View source for Biography:Saint Sava

{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = 
| name = Sava
| title = Serbian Archbishop <!-- архиепископ српски -->
| image = Sveti Sava Kraljeva Crkva Detalj.jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| alt = 
| caption = Fresco detail of Saint Sava in the ''King's Church'', Studenica Monastery, Serbia
| church = [[Religion:Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox Church]]
| archdiocese = 
| province = 
| metropolis = 
| diocese = 
| see = Metropolitanate of Žiča
| enthroned = 1219
| ended = 1235
| predecessor = (First)
| successor = Arsenije
| opposed = 
| other_post = [[Religion:Archimandrite|archimandrite]]
| ordination = Patriarch Manuel I of Constantinople
| consecration = 
| rank = 
| birth_name = Растко Немањић/Rastko Nemanjić
| birth_date = 1169 or 1174{{Cref2|a|1}}
| birth_place = Gradina, Zeta
| death_place = Tarnovo, [[Place:Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]]
| buried = Holy Forty Martyrs Church (until May 6, 1237)<br />Mileševa (until 1594)
| nationality = Serbian
| religion = [[Religion:Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]]
| residence = 
| parents = Stefan Nemanja and Ana
| spouse = 
| children = 
| occupation = prince, archbishop
| profession = 
| alma_mater = 
| signature = Печат светог Саве.svg<!---------- Sainthood ---------->
| feast_day = {{OldStyleDate|January 27||January 14}}
| venerated = [[Religion:Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Church]]
| saint_title = 
| beatified_date = 
| beatified_place = 
| beatified_by = 
| canonized_date = 
| canonized_place = 
| canonized_by = [[Religion:Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox Church]]
| attributes = ktetor, teacher, legislator, diplomat, protector of the poor, writer
| patronage = Serbia, Serbs, Serbian schools
| shrine = Church of Saint Sava ([[Place:Belgrade|Belgrade]])
| suppressed_date = 
<!---------- Other ---------->
| other = 
| honorific-prefix = Saint
| honorific-suffix = [[Religion:Equal-to-apostles|Equal-to-apostles]], the Illuminator
}}

'''Saint Sava''' ({{lang-sr|Свети Сава}} / ''Sveti Sava'', {{IPA-sh|sʋɛ̂ːtiː sǎːʋa|pron}}, 1174 – 14 January 1236), known as '''The Enlightener''', was a Serbian prince and [[Religion:Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] monk, the first [[Religion:Archbishop|Archbishop]] of the [[Religion:Autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[Religion:Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Church]], the founder of Serbian law, and a diplomat. Sava, born as '''Rastko''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Растко}}), was the youngest son of Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja (founder of the Nemanjić dynasty), and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in 1190–92. He then left for Mount Athos where he became a monk, with the name ''Sava'' (''Sabbas''). At Athos, he established the monastery of Hilandar, which became one of the most important cultural and religious centres of the Serbian people. In 1219 he was recognized as the first Serbian Archbishop by the Patriarchate exiled in Nicea, and in the same year he authored the oldest known constitution of Serbia, ''Zakonopravilo'', thus securing full independence; both religious and political. Sava is regarded the founder of Serbian medieval literature.

He is widely considered as one of the most important figures of Serbian history. Saint Sava is canonized and venerated by the [[Religion:Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox Church]], as its founder, on {{OldStyleDate|January 27||January 14}}. His life has been interpreted in many artistic works from the [[History:Middle Ages|Middle Ages]] to modern times. He is the patron saint of Serbia, Serbs, and Serbian education. The Church of Saint Sava in [[Place:Belgrade|Belgrade]] is dedicated to him, built where the [[Place:Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] burnt his remains in 1594 during an uprising in which the Serbs used icons of Sava as their war flags; the church is one of the largest church buildings in the world.

==Early life==
Rastko ({{lang|sr|Растко Немањић}}, {{IPA-sh|râstkɔ nɛ̌maɲitɕ|pron}}), a diminutive of ''Rastislav'',{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}} was born in 1169 or 1174,{{Cref2|a|2}} in Gradina (modern [[Place:Podgorica|Podgorica]], Montenegro). As the youngest son of Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja and Ana, he was part of the first generation of the Nemanjić dynasty, alongside his brothers Vukan and Stefan. His biographers mention that he was born after a hiatus in the couple's childbearing and was therefore especially dear.{{sfn|Stanojević|1935|p=7}} At the Serbian court the brothers received a good education{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}} in the [[Place:Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] tradition, which exercised great political, cultural and religious influence in Serbia.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=38}} He grew up in a time of great foreign relations activities in Serbia.{{sfn|Stanojević|1935|p=8}} Rastko showed himself serious and ascetic; as the youngest son, he was made Prince of Hum at an early age,{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}} in ca. 1190.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=19}} Hum was a province between Neretva and Dubrovnik (''Ragusa'').{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=38}} Having his own court with magnates (''velmože''), senior officials and selected local nobility, the governance in Hum was not only an honorary title but constituted a practical school of state administration.{{sfn|Mošin|1979|p=103}} Teodosije the Hilandarian said that Rastko, as a ruler, was "mild and gentle, kind to everyone, loving the poor as few others, and very respecting of the monastic life".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=38}} He showed no interested in fame, wealth, or the throne.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=38}} The governance of Hum had previously been held by his uncle Miroslav, who continued to hold at least the Lim region with Bijelo Polje while Rastko held Hum.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=52}} After two years, in autumn 1192 or shortly afterwards, Rastko left Hum for Mount Athos.{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}} Miroslav may have continued as ruler of Hum after Rastko had left.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=20}} Athonite monks were frequent visitors to the Serbian court – lectures perhaps made him determined to leave.{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}}

==Mount Athos==
Upon arriving at Athos, he entered the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery where he received the monastic name of ''Sava'' (Sabbas),{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=38}} and according to tradition it was a Russian monk who was his spiritual guidance,{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}} said to have had earlier guested the Serbian court with other Athonite monks.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=38}} He then entered the Greek Vatopedi monastery, where he would stay for the next seven years, and became more closely acquainted with Greek theological and church-administrational literature.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1980|p=13}} His father tried to persuade him to return to Serbia, but he was determined, and replied "You have accomplished all that a Christian sovereign should do; come now and join me in the true Christian life".{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}} His young years at Athos will have a significant influence on the formation of his personality, it was also here that he found models on the basis on which he would organize monastic and church life in Serbia.{{sfn|Obolensky|2004|p=144}}

