]], the founder of Serbian law and [[Serbian literature|literature]], and a [[Foreign relations of Serbia|diplomat]]. Sava was born '''Rastko Nemanjić''' (Растко Немањић, {{IPA-sh|râstkɔ nɛ̌maɲitɕ|pron}}), the youngest son of Serbian Grand [[Župan]] [[Stefan Nemanja]] (founder of the [[House of Nemanjić|Nemanjić Dynasty]]), and ruled the appanage of [[Zahumlje|Hum]] briefly in 1190–1192. He [[Degrees of Eastern Orthodox monasticism#Rassophore|became a monk]] in his youth, receiving the monastic name ''Sava'' (''[[Sabbas]]''), subsequently founding the monasteries of [[Hilandar]] on [[Mount Athos]], and [[Žiča]]. In 1219 he was recognized as the first Archbishop of Serbs, by the [[Patriarch of Constantinople]], and in the same year he authored the oldest known constitution of Serbia, ''[[Zakonopravilo]]''{{fact|date=November 2011}}, thus securing full independence; both religious and political. Sava heavily influenced and prospered Serbian medieval literature. He is widely considered as one of the most important figures of [[Serbian history]], and is canonized and venerated by the Serbian Orthodox Church, as its founder, on {{OldStyleDate|January 27||January 14}}. His life and personal devotion to his people has been interpreted in many artistic works from the [[Middle Ages]] to modern times. Since the 1830s, Saint Sava has become the patron saint of Serbian schools and schoolchildren.{{fact|date=November 2011}} The [[Cathedral of Saint Sava]] in [[Belgrade]] was built in his name, on the scene where the [[Ottoman Turks]] burnt his remains in the 16th century, and is currently the largest church building in [[the Balkans]]. ==Biography== Rastko (from ''[[Rastislav]]'') was born in 1174{{Cref2|a}}, in [[Doclea (city)|Gradina]] (modern [[Podgorica]], [[Montenegro]]). He was the youngest son of ''Grand Prince'' [[Stefan Nemanja]] and [[Saint Anastasija|Anastasija]]. He is part of the first generation of the [[House of Nemanjić]]. In 1190–92, he was assigned the rule of Hum, which previously was held by his uncle [[Miroslav of Hum]], who continues holding the [[Lim river|Lim region]] with [[Bijelo Polje]]. When Rastko took monastic vows, Miroslav most likely continued as ruler of Hum. ===Monastic vows=== [[File:Sv Sava Pec.jpg|thumb|left|Saint Sava, [[Patriarchate of Peć]].]] In the autumn of 1192 (or shortly thereafter), he joins a Russian monk, giving [[alms]] to the [[Agiou Panteleimonos monastery|St. Panteleimon monastery]] of [[Mount Athos]], where he is given the monastic name of ''Sava'' ([[Sabbas]]). They don't stay long, leaving for the Greek [[Vatopedi]]. His father sends messengers to Athos for the return of Sava to Serbia, but in vain. Sava replies to his father: "You have accomplished all that a Christian sovereign should do; come now and join me in the true Christian life". [[Image:StSavatipicon.jpg|thumb|thumb|left|''The [[Karyes Typicon]] with the authentic signature of Saint Sava from 1199 – one of the oldest Serbian documents in the monastery of Hilandar'', (detail)]] St. Sava's father Nemanja joins him, coming to [[Mount Athos]] on March 25, 1195, taking monastic vows under the name ''Simeon''. The father and son asked the Holy Community for the establishment of the Serbian religious base at the abandoned [[Chilandar]], which they renovated, marking the beginning of cultural prospering (in [[Serbian arts|arts]]; [[Serbian literature|literature]], and [[Religion in Serbia|religion]]). His father dies in Chilandar on February 13, 1199, and is canonized as [[Saint Simeon]]. Stefan Nemanja had earlier decided to give the rule to [[Stefan II]], and not the eldest [[Vukan II]]. Sava built a church and cell at [[Karyes (Athos)|Karyes]], where he stayed for some years, becoming