The Life of the Holy and Right-Believing Stefan the Tall, Despot of Serbia

left us, O chosen leader? So you too, O Despot, you too have left us, O leader of the new Israel. Thus too did Israel escort Daniel and the Three Youths into captivity with unspeakable lamentation and great sobbing. And not only did all those over whom he had ruled mourn the Despot, but more still: Mount Athos too, and with it the Reigning City (Constantinople), and every city and region in the world, wherever the Despot’s death was heard of, so that the Ishmaelites marveled. And many of them, too, truly wept for him.” “And when the pious lord Đurađ arrived from Zeta, they met him too with like lamentation, and while the regiments of the army were meeting and awaiting him, the air was filled with weeping and wailing. But when he arrived in the city, a kind of relief was already felt. For until his coming many were already expecting every death and plunder from the Turks. And when he came, only then was the inner tower opened to him, for before that he who guarded it would not open it. And when he entered the church, Đurađ did not ascend to the sovereign’s place spread out according to custom, and when the Divine Service was ended he did not allow the sovereign acclamations and the many-years to be proclaimed for him, but instead of this, cries and sobbing were heard in the air. And when he was then with all in the imperial palace, and when all who had been appointed to offices by the former ruler approached him, they each handed over to him his staff of authority, and he again, weeping mightily, returned to each his rank and dignity.” Further, Constantine the Philosopher relates how before the death of the holy Despot Stefan strange signs and apparitions arose in Belgrade, which foreshadowed the Despot’s death and the loss to the Serbs of the capital Belgrade: “And truly, one could bewail with the prophet Jeremiah the desolation of the New Zion. For truly, where did all that was bright and beautiful within and without suddenly vanish? Where did the round dances of those who dance vanish? Where are the church gatherings and assemblies? Where are the festal celebrations and the processions of prayer through the surrounding places? All at once everything became the abomination of desolation, everything changed, everything became as though it were not, everything was filled with bitterness. And often certain new and unaccustomed things happened, and that was seen which before this had only been foretold in dreams. Namely: from the west there came as it were an old and rain-soaked eagle, and it flew about the city from tower to tower, and took possession of them. The second sign that happened was this: When in the evening deep night had come, and we were not sleeping, then, by the truth of Christ, there came from the west as it were the sound of a trumpet from beyond the river Sava, and it gradually rose until it seemed to be in the middle of the Sava. Then that trumpet sound was heard before the highest tower, and then throughout the whole city from gate to gate. And this did not pass quickly, but lasted two or three hours, so that it seemed to us as though the Despot Stefan himself were coming (although he never came from the western side). Or else it seemed that it was some army, so that we went out to see what was happening, and even lit a fire. And this wondrous sight also took place: from the Great Church of the city (the Metropolis) the venerable Icons rose into the air, and in the order that will be at the Second Coming of Christ, that is: the Queen and Lady and John the Forerunner on either side of the icon of the Savior, and then there were the icons of the Twelve Apostles, six on each side. We thought that this was for the glory and visitation of this city. But it was, woe is me! at the hour of the Despot’s death.” “And this too happened before the repose of the same-named Stefan: on the seventeenth day of that same month (July) the air let fall from heaven as it were sparks upon the city, which kindled and went out again. And before this a terrible storm had risen, which tore off the church roofs in