Stefan Nemanja took his son's advice{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}} – he summoned an assembly at Studenica and abdicated on 25 March 1196, giving the throne to his middle son, Stefan.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=38}} The next day, Nemanja and his wife Ana took monastic vows.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=38}} Nemanja took the monastic name ''Simeon'', and stayed in Studenica until leaving for Mount Athos in autumn 1197.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=30}} The arrival was greatly pleasing to Sava and the Athonite community, as Nemanja as a ruler had donated much to the community.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} The two, with consent of ''[[Religion:Hegumen|hegumen]]'' (monastery head) Theostyriktos of Vatopedi, went on a tour of Athos in late autumn 1197 in order for Simeon to familiarize with all of its churches and sacred places; they donated to numerous monasteries, and especially Karyes, Iviron and the Great Lavra.{{sfn|Živojinović|2000|p=110}}

When Sava guested the Byzantine Emperor Alexios III Angelos at Constantinople, he mentioned the neglected and abandoned Hilandar, and asked him that he and his father be given the permit to restore the monastery and grant it to Vatopedi.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} The Emperor approved, and sent a special letter and much gold to his friend Stefan Nemanja (monk Simeon).{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} Sava then addressed the [[Religion:Protos (monastic office)|Protos]] of Athos, asking them to support the effort that the monastery of Hilandar becomes the haven of the Serb monks.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} All Athonite monasteries, except Vatopedi, accepted the proposal, and in July 1198 Emperor Alexios III authored a charter which revoked the earlier decision, and instead not only granted Hilandar, but also the other abandoned monasteries in Mileis, to Simeon and Sava, to be a haven and shelter for Serb monks in Athos.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} The restoration of Hilandar quickly began and Grand Prince Stefan sent money and other necessities, and issued the founding charter for Hilandar in 1199.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}}

Sava wrote a ''typikon'' (liturgical office order) for Hilandar, modeled on the typikon of the monastery of The Mother of God Euergetes in Constantinople.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} Besides Hilandar, Sava was the ''ktetor'' (sr. ''ktitor''; founder, donator) of the hermitage at Karyes (seat of Athos) for the monks who devoted themselves to solitude and prayer.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} In 1199, he authored the typikon of Karyes.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} Along with the hermitage, he built the chapel dedicated to Sabbas the Sanctified, whose name he received upon monastic vows.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} His father died on 13 February 1199.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=30}} In 1204, after 13 April, Sava received the rank of ''[[Religion:Archimandrite|archimandrite]]''.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=6}}
 [[File:Sveti Sava miri zavađenu braću.jpg|thumb|Sava reconciling his quarreling brothers, Paja Jovanović (1901).]]
As Nemanja had earlier decided to give the rule to Stefan, and not the eldest, Vukan, in the meantime, back home, the latter began plotting against Stefan; he found an ally in Hungarian king Emeric with whom he banished Stefan to Bulgaria, and Vukan usurped the Serbian throne. Stefan returned to Serbia with an army in 1204, and pushed Vukan to Zeta, his hereditary land.{{sfn|Fine|1994|pp=41–48}} After problems at Athos with Latin bishops and Boniface of Montferrat following the Fourth Crusade, Sava returned to Serbia in the winter of 1205–06 or 1206–07, with the remains of his father which he relocated to his father's endowment, the Studenica monastery, and then reconciled his quarreling brothers.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=79}} Sava saved the country from further political crisis by ending the dynastic fight.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=6}} Nemanja (Simeon) was canonized in 1206.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=5}}

==Enlightenment==
[[File:Sveti_Sava_blagosilja_Srpčad,_Uroš_Predić,_1921.jpg|thumb|left|Sava blessing Serb youth, Uroš Predić (1921).]]
Having spent 14 years in Mount Athos, Sava had extensive theological knowledge and spiritual power.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=39}} According to Sava's biography, he was asked to teach the court and people of Serbia the Christian laws and traditions and "in that way enwisen and educate".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} Sava then worked on the religious and cultural enlightenment of the Serbian people, educating in Christian morality, love and mercy, meanwhile also working on the church organization.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} Since his return in 1206, he became the ''[[Religion:Hegumen|hegumen]]'' of Studenica, and as its elder, self-willed entered regulations on the independent status of that monastery in the Studenica Typikon.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=6}} He used the general chaos in which the Byzantine Empire found itself after the siege of Constantinople (1204) into the hands of the Crusaders, and the strained relations between the Despotate of Epirus (where the Archbishopric of Ohrid was seated, which the Serbian Church was subordinated to) and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in [[Place:Nicaea|Nicaea]], into his advantage.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=7}} The Studenica Typikon became a sort of ''lex specialis'', which allowed Studenica to have independent status ("Here, therefore, no one is to have authority, neither bishop nor any one else") in relation to the Bishopric of Raška and Archbishopric of Ohrid.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=7}} The canonization of Nemanja and the Studenica Typikon would be the first steps towards the future autocephaly of the Serbian Church and elevation of the Serbian ruler to king ten years later.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=8}}
 [[File:Свети Сава крунише свог брата Стефана Првовенчаног, by Anastas Jovanović.jpg|thumb|Crowning of Stefan, by Anastas Jovanović.]]
In 1217, archimandrite Sava left Studenica and returned to Mount Athos. His departure has been interpreted by a part of the historians as a revolt against his brother Stefan accepting the royal crown from Rome.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} Stefan had just prior to this made a large switch in politics, marrying a Venetian noblewoman, and subsequently asked the Pope for a crown and moral support.{{sfn|Ćorović|2001|loc= Трећи период, II, para. 21}} With the establishment of the Latin Empire (1204), Rome had considerably increased its power in the Balkans.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=8}} Stefan was crowned in Žiča, and was now equal to the other kings, and was called "the First-Crowned King" of "all Serb lands".{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=9}} According to Ćorović, Stefan's politics were not well received in the country; Orthodox tradition had already taken grip, especially Sava rose against his brother, to whom he had up until then been a faithful companion; he was the main representative of Orthodoxy and Byzantine ecclesiastical culture in Serbia.{{sfn|Ćorović|2001|loc= Трећи период, II, para. 22}} According to Zorić, though Sava left Serbia while talks were underway between Stefan and Rome (apparently due to disagreeing with Stefan's excessive reliance on Rome), he and his brother resumed their good relation after receiving the crown.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=9}} According to Mileusnić it is possible that Sava did not agree with everything in his brother's international politics, however, his departure for Athos may also be interpreted as a preparation for obtaining the autocephaly (independence) of the Serbian Archbishopric.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} His departure was planned, both Domentijan and Teodosije, Sava's biographers, stated that before leaving Studenica he appointed a new ''hegumen'' and "put the monastery in good, correct order, and enacted the new church constitution and monastic life order, to be held that way", after which he left Serbia.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}}