a [[Hieromonk]], then an [[Archimandrite]] in 1201. He writes the [[Karyes Typicon]] during his stay there, a marble inscription of his work still exist. In the meantime, back home, Vukan II begins plotting against his brother Stefan II, he finds an ally in [[Emeric I]], and together they banish Stefan II to Bulgaria, Vukan II becoming the Grand Prince. Stefan II returns in 1204, and Vukan II is pushed into his appanage in Zeta. After problems at the Holy Mountain with Latin bishops ([[Boniface of Montferrat]]), Sava returns to Serbia in the winter of 1205-06 or 1206-07, and reconciles his two brothers, also taking the remains of his father with him, which he relocates to the [[Studenica monastery]]. Stefan II asks him to remain in Serbia with his clerics, which he does, starting a widespread pastoral and educational duty to the people of Serbia. He founds several churches and monasteries, among them the [[Žiča monastery]]. ===Autocephaly of the Serbian Church=== Sava brings the regal crown from Rome, crowning his older brother "King of All Serbia" in the Žiča monastery in 1217. Sava returns to the Holy Mountain in 1217/18, marking the beginning of the real formation of the Serbian Church. He is consecrated in 1219 as the first Archbishop of the Serbian church, given autocephaly by [[Patriarch Manuel I of Constantinople]], who was then in exile at [[Nicaea (city)|Nicaea]]. In the same year Sava published Zakonopravilo (St. Sava's Nomocanon). Thus the Serbs acquired both forms of independence: political and religious. In 1219 he published the first [[constitution]] in Serbia – [[St. Sava's Nomocanon]] (''Zakonopravilo'' in Serbian). It was a compilation of [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] based on [[Roman law]], and [[canon law]] based on [[Ecumenical Councils]]. Its purpose was to establish a codified legal system in the young [[Serbian Kingdom (medieval)|Serbian Kingdom]], and to regulate the government of the Serbian Church. After this, in Serbia, he stays in Studenica and continues his education of faith to the Serbian people, later he calls for a council outlawing the [[Bogomils]], who were regarded heretics. Sava appoints protobishops, sending them over all of Serbia to baptize the unbaptized, marry the unmarried etc. To maintain his duty as the religious and social leader, he continued to travel among the monasteries and lands to educate the people. After the [[Battle of Klokotnitsa]], [[Stephen Vladislav I of Serbia]] marries [[Beloslava]], the daughter of Bulgarian Emperor [[Ivan Asen II]], subsequently becoming the new King by 1233. ===Pilgrimage and death=== [[File:Marsava.jpg|thumb|right|[[Mar Saba monastery]], where Sava met Athanasios II, founding Serbian cells in the [[Holy Land]].]] In 1229/1233, he went on a pilgrimage to [[Palestine]] and in [[Jerusalem]] he met with Patriarch Athanasios II. Sava saw [[Bethlehem]] where [[Jesus]] was born, the [[Jordan River]] where Christ was baptised, and the [[Great Lavra]] of Saint [[Sabbas the Sanctified]] ([[Mar Saba monastery]]). Sava asked Athanasios II, his host, and the Great Lavra fraternity, led by [[hegoumenos]] Nicolas, 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]] on Akona both to be inhabited by Serbian monks. The icon [[Trojerucica]] ([[Three-handed Theotokos]]), a gift to the Great Lavra from [[St. John Damascene]], was given to Sava and he, in turn, bequethed it to [[Hilandar]]. [[File:SS.Forty Martyrs Church (Veliko Tarnovo) E3.jpg|thumb|left|He died ill during a pilgrimage, on 12 January 1235, in Trnovo, Bulgaria.]] Sava died in [[Trnovo]], capital of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]], during the reign of [[Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria]]. According