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

I spent the time of my life as long as it pleased the Good God, about 38 years. And so there came to me the common command from the King of all and God, through an angel sent to me, saying: Come! And so my soul was parted from my poor body at the place called Glava, in the year then current 6000 and 900 and 30 and 5, indiction 5, solar cycle 19 and lunar 19, on the 19th day of the month of July.” And on the sides of this same monument it is written: “Most good and dear and sweet lord Despot, O! woe to him who saw him dead in this place.” And further: “The pious lord Despot Stefan, a good master.” Through the prayers of the Holy and Righteous Stefan, Despot of Serbia, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Source: Justin Sp. Popović, Lives of the Saints: for the month of July (Žitija Svetih: za mesec jul) (Valjevo: Ćelije Monastery, 1975).

* Note: Saint Justin sets forth the facts known to him; at the time when he wrote this Life of the Holy Despot, it was thought that the tomb of the founder (ktitor) of Manasija was empty. So it was thought for the next several decades after the repose of Saint Justin, until the relics of the Holy Despot Stefan were discovered in archaeological excavations in 2006, in his endowment, the Manasija Church of the Holy Trinity. Along the southern wall of the western bay, where the tradition of medieval Serbia reserved the place for founders’ tombs, the grave of the Holy Despot Stefan Lazarević was found. The relics were taken out of the tomb and placed in a reliquary before the altar, and today they rest in the Despot’s endowment.

THE END

Manasija Monastery: history

The name of Manasija Monastery

The Manasija fortress