==Autocephaly and church organization==
The elevation of Serbia into a kingdom did not fully mark the independence of the country, according to that time's understanding, unless the same was achieved with its church.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=9}} Rulers of such countries, with church bodies subordinated to Constantinople, were viewed of as "rulers of lower status who stand under the top chief of the Orthodox Christian world – the Byzantine Emperor".{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=9}} Conditions in Serbia for [[Religion:Autocephaly|autocephaly]] were largely met at the time, with a notable number of learned monks, regulated monastic life, stable church hierarchy, thus "its autocephaly, in a way, was only a question of time".{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=9}} It was important to Sava that the head of the Serbian church was appointed by Constantinople, and not Rome.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=9}}

On 15 August 1219, during the feast of the [[Religion:Dormition of the Mother of God|Dormition of the Mother of God]], Sava was consecrated by Patriarch Manuel I of Constantinople in [[Place:Nicaea|Nicaea]] as the first Archbishop of the autocephalous (independent) Serbian Church.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} With the support of Emperor Theodore I Laskaris and "the Most Venerable Patriarch and the whole Constantinopolitan assembly" he received the blessing that Serbian archbishops receive consecration from their own bishops' assemblies without consenting with the Patriarch of Constantinople.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} Sava had thus secured the independence of the church; in the Middle Ages, the church was the supporter and important factor in state sovereignty, and political and national identity.{{sfn|Zorić|2006|p=6}}

From Nicaea, Archbishop Sava returned to Mount Athos, where he profusely donated to the monasteries.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} In Hilandar, he addressed the question of administration: "he taught the hegumen specially how to, in every virtue, show himself as an example to others; and the brothers, once again, he taught how to listen to everything the hegumen said with the fear of God", as witnessed by Teodosije.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} From Hilandar, Sava travelled to [[Place:Thessaloniki|Thessaloniki]], to the monastery of Philokalos, where he stayed for some time as a guest of the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Constantine the Mesopotamian, with whom he was a great friend ever since his youth.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=40}} His stay was of great benefit as he transcribed many works on law needed for his church.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=41}}

Upon his return to Serbia, he was engaged in the organization of the Serbian church, especially regarding the structure of bishoprics, those that were situated on locales at the sensitive border with the Roman Catholic West.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=41}} At the assembly in Žiča in 1219, Sava "chose, from his pupils, God-understanding and God-fearing and honorable men, who were able in managing by divine laws and by tradition of the Holy Apostles, and keep the apparitions of the holy God-bearing fathers. And he consecrated them and made them bishops" (Domentijan).{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=41}} Sava gave the newly appointed bishops law books and sent them to bishoprics in all parts of Serbia.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=41}} It is unclear how many bishoprics he founded. The following bishoprics were under his administration: Zeta (''Zetska''), seated at Monastery of Holy Archangel Michael in Prevlaka near Kotor; Hum (''Humska''), seated at Monastery of the Holy Mother of God in Ston; Dabar-Bosna, seated at Monastery of St. Nicholas on the Lim; Moravica, seated at Monastery of St. Achillius in the Moravica region; Budimlja, seated at Monastery of St. George; Toplica, seated at Monastery of St. Nicholas in the Toplica region; Hvosno, seated at Monastery of the Holy Mother of God in the Hvosno region; Žiča, seated at Žiča, the seat of the Church; Raška, seated at Monastery of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Peć; Lipljan, seated at Lipljan; Prizren, seated at [[Place:Prizren|Prizren]].{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=41}} Among his bishops were Ilarion and Metodije. In the same year Sava published ''Zakonopravilo'' (or "St. Sava's Nomocanon"), the first constitution of Serbia; thus the Serbs acquired both forms of independence: political and religious.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=118}}

The organizational work of Sava was very energetic, and above all, the new organization was given a clear national character. The Greek bishop at Prizren was replaced by a Serbian, his disciple. This was not the only feature of his fighting spirit. The determination of the seats of the newly established bishoprics were also performed with especially state-religious intention. The Archbishopric was seated in Žiča, the new endowment of King Stefan, further north of Ras (the capital) and Studenica, and not far from the Hungarian borders. The bishopric in Dabar on the Lim river was situated towards the border with Bosnia, to act on the Orthodox element there and suppress the Bogomil teaching. The bishopric of Zeta was located on the Prevlaka peninsula, Bay of Kotor, out of real Zeta itself, and the bishopric of Hum in Ston; both of these were almost on the outskirts of the kingdom, obviously with the aim to combat the Catholic action which had spread especially from the Catholic dioceses of Kotor and Dubrovnik. In earlier times, also Orthodox monasteries were subjected to the supervision of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bar; after Sava's action that intercourse began to change in the opposite direction. After Sava's organization, Orthodoxy finally became the state religion of Serbia. Sava, in that respect, worked consistently and without any regard. The Bogomils had been prohibited already by his father, Nemanja, while Sava, as an Athonite Latinophobe, did his part all to prevent and weaken the influence of Catholicism. Through his clergy, which he directly influenced as an example and with teaching, Sava rose also the general cultural level of the whole people, striving to develop human virtues and a sense of civic duty. The Serbian state thought of the Nemanjić dynasty was created by Nemanja, physically, and intellectually by Sava.{{sfn|Ćorović|2001|loc= Трећи период, II, para. 27}}

==First pilgrimage==
 [[File:Marsava.jpg|thumb|right|Mar Saba, where Sava founded Serbian cells.]]
After the crowning of his nephew Radoslav, the son of Stefan, Sava left the Serbian maritime in 1229 for a trip to [[Place:Palestine (region)|Palestine]].{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} He visited almost all the holy places and endowed them with valued gifts.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Athanasius, along with the rest of the prelates, and especially monks, warmly greeted and welcomed him.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}}<!-- Sava asked Athanasios II, his host, and the Great Lavra fraternity, led by ''hegoumenos'' Nicholas, if he could purchase two monasteries in the [[Religion:Holy Land|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. --> On the way back he visited Nicaea and the Byzantine Emperor John Vatatzes (r. 1221–54), where he remained for several days. From there, he continued his journey to Mount Athos, Hilandar, and then via Thessaloniki to Serbia.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} While visiting Mar Saba, he had been gifted the ''Trojeručica'' (the "Three-handed Theotokos"), an icon of Nursing Madonna, and the [[Crosier|crosier]] of Sabbas the Sanctified, which he brought to Hilandar.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ikona Presvete Bogorodice "Trojeručice"|work=Ikonopis|publisher=Hilandar|url=http://www.hilandar.info/strana_sr.php?strana_id=179}}</ref> After a short stay at Studenica, Sava embarked on a four-year trip throughout the lands where he confirmed the theological teachings, and delivered constitutions and customs of monastic life to be kept, as he had seen in Mount Athos, Palestine and Middle East.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}}