to his [[Life]], he fell ill following the [[Divine Liturgy]] on the [[Feast of the Epiphany]], 12 January 1235. Sava was visiting Trnovo on his way back from the [[Holy Land]], where he had founded a [[hospice]] for Syrian pilgrims in [[Jerusalem]] and arranged for Serbian monks to be welcomed in the established monasteries there. He died of [[pneumonia]] in the night between Saturday and Sunday, January 14, 1235, and was buried at the Cathedral of the Holy Forty Martyrs in Trnovo where his body remained until May 6, 1237, when his sacred bones were moved to the monastery Mileševa in southern Serbia. ==Legacy and myth== Sava boosted the cultural enrichment of Serbs, forming the state-church; [[Serbian architecture|architecture]] and literary renaissance. [[File:Spaljivanje svetog save.jpg|thumb|left|The burning of Saint Sava's relics by the Ottoman authorities, to suppress the Serbian rebels after the [[Banat uprising of 1594|Banat Uprising]], in 1595.]] In 1594, the [[Banat Uprising]] is instigated by Bishop of Vršac Teodor Nestorović, Sava Ban and ''voivode'' Velja Mironić, among others, in the are around Vršac. The rebellion begins in what is the Ottoman Eyalet of Temeşvar. For a short time, the Serb rebels captured several cities in Banat, including [[Vršac]], [[Zrenjanin|Bečkerek]], and [[Lipova]], as well as [[Titel]] and [[Bečej]] in [[Bačka]]. It had the character of a holy war, the Serb rebels carrying war flags with the image of Saint Sava. [[Sinan Pasha]], who led the Ottoman army, ordered the green flag of Muhammad brought from Damascus to counter the Serbian flag. Sinan then ordered that the remains of Sava be taken to Belgrade and burnt. Ahmed-beg Ochuse carried out the orders, he took a military convoy to Mileševa, ordered the monks to remove Sava's wooden coffin in the sarcophagus and put it on the horses that the monks would lead. On the way, they beat the monks and killed or took along those that were in their path, so that the rebels in the woods would hear of it. On April 27, 1595, the wooden coffin burnt on a pyre on the [[Vračar|Vračar hill]] in [[Belgrade]]. The flames were seen over the [[Danube]], and the Turks celebrated. The [[Temple of Saint Sava]] was built on the place where his remains were burned, its construction began in the 1930s and was completed in 2004. [[Stefan Vukčić Kosača]] in 1448, after the conquer of monastery Mileševa, proclaimed himself "Herzog of Saint Sava " and the area he later ruled was named [[Herzegovina]]. In medieval Serbia his grave was a place of pilgrimage. Beside Serbs, both Turks and Jews went to pilgrimage to Mileševa. [[Gregory of Sinai]] considered him to be ''a great illuminator''. [[Sava III]] calls him ''great apostle and archbishop of Serbia'', while for [[Archbishop Danilo I]] he is ''sir and our teacher''. In the time of Ottoman occupation, Sava's cult overpast previous Serbian boundaries. It expanded in Russia, notably during the reign of [[Ivan the Terrible]]. Russian monk Elder Isaija brought the manuscript "life of Saint Sava" from Mount Athos to Russia. Later many other libraries across Russia possessed works by Saint Sava or about him. As a saint, Sava was respected even among the [[Roman Catholics]]. Tomko Mrnjevic, a Bosnian bishop in the early 17th century, wrote the first biography of Saint Sava, which did not not contain historical character but a literary. Various writers wrote about Saint Sava with respect, among others: Antun Sasin, Jovan S. Kavanjin, Pavle Riter Vitezovic. In Serb-populated places, various works of cultural significance have been done on the feast day of Saint Sava. For example [[Matica srpska]] was founded on Sava's day, the Serbian gymnasium in Novi Sad