Despot Stefan Lazarević
The Charter of Despot Stefan to Vatopedi Monastery
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Alexander Soloviev (Александр Васильевич Соловьёв, 1890–1971) and Vladimir Mošin (1894–1987), and more recently by Academician Aleksandar Mladenović (1930–2010).
In the charter to Vatopedi Monastery, Despot Stefan cites the Psalter and the Revelation of John, along with paraphrases of the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark and Luke. In addition, this charter contains formulations from the works of the Holy Fathers; patristic writings were the Despot's reading, judging by the inscriptions in manuscript books believed once to have been in the Despot's library [SSZN 242–243], one of which states that it was written by Despot Stefan personally [SSZN 4952]. In fact, in the time of the great orthographic renewal, that is, in the time of the activity of the Resava School, many such books were produced precisely in the lands of the Serbian Despotate, that is, in the regions in which its cultural influence was present. But other expressions recorded in this charter are also interesting - the pious ruler also cites prayers from the services of the Orthodox Church: from the Holy Liturgy, the priestly exclamation “Thine own of Thine own,” as well as the prayer “Great art Thou, O Lord, and marvelous are Thy works,” which is heard in the Orthodox Church on various occasions - at baptism, and at the great blessing of the waters. All of these are traces of his churchliness and his devotion to the services of the Orthodox Church, of which his biographer, Constantine the Philosopher, also speaks in the Life of Despot Stefan .
The Charter of Despot Stefan to Vatopedi Monastery of 1417
By the goodness of the Father, the will of the Son and the help of the Holy Spirit, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, one will and one desire, one creation, one Godhead, one Kingdom without beginning and unchangeable, [of Him] who can do all things and created all things from non-being into being, humbling the immodest who exalt themselves and exalting the humble, this one God without beginning, Lord of those who hold dominion and King of those who reign - the holy divine apostles and ecumenical teachers preached, and taught us to believe in and to worship this One alone. This God glorified in Trinity looked upon my humility and made me heir of my parents, lord of the Serbs.
Therefore I too, in Christ God the right-believing lord Despot Stefan, together with all this, sending thanks to my benefactor, cry out with the prophet: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He has given me” [Ps. 115, 3] - only chanting, worship, glorification in hymns and a gift to His holy temples where the almighty name of God glorified in Trinity is chanted, preached and glorified, and as our Orthodox faith, which rightly guides, teaches: the first part to God and to others what remains, and “Thine own of Thine own,” and the rest, as Holy Scripture says: “For great art Thou,