==Second pilgrimage and death==

After the throne change in 1234, when King Radoslav was succeeded by his brother Vladislav, Archbishop Sava began his second trip to the Holy Land.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} Prior to this, Sava had appointed his loyal pupil Arsenije Sremac as his successor to the throne of the Serbian Archbishopric.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} Domentijan says that Sava chose Arsenije through his "clairvoyance", with Teodosije stating further that he was chosen because Sava knew he was "evil-less and more just than others, prequalified in all, always fearing God and carefully keeps His commandments".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} This move was wise and deliberate; still in his lifetime he chose himself a worthy successor because he knew that the further fate of the Serbian Church largely depended on the personality of the successor.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}}

Sava began his trip from Budva, then via Brindisi in Italy to Acre.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} On this road he experienced various bad events, such as an organized pirate attack in the rough [[Place:Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean Sea]], which however ended well.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} In Acre he stayed in his monastery dedicated to St. George, which he had earlier bought from the Latins, and then from there went to [[Place:Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], to the Monastery of St. John the Apostle, "which he, as soon as arriving, redeemed from the Saracens, in his name".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} Sava had a prolonged stay in Jerusalem; he was again friendly and brotherly received by Patriarch Athanasius.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} From Jerusalem he went to [[Place:Alexandria|Alexandria]], where he visited Patriarch Nicholas, with whom he exchanged gifts.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}}

After touring the sanctities in [[Place:Egypt|Egypt]], he returned to Jerusalem, from where he went to the [[Place:Sinai Peninsula|Sinai]], where he spent the [[Religion:Lent|Lent]].{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} He returned briefly to Jerusalem, then went to Antiochia, and from there across [[Place:Armenia|Armenia]] and the "Turkic lands" he went on the "Syrian Sea" and then returned on a ship to Antiochia.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} On the ship, Sava became sick, and was unable to eat.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} After a longer trip he arrived at Constantinople where he briefly stayed.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} Sava first wanted to return home via Mount Athos (according to Domentijan<!-- По сведочењу Доментијана, Сава је имао жељу да се врати за Србију преко Свете Горе, али се „тако не изволи Светоме Духу, и не случи му се да тамо иде".-->), but he instead decided to visit the [[Place:Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian capital]] at [[Place:Veliko Tarnovo|Trnovo]], where he was warmly and friendly admitted by the Bulgarian Emperor Ivan Asen II (father-in-law of King Vladislav) and Bulgarian Patriarch Joakim.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=43}} As on all his destinations, he gave rich gifts to the churches and monasteries: "[he] gave also to the Bulgarian Patriarchate priestly honourable robes and golden books and candlesticks adorned with precious stones and pearls and other church vessels", as written by Teodosije.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=43–44}} Sava had after much work and many long trips arrived at Trnovo a tired and sick man.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}}<!-- According to his ''Life'', he fell ill following the [[Religion:Divine Liturgy|Divine Liturgy]] on the Feast of the Epiphany, 12 January 1235.--> When the sickness took a hold of him and he saw that the end was near, he sent part of his entourage to Serbia with the gifts and everything he had bought with his blessing to give "to his children".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} The eulogia consisted of four items.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Eulogiae Terrae Sanctae of St Sava of Serbia|author=Popović Danica|journal=Balcanica |year=2014 |volume=45 |issue= |pages=55–69|url=http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/ft.aspx?id=0350-76531445055P}}</ref> Domentijan accounted that he died between Saturday and Sunday, most likely on {{OldStyleDateNY|14 January|27 January}} 1235.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}}
 [[File:SS.Forty Martyrs Church (Veliko Tarnovo) E3.jpg|thumb|Sava died ill on his way home from the Holy Land, on 12 January 1235, in Trnovo, Bulgaria.]]
Sava was respectfully buried at the Holy Forty Martyrs Church.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=136}} Sava's body was returned to Serbia after a series of requests,{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=136}} and was then buried in the Mileševa monastery, built by Vladislav in 1234.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=136}} According to Teodosije, Archbishop Arsenije told Vladislav "It's neither nice nor pleasing, before God nor the people, leaving our father [Sava] gifted to us by the Christ. An equal to apostles – who made so many feats and countless efforts for the Serbian lands, decorating it with churches and the kingdom, the archbishopric and bishops, and all constitutions and laws – that his relics lie outside his fatherland and the seat of his church, in a foreign land".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} King Vladislav twice sent delegations to his father-in-law Asen, asking him to let the relics of Sava be transferred to the fatherland, but the Emperor was unappealing.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} Vladislav then personally visited him and finally got the approval, and brought the relics to Serbia.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} With the highest church- and state honours, the relics of Saint Sava were transferred from the Holy Forty Martyrs Church to Mileševa on {{OldStyleDateNY|6 May|19 May}} 1237. "The King and the Archbishop, with the bishops and hegumens and many noblemen, all together, little and great, carried the Saint in much joy, with psalms and songs".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} Sava was canonized, and his relics were considered miraculous; his cult remained throughout the Middle Ages and the Ottoman occupation.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=136}}

==Legacy and cult==
Saint Sava is the protector of the Serb people: he is venerated as a protector of churches, families, schools and artisans.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} His feast day is also venerated by Greeks, Bulgarians, Romanians and Russians.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} <!--In Russia, he was mentioned as early as 1438, in the Tver typikon.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}}--> Numerous toponyms and other testimonies, preserved to this day, convincingly speak of the prevalence of the cult of St. Sava.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} St. Sava is regarded the father of Serbian education and literature; he authored the ''Life of St. Simeon'' (Stefan Nemanja, his father), the first Serbian hagiography.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} He has been given various honorific titles, such as "Father" and "Enlightener".{{cref2|b}} <!-- The ''Hymn to St. Sava'' (Svetosavska himna) is performed on his feast day in primary schools in Serbia. The authorship of the song is uncertain. The oldest [[Musical notation|notation]] of the song was made by Kornelije Stanković in 1858.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.novosti.rs/%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B0/%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5.409.html:363055-%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82-%D0%B0%D1%83%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80-%D0%A1%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B5-%D1%85%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BD%D0%B5|script-title=sr:Непознат аутор Светосавске химне|last = Simić|first = Jovanka|date = 2012-01-22|work = |accessdate = 2014-09-19|last2 = Kostić|first2 = Smiljka|newspaper = Večernje novosti|language = Serbian}}</ref> -->