etc. From 19th century Saint Sava is more seen as a patron of school and education, first in [[Vojvodina]] (probably in [[Zemun]], 1826). Some of the most respected Serbian writers found inspiration in the life and works of Saint Sava, such as: [[Branko Radičević]], [[Jovan Jovanović Zmaj]], [[Vojislav Ilić]], [[Miloš Crnjanski]] and recently [[Matija Bećković]]. {{triple image|right|Temple of Saint Sava - Monument.jpg|124|Hram Sv. Save 003.JPG|244|SaintSavaTempleSerbiaBelgrade.jpg|140|Monument, complex (day) and front walk (night) of the [[Temple of Saint Sava]],
the biggest Orthodox church-building in the world.}} Around 42 portraits of him remained from medieval times. Saint Sava's artistic cult reached its height in 18th century, reached at rood-screen of cathedral church in Sremski Karlovci, which was built around 1780 by Teodor Kracun and Jakov Orfelin. In newer times of Serbian art (19-20 cen.) Saint Sava was inspiration of those artists who wanted to show their patriotism and devotion to the church, education, enlightenment and generally - culture. Many stories show Saint Sava as a teacher and wonder-worker. As a wonder-worker Sava is related to water, ice and snow. [[Veselin Čajkanović]] considered that many former Serbian pagan beliefs could be seen through Saint Sava. In Serbian folk tales, Saint Sava favourites shipbuilding. He also had power to calm the sea and storm, but he also used ships to immerse sinners. Saint Sava is considered a Serbian [[patron saint]], and is the most respected Serbian saint in the Orthodox world. ==Law and literature== [[File:Sava Ljeviska.jpg|thumb|left|Saint Sava, fresco from [[Bogorodica Ljeviška]] (1307–1309), [[World Heritage Sites in Serbia|UNESCO]].]] Saint Sava is considered to be a founder of independent Serbian literature. His relation to books and writing can be seen through his typcs where writing, reading and books have been given an important place. His first works are on church themes, unliteral. The first Saint Sava's work with literary elements is his latter to monk Spiridon, which is the only original latter written by Saint Sava which remained until today. His gift for writing has shown mostly in autobiographies and poetical works. On the legal problems, Saint Sava had met for the first time during his short stay at the Hum area (1190/91). During his visit to the Mount Athos his legislative activity was a rich and diverse, it is endowed his activity in the monastery had to follow the law, given that he had to sign contracts to purchase property, etc. The establishment of monastery of Hilandar followed a number of different legal acts including Hilandar tipyc. It is believed that the Serbian were organised for the first time by him, analogously to the Byzantine Empire. The Nomocanon of Saint Sava or ''[[Zakonopravilo]]'' was the first Serbian constitution and the highest code in the Serbian Orthodox Church, finished in 1219. This legal act was well developed. St. Sava's Nomocanon was the compilation of Civil law, based on Roman Law and Canon law, based on Ecumenical Councils and its basic purpose was to organize functioning of the young Serbian kingdom and the Serbian church. His literary work is very large, and especially made for the organisation of monasteries. He first wrote three Typicons: [[File:Savino Zakonopravilo - Ilovichki prepis, 1262.jpg|thumb|150px|right|''[[Zakonopravilo]]'' manuscript.]] *''[[Karyes Typicon]]'', 1199 *''The Life of Saint Symeon'' (Vita Simeonis, Služba Svetom Simeonu), 1207/8 *''[[Studenica Typicon]]'', 1207/8 *''[[Hilandar Typicon]]'', 1207/8 *''Letter to hegumen Spiridon'', personal letter *''Psaltir-holding laws'', (Ustav za držanje ‘Psaltira’) *''[[Zakonopravilo]]'', 1219 constitution In