February 14th 13th century

Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia

Archbishop of Peć and Metropolitan of Serbia

Death
vers l'an 1258 (naturelle)
Categories
archbishop , metropolitan , monk

A monk of Mount Athos who became the first Archbishop of Peć, Saint Sava was the Metropolitan of Serbia following its union with the Roman Church in the 13th century. Brother of King Stefan, he maintained harmony between peoples before resigning from his duties to end his days in monastic solitude. He died around 1258 and remains honored by the Greek Catholics.

Guided reading

4 reading sections

SAINT SAVA, METROPOLITAN OF SERBIA (1250).

Foundation 01 / 04

Establishment of the Serbian hierarchy

Sabbas becomes the first archbishop of Pech and metropolitan of Serbia after the union of the kingdom with the Roman Church under the reign of his brother Stephen.

Archbishop of Pech and metropolitan of Serbia, he was the brother of Prince Stephen, to whom Pope Honorius III had granted the title of king, because he had just reunited himself as well as the Serbs, his subjects, with the Roman Church. Twelve bishoprics were erected in this new kingdom, which included ancient Moesia and Dardania. Pech, the capital, held the title of metro polis, and saint Sabas A major figure of Palestinian monasticism, close to Gerasimus. Saint Sabbas was the first to occupy this see.

Life 02 / 04

Mediation and monastic vocation

A former monk of Mount Athos, Sabas used his prudence to maintain harmony between rites and peoples, earning the trust of the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople.

Before he was at the head of the Serbian clergy, he was a monk o f Mount At Mont-Athos A major monastic center where Euthymius lived as a hermit and recluse. hos, and it was only against his will that he left his solitude. Through his prudence, he knew how to maintain good harmony among the Christians, divided by race, language, a nd rite. The Latin Patriarch of Co patriarche latin de Constantinople Religious authority who delegated his power to Sabas. nstantinople had such great confidence in him that he established him as his vicar for all the surrounding provinces.

Life 03 / 04

Retirement and end of life

Desirous of returning to his solitude, Sabas resigned from his office with the agreement of the Holy See to die on Mount Athos around 1258.

Sabas Sabas A major figure of Palestinian monasticism, close to Gerasimus. , who always regretted his former state, obtained permission from the Holy See to resign from his dignity to return to Mount At hos, where Mont-Athos A major monastic center where Euthymius lived as a hermit and recluse. he died a few years later, around the year 1258. He is honored among the Greek-Catholics on February 14.

Context 04 / 04

Ecclesiological context

The author emphasizes that the holiness of Sabas testifies to the vitality of the Serbian Church during its brief union with Rome under the Latin Empire.

The Catholic Church alone produces Saints: Serbia was united to Rome during the short years that the Latin Empi re of Constantinople lasted; a empire latin de Constantinople Historical period of the union of Serbia with Rome. nd during this time, it placed Saints upon the altars. It is to highlight this character of holiness of the Church in all eras, among all peoples, that we have inserted this short notice here.

Official source Les Petits Bollandistes, by Mgr Paul GUÉRIN, chamberlain to His Holiness Pius IX.

Annexes & related entities

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