The Serb people built the cult of St. Sava based on the religious cult; many songs, tales and legends were created about his life, work, merit, goodness, fairness and wisdom.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} His relics, according to Dimitrije Bogdanović, "became a topic of national, political cult, focus of liberation thought, danger to foreign rule. Thus, they (the relics) were burnt, so that the source of insubordination in the people would not disappear".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} The Serbian Orthodox Church venerates him on {{OldStyleDate|January 27||January 14}}.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}}

===Biographies===
The first, shorter, biography on St. Sava was written by his successor, Archbishop Arsenije.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} The transcript is preserved in a manuscript on parchment dating to the 13th or 14th century.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}}  Domentijan (ca. 1210–after 1264), an Athonite monk, wrote the ''Life of St. Sava'' in 1253.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} He gifted it to Serbian king Stefan Uroš I (r. 1243–76).{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} This biography describes Sava's life from his birth to his burial in Trnovo.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}}  Teodosije (1246–1328), also an Athonite monk, wrote the ''Life of St. Sava'' at Hilandar at the end of the 13th century.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} He based it on Domentijan's biography, though, unlike the latter, of which narratives are of thoughtful and solemn rhetoric, Teodosije's biography is warmer, with features of a hagiographic narrative.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} Teodosije's description of events give the impression of a novel, though it does not distort the historical course of events.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} Catholic bishop Ivan Mrnavić, a contemporary of Serbian patriarch Pajsije, published a biography of St. Sava in Latin, in Rome in 1630–31, which was later translated into Serbian by Veselin Čajkanović (1881–1946); this biography has many historical inaccuracies.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} There are many transcripts preserved of Domentijan's biography, and many more of Teodosije's.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} <!--One transcript of Domentijan's biography dating to the 16th century is preserved in the Rila monastery in Bulgaria.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} -->

===Relics===
The presence of the relics of St. Sava in Serbia had a church-religious and political significance, especially during the Ottoman period.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} No individual among the Serbs has been woven into the consciousness and being of the people as Saint Sava, from his time until the present day.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} In 1377, Bosnian Ban Tvrtko was crowned King in the presence of Sava's relics.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} In 1448, ''vojvoda'' Stefan Vukčić Kosača of Hum styled himself "herzog (duke) of Saint Sava".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} The cult collected all South Slavic peoples, especially the Orthodox Serbs, while his grave was also a pilgrim site for Catholics and Muslims.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44}} Foreign 16th-century writers, Jean Sesno (1547) and Catherine Zen (1550)<!-- Жан Шесно (1547) и Катарин Зен (1550)--> noted that Muslims respected the tomb of St. Sava, and feared him.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=44–45}} Benedicto Ramberti (1553) said that Turks and Jews gave more charity to Mileševa than the Serbs.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} <!-- there is a note that Ivan Asen II saw monk Neofit healed at the place of Sava's empty grave following the return of relics to Serbia {{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} -->

====Burning of relics====
 [[File:Stevan Aleksić, Spaljivanje Moštiju Svetog Save, 1912.jpg|thumb|right|The burning of Saint Sava's relics by the Ottomans after the Banat Uprising, on April 27, 1595. Painting by Stevan Aleksić (1912)]]
When the Serbs in Banat rose up against the Ottomans in 1594, using the portrait of Saint Sava on their war flags, the Ottomans retaliated by incinerating the relics of St. Sava on the Vračar plateau in [[Place:Belgrade|Belgrade]].{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} Grand Vizier Koca Sinan Pasha, the main commander of the Ottoman army, ordered for the relics to be brought from Mileševa to Belgrade, where he set them on fire on 27 April.{{sfn|Ćorović|2001|loc= Шести период, V.}} Monk Nićifor of the Fenek monastery wrote that "there was great violence carried out against the clergy and devastation of monasteries".{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=45}} The Ottomans sought to symbolically and really, set fire to the Serb determination of freedom, which had become growingly noticeable.{{sfn|Ćorović|2001|loc= Шести период, V.}} The event, however, sparked an increase in rebel activity, until the suppression of the uprising in 1595.{{sfn|Ćorović|2001|loc= Шести период, V.}} It is believed that his [http://www.svetosavlje.org/svetinje/Mosti/rukasvSave.htm left hand was saved]; it is currently held at Mileševa.

The Church of Saint Sava was built near the place where his relics were burned. Its construction began in the 1930s and was completed in 2004. It is one of the largest churches in the world.

===Divine Services===
Divine Services, ''službe'', were created in his honour following his burial. The earliest service date to the reign of king Vladislav, in which Saint Sava is mentioned along the killed monks on Sinai.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} In it, he is compared to the saints Sergius and Bacchus, whose relics are held at the Mileševa monastery.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} In the service, he is called an illuminator on earth, and the adoration of his icon is mentioned.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} There are two services dedicated to Saint Sava: one dedicated to his Assumption (death), and the second to the translation of his relics.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} Nikola and Radoslav wrote the service on the translation of his relics in ca. 1330.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} Other services dedicated to the translation were also compiled in 1599 by ''inok'' Georgije, and written by ''protohegumen'' Visarion of Zavala in 1659–60.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} These services were superseded by the use of Teodosije's service.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} The unknown author of the ''Service of the Assumption of Saint Sava'', a monk of Mileševa, speaks to him: "Father of Fathers – [of] clergy rules, wholewised model, virtue of monks, fortification of the church, lighthouse of love, seat of feelings, source of mercifulness, fire-inspired tongue, mouth of sweet words, a church vessel of God, intellectual heaven become – God-good hierarch of Christ".<!--„Оче отаца - свештенства правило, целомудрија узор,монасима крепост, цркви утврђење, љубави светилник, престо осећања,источник (извор) милостиви, језик огњенонадахнути, уста слаткоречива,сасуд Божији, умни рај постаде - богоблажени јерарше Христов".-->{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}}

===Churches dedicated to St. Sava===
There are many temples (''hramovi'') dedicated to St. Sava. As early as the beginning of the 14th century, Serbian Archbishop Nikodim I (s. 1316–1324) dedicated a church to him.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} Helena of Bulgaria, the wife of Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55), founded a chapel on the top of the tower in Karyes, dedicated to St. Simeon and St. Sava.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} One of the churches of Rossikon on Mount Athos, as well as a church in Thessaloniki, are dedicated to him.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=46}} Churches throughout Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro are dedicated to him, as well as churches in diaspora communities.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|pp=46–47}}