the first part of ''Studenica typikon'' he described life of the ktitor of that monastery, his father [[Stefan Nemanja]], in church known as Simeon. ''Žitije Sv. Simeona'', which lately separated from ''Studenica typikon'' and became special work, is the most important work of Sava. Under influence of this biography, completely independent literary cind of "žitijas" (biographies) of Serbian saints and rulers, formed. ''Žitije Svetog Simeona'' contains eleven chapters, which are sorted in these groups: Building of [[Studenica]], Nemanja's withdrawal from the throne, Sava's way to [[Mount Athos]], Death of St. Simeon, Moving of Simeon's body to Serbia. ==Foundations== [[File:Manastir Studenica 1.jpg|thumb|190px|[[Studenica monastery|Monastery Studenica]]]] [[File:Monastir Mileseva II.jpg|190px|thumb|[[Monastery Mileseva]]]] [[File:Hilan2.jpg|thumb|190px|[[Hilandar]]]] * [[Hilandar]] monastery on [[Mount Athos]] * [[Karyes]] monastery cell (see: [[Karyes Typicon]]) * Church of John the Apostle in [[Jerusalem]] And many other churches across Serbia, as well. {| | Style = "vertical-align: top;" | '''Reconstructions''' * Monastery of [[Vatopedi]] on [[Mount Athos]] * [[Philotheou monastery]] on [[Mount Athos]] * [[Xeropotamou monastery]] on [[Mount Athos]] * [[Karakalou monastery]] on [[Mount Athos]] * Saint Andrew's church in [[Constantinople]] * [[Studenica monastery]] in [[Kraljevo]] * Church of Saint Apostles in [[Peć]] * [[Mileševa monastery]] in [[Prijepolje]] * [[Mar Saba monastery]] in [[Bethlehem]] | Style = "vertical-align: top;" | '''Donations''' * Iviron monastery on [[Mount Athos]] * The Monastery of Great Lavra on [[Mount Athos]] * Mother's Mary monastery in [[Solun]] * Filokala monastery in [[Solun]] * [[Žiča monastery]] in [[Kraljevo]] * Church of Christ's birth in [[Bethlehem]] * An unnamed [[Georgian]] monastery in [[Jerusalem]] * Church of St. Lazarus of Bethany in [[Jerusalem]] * Church of St. Zechariah in [[Jerusalem]] * Saint Mary's church in [[Nazareth]] And many other donations in [[Jerusalem]] and [[Serbia]]. |} ==See also== *[[Hilandar Research Library]] *[[History of Serbia]]; [[Serbia in the Middle Ages|In the Middle Ages]]; [[House of Nemanjić|Nemanjić Dynasty]] *[[Order of St. Sava]] {{s-start}} {{s-rel|or}} {{s-new|First|reason=Founding of
'''[[Serbian Orthodox Church]]'''}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Patriarch of Serbs]]
(Metropolitan of Žiča)| years = 1219 – January 14, 1235}} {{s-aft| after = [[Saint Arsenije I Sremac|St. Arsenije I Sremac]]}} |- {{s-roy|}} {{succession box |before=[[Miroslav of Hum|Miroslav]] |title=[[List of Serbian rulers|Prince]] of [[Zahumlje]]
under [[Stefan Nemanja|Stefan]] |years=1190–1192 |after=[[Toljen Miroslavljević|Toljen]] }} {{s-end}} ==External links== {{commons category|Saint Sava}} * [http://istorijska-biblioteka.wikidot.com/art:sveti-sava Istorijska biblioteka: Saint Sava] * [http://www.slavicnet.com/pls/lib/bib.search Online Library Cataloging System of Saint Sava] * [http://www.sveti-sava.org.yu/eng/index.php Sveti Sava Society] * [http://www.rastko.org.rs/knjizevnost/liturgicka/svsava-sabrana/index_c.html Collected works] ([[Serbian language|Serbian]]) * [http://www.kosovo.net/sava.html Kosovo.net] {{Serbian Orthodox leaders}} {{House of Nemanjići}} {{National symbols of Serbia}} {{Persondata | NAME = Saint Sava | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Sveti Sava, Saint Sabbas | SHORT DESCRIPTION = First Archbishop of Serbs | DATE OF BIRTH = 1169–1174 | PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Podgorica]], [[Montenegro]] | DATE OF DEATH = January 14, 1235 | PLACE OF DEATH = [[Veliko Tarnovo]], [[Bulgaria]] }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sava}}