===Visual arts===
<!--Iconography-->
There are close to no Serbian churches that do not have a depiction of St. Sava.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} He is most often depicted as a [[Religion:Archiereus|archiereus]] (''arhijerej'', main priest), or together with his father, St. Simeon.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} The most notable of his fresco depictions are located in the monasteries of Studenica, Mileševa, Peć, Morača, Arilje, Sopoćani, [[Unsolved:Visoki Dečani|Dečani]], Hilandar, Bogorodica Ljeviška, Psača, Lesnovo, Marko's Monastery, Matejić, Nagoričano, Nikita, Andrijaš, Bela Crkva, Baljevac, Pavlica, Ljubostinja, Resava, Koporin, Prohor Pčinjski, Rudenica, Blagoveštenje and St. Nicholas in Ovčar, Ježevica, Poganovo and others; he is depicted with the Nemanjić dynasty (''loza Nemanjića'') in [[Unsolved:Visoki Dečani|Dečani]], Peć and Orahovica.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} The translation of his relics are illustrated in the church of the Gradac Monastery, and in the Monastery of Peć (in the Bogorodica Odigitrije temple) the scene where Sava appoints his successor Arsenije is depicted.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} In the Church of St. George, also in the Monastery of Peć, an assembly of Sava is depicted.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} Iconographer (''zograf'') Georgije Mitrofanović illustrated events from the ''Life of St. Sava'' in the dining room of Hilandar.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} "The Serbian miracle-workers" Sava and Simeon are depicted in the Archangel Sobor in Kremlin, in Moscow.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} In the chapel of the Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, the ''Life of St. Sava'' is depicted in eight compositions, and in the Athonite monastery of St. Panteleimon Monastery he is depicted as a monk.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}}

St. Sava is depicted with St. Simeon on an icon from the 14th century which is held in the National Museum in Belgrade, and on an icon held in the National Museum in Bucharest.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} The pair is depicted on tens of icons held in Hilandar.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} Other icons of them are found in the monasteries of Lepavina and Krka,{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=47}} and on the [[Triptych|triptych]] of Orahovica.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} On an icon of Morača, beside a scene from his life, he is depicted with St. Simeon, ''knez'' Stefan and St. Cyril the Philosopher.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}}
<!--
<gallery>
Sveti Sava Kraljeva Crkva.jpg|Studenica (ktitor).
SvetiSavaMileseva.jpg|Mileševa (1236).
Saint Sava, Patriarchate of Peć.jpg|Church of the Holy Apostles (13th c.), Monastery of Peć.
Saint Sava, Patriarchate of Peć (2).jpg|Church of the Holy Apostles (13th c.), Monastery of Peć.
Saint Sava, Bogorodica Ljeviška.jpg|Bogorodica Ljeviška (1307–09), UNESCO.
Loza Nemanjica Decani f 2.jpg|Dečani (1346–47).
Sava Decani2.jpg|Dečani ({{circa}} 1350).
</gallery>
-->
<!--Graphical illustrations-->

Graphical illustrations of St. Sava are found in old Serbian printed books: ''Triode'' from the Mrkšina crkva printing house (1566), ''Zbornik'' of Jakov of Kamena Reka (1566), as well as ''Sabornik'' of Božidar Vuković (1546) where he is depicted with St. Simeon.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} There are notable depictions of Sava in chalcography, one of which was made by Zaharije Orfelin (1726–1785).{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} In Hilandar, there are two wood-cuts depicting St. Sava and St. Simeon holding the ''Three-handed Theotokos'' icon.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}} His person is illustrated on numerous liturgical metal and textile items, while he and scenes from his life are illuminated in many manuscripts and printed books.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=48}}

===Literature===
Many Serbian poets have written poetry dedicated to St. Sava. These include Jovan Jovanović Zmaj's (1833–1904) ''Pod ikonom Svetog Save'' and ''Suze Svetog Save'', Vojislav Ilić's (1860–1894) ''Sveti Sava'' and ''Srpkinjica'', Milorad Popović Šapčanin's (1841–1895) ''Svetom Savi'', Aleksa Šantić's (1868–1924) ''Pred ikonom Svetog Save'', ''Pepeo Svetog Save'', ''Sveti Sava na golgoti'', Vojislav Ilić Mlađi's (1877–1944) ''Sveti Sava'', [[Biography:Nikolaj Velimirović|Nikolaj Velimirović]]'s (1881–1956) ''Svetitelju Savo'', ''Reči Svetog Save'' and ''Pesma Svetom Savi'', Milan Petrović's (1902–1963) ''Sveti Sava'', Vasko Popa's (1922–1991) ''St. Sava's Journey'', Momčilo Tešić's (1911–1992) ''Svetom Savi'', Desanka Maksimović's (1898–1993) ''Savin monolog'', Matija Bećković's (b. 1939) ''Priča o Svetom Savi'', Mićo Jelić Grnović's (b. 1942) ''Uspavanka'', and others.

==Works==
The earliest works of Sava were dedicated to ascetic and monastic life: the Karyes Typikon and Hilandar Typikon.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 12}} In their nature, they are Church law, based strictly on non-literary works, however, in them some moments came to expression of indirect importance for the establishment of an atmosphere in which Sava's original and in the narrow sense, literary works, came to exist.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 12}} In addition, characteristics of Sava's language and style come to light here, especially in those paragraphs which are his specific interpretations or independent supplements.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 12}}
[[File:Karyes Typicon and Sava's signature.jpg|thumb|Karyes Typikon with Sava's signature (1199).]]
* Karyes Typikon, written for the Karyes cell in 1199. It is basically a translation from a standard Greek ascetic typikon. It became a model for Serbian solitary or eremitical monasticism also outside of Mount Athos.<ref name=Bogdanovic-Karejski>{{harvnb|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 13<!--Карејски типик-->}}</ref>
* Hilandar Typikon, written for Hilandar in 1199. Compiled as a translation and adaptation of the introductory part of the Greek Euergetic typikon from Constantinople. Sava only used some parts of that typikon, adding his own, different regulations tailored to the needs of Hilandar. He and his father had donated to the Euergetide monastery, and Sava stayed there on his trips to Constantinople, seemingly, he liked the order and way of life in this monastery. This typikon was to become the general managing order for other Serbian monasteries (with small modifications, Sava wrote the Studenica Typikon in 1208).<ref name=Bogdanovic-Hilandarski1>{{harvnb|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 14<!--Хиландарски типик-->}}</ref> The Hilandar Typikon contains regulations for the spiritual life in the monastery and organization of various services of the monastic community (''opštežića'').<ref name=Bogdanovic-Hilandarski2>{{harvnb|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 15<!--Хиландарски типик-->}}</ref>

The organization of the Serbian church with united areas was set on a completely new basis. The activity of major monasteries developed; caretaking of missionary work was put under the duty of the proto-priests (''protopopovi''). Legal regulations of the Serbian Church was constituted with a code of a new, independent, compilation of Sava – the ''Nomocanon'' or ''Krmčija''; with this codification of Byzantine law, Serbia already at the beginning of the 13th century received a firm legal order and became a state of law, in which the rich Greek-Roman law heritage was built. With this, Sava made Serbia a country among the European and Mediterranean civilization.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 8}}
[[File:Savino Zakonopravilo - Ilovichki prepis, 1262.jpg|thumb|150px|right|1262 transcript of the ''Zakonopravilo'' (1220).]]
* Nomocanon (sr. ''Zakonopravilo'') or ''Krmčija'', most likely created in Thessaloniki in 1220, when Sava returned from Nicaea to Serbia, regarding the organization of the new, autocephalous Serbian church. It was a compilation of state ("civil") law and religious rules or canons, with interpretations of famous Byzantine canonists, who by themselves were a kind of source of law. As Byzantine nomocanons, with or without interpretation, the Serbian Nomocanon was a capital source and monument of law; in the medieval Serbian state, it was the source of the first order as a "[[Philosophy:Divine right of kings|divine right]]"; after it, legislations of Serbian rulers (including Dušan's Code) were created. Sava was the initiator of the creation of this compilation, while the translation was likely the work of various authors, older and contemporary to Sava. An important fact is that the choice of compilation in this nomocanon was unique: it is not preserved in Greek manuscript tradition. In the ecclesiastic term, it is very characteristic, due to its opposing of that period's views in effect on church-state relations in Byzantium, and restoring of some older conceptions with which the sovereignty of divine law is insisted on.<ref name=Bogdanovic-Krmcija>{{harvnb|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 17<!--Крмчија-->}}</ref>

His liturgical regulations include also ''Psaltir-holding laws'' (Ustav za držanje Psaltira), which he translated from Greek, or as possibly is the case with the Nomocanon, was only the initiatior and organizer, and supervisor of the translation.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 18}} A personal letter of his, written from Jerusalem to his disciple ''hegumen'' Spiridon in Studenica, shows Sava getting closer to literature. This is the first work of the epistolary genre that has been preserved in the old Serbian literature. Theologian Lazar Mirković (1885–1968) noted "With a lot of feeling and longing for the fatherland in a distant world and caring for things in the homeland, Sava wrote this letter to Spiridon, reporting about him and his entourage, of them falling ill on the road, how they donated to the Holy sites, where he intended to travel, and along with the letter he sent gifts: a cross, pleat, cloth and pebbles. The cross and pleat had laid on Christ's grave, and hence these gifts received greater value. Sava perhaps found the cloth in Jordan".{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 19}} The letter has been preserved in 14th-century copies held in the Velika Remeta monastery.<ref>{{cite web|author=Đuro Daničić|title=Poslanica Svetog Save arhiepiskopa srpskoga|year=1872|publisher=JAZU|url=https://archive.org/stream/pismosvetogasaveigumanuspiridonunet/Produced_by_convert-jpg-to-pdf.net#page/n0/mode/2up}}</ref> The proper literary nature of Sava is however revealed only in his hagiographical and poetic compositions. Each in its genre, they stand at the beginning of the development of convenient literary genres in the independent Serbian literature.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 20}}

In the Hilandar Typikon, Sava included the ''Short Hagiography of St. Simeon Nemanja'', which tells of Simeon's life between his arrival at Hilandar and death. It was written immediately after his death, in 1199 or 1200. The developed hagiography on St. Simeon was written in the introduction of the Studenica Typikon (1208).<ref name=Kratko>{{harvnb|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 21<!--Кратко житије светог Симеона Немање-->}}</ref>

*Hagiography of St. Simeon, written in 1208 as a ''ktetor'' hagiography of the founder of Studenica.<ref name=Kratko/> It was made according to the rules of Byzantine literature.<ref name=Kratko/> The hagiography itself, biography of a saint, was one of the main prose genres in Byzantium.<ref name=Kratko/> Hagiographies were written to create or spread the cult of the saint, and communicated the qualities of and virtues of the person in question.<ref name=Kratko/> The work focused on the monastic character of Simeon, using biographical information as a subset to his renouncing of the throne, power and size in the world for the Kingdom of Heaven.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 24}} Simeon is portrayed as a dramatic example of renouncing earthly life, as a representative of basic evangelical teachings and foundations of these, especially of monastic spirituality.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 24}} His biographical pre-history (conquests and achievements) with praises are merged in the prelude, followed by his monastic feats and his death, ending with a prayer instead of praise.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 24}} The language is direct and simple, without excessive rhetorics, in which a close witness and companion, participant in the life of St. Simeon, is recognized (in Sava).{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 25}} Milan Kašanin noted that "no old biography of ours is that little pompous and that little rhetorical, and that warm and humane as Nemanja's biography".{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 25}}

Very few manuscripts of the works of St. Sava have survived.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Рукописи}} Apart from the Karyes Typikon, of which copy, a scroll, is today held at Hilandar, it is believed that there are no original manuscript (''authograph'') of St. Sava.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Рукописи}} The original of the Charter of Hilandar (1198) was lost in World War I.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Рукописи}}

St. Sava is regarded the founder of the independent medieval Serbian literature.{{sfn|Bogdanović|1999|loc= Предговор, para. 3–5}}

==Ktetor==
Sava founded and reconstructed churches and monasteries wherever he stayed.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=41}} While staying at Vatopedi, even before the arrival of his father (1197), he founded three chapels (''paraklisi'').{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=41}} He had the monastery church covered in [[Chemistry:Lead|lead]], and was regarded the second ''ktetor'', also having donated highly valuable ecclesiastical art objects.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=41}} Together with his father he was the great, second ktetor of the monasteries of Iviron, Great Lavra and churches in Karyes.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} The most important was Hilandar, together with his father (1198).{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} He then founded the cell at Karyes, and in 1199 became ktetor of three more Authonite monasteries: Karakallou, Xeropotamou, and Philotheou.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} In 1197 he gave a large contribution to the Constantinopolitan monastery of the Holy Mother of God Euergetes, and did the same to Philokallou in Thessaloniki; "due to him also giving much gold for the erection of that monastery, the population there regard him the ktetor", according to Teodosije.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}}
 [[File:Sveti Sava, Mileševa.jpg|thumb|200px|Fresco in Mileševa.]]
Returning to Serbia in 1206, Sava continued his work. The Mother of God Church in Studenica was painted, and two hermitages near Studenica were endowed.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} His most important architectural work was the Home of the Holy Saviour, called Žiča, the first seat of the Serbian Archbishopric.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} In Peć he built the Church of the Holy Apostles, and he was also involved in the building of the Mileševa monastery.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} In [[Place:Palestine (region)|Palestine]], on Mount Sinai, he founded the Monastery of St. John the Apostle, as a shelter for Serb pilgrims.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} Sava donated gold to many monasteries in Palestine, Thessaloniki, and especially Mount Athos.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}} His ktetor activity was an expression of deep devotion and sincere loyalty to Christian ideals.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=42}}

* Hilandar monastery on Mount Athos
* Karyes monastery cell (see: Karyes Typicon)
* Church of John the Apostle in [[Place:Jerusalem|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
* Karakallou monastery on Mount Athos
* Saint Andrew's church in Constantinople
* Studenica monastery in Kraljevo
* Church of the Holy Apostles in Peć
* Mileševa monastery in Prijepolje
* Mar Saba monastery in [[Religion:Bethlehem|Bethlehem]]

| Style = "vertical-align: top;" |
; Donations
* Iviron monastery on Mount Athos
* The Monastery of Great Lavra on Mount Athos
* Mother's Mary monastery in [[Place:Thessaloniki|Solun]]
* Filokala monastery in [[Place:Thessaloniki|Solun]]
* Žiča monastery in Kraljevo
* Church of Christ's birth in [[Religion:Bethlehem|Bethlehem]]
* An unnamed Georgian monastery in [[Place:Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]
* Church of St. Lazarus of Bethany in [[Place:Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]
* Church of St. Zechariah in [[Place:Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]
* Saint Mary's church in [[Place:Nazareth|Nazareth]]

And many other donations in [[Place:Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] and Serbia.
|}

<gallery class="center">
 Manastir Studenica 1.jpg|Studenica
 Monastir Mileseva II.jpg|Mileševa
 Hilan2.jpg|Hilandar.
</gallery>

==See also==
* Order of St. Sava
* Only Unity Saves the Serbs

{{s-start}}
{{s-new|First|reason=Founding of<br />'''[[Religion:Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Church]]'''}}
{{s-ttl|title=Archbishop of Serbs| years = December 6, 1219 – 1233}}
{{s-aft|after=Arsenije}}
{{s-bef|before=Miroslav}}
{{s-ttl|title=Prince of Hum<br />{{small|under Stefan Nemanja}}|years=1190 – 1192}}
{{s-aft|after=Miroslav or Toljen}}
{{s-end}}

==Annotations==
{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=upper-alpha}}
{{Cnote2|a|Sources puts the year of his birth in either 1169 or 1174.{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=37}} The [http://www.spc.rs/sr/sveti_sava_prvi_arhiepiskop_prosvetitelj_srpski official site of the Serbian Orthodox Church] put it "around year 1174". Historians Slobodan Mileusnić{{sfn|Mileusnić|2000|p=37}} and Alexis Vlasto{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=218}} supports ca. 1174. }}

{{Cnote2|b|Throughout history, Sava has been given various honorific titles. He received the popular epithet "Illuminator (enlightener) of the Serbs".{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=118}} In other genealogies and chronicles, as well as in many records and inscriptions, he was given the titles: "First Archbishop and teacher and educator and with God enlighter of his fatherland", "First saint and teacher", "Great miracle-worker", etc. (for further information: {{cite book|author=Radovan Samardžić|title=Pisci srpske istorije|volume=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wD4MAQAAMAAJ|year=1981|publisher=Prosveta|page=19|quote=<!--У другим родословима и летописима, као и у многим записима и натписима,30 свети Сава ]е добщао називе: „први архиепископ и наставник и учител> и с Богом просветител> својему отачаству", „први светител> и учитељ"-->}}) }}
{{Cnote2 End}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{cite web |last=Bogdanović|first=Dimitrije|title=Свети Сава - Сабрани списи|publisher=Просвета и Српска књижевна задруга|edition=Internet|year=1999|origyear=1986|url=http://www.rastko.rs/knjizevnost/liturgicka/svsava-sabrana/index_c.html|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Bogdanović|first=Dimitrije|title=Историја старе српске књижевности|trans-title=History of the Old Serbian Literature|publisher=Српска књижевна задруга|location=Београд|year=1980|ref=harv}}
* {{cite web |last=Ćorović |first= Vladimir |  title=Istorija srpskog naroda | edition=Internet | year=2001 |origyear= 1997 | location=Belgrade | publisher=Јанус; Ars Libri | url=http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-bl/istorija/corovic/istorija/index.html |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Fine|first=John Van Antwerp, Jr.|title=The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest|publisher=University of Michigan Press|year=1994|isbn=978-0-472-08260-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hh0Bu8C66TsC|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Matejić|first=Mateja|title=Biography of Saint Sava|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCDZAAAAMAAJ|year=1976|publisher=Kosovo}}
* {{cite book|last=Mileusnić|first=Slobodan|editor=<!--Kolundžija, Zoran-->|year=2000|origyear=1989|title=Sveti Srbi|issue=2|publisher=Prometej|location=Novi Sad|isbn=86-7639-478-4|oclc=44601641|ref=harv}} {{sr icon}}
* {{cite book|last=Obolensky|first=Dimitri|title=Шест Византијских портрета|trans-title=Six Byzantine Portraits|chapter=Свети Сава|publisher=Српска књижевна задруга, Просвета|location=Београд|year=2004|origyear=1991, 1988|pp=133—191|ref=harv}} {{sr icon}}
* {{cite web |last=Stanojević|first=Stanoje|title=Свети Сава|trans-title=Saint Sava|publisher=Rastko|year=2008|origyear=1989, 1935|url=http://www.rastko.rs/istorija/delo/12287}} {{sr icon}}
* {{cite book|last=Stanojević|first=Stanoje|title=Свети Сава|trans-title=Saint Sava|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TnUcAAAAMAAJ|year=1935|publisher=Државна штампарија|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Velimirović|first=Nikolaj|edition=Revised|title=The Life of St. Sava|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L0-Or1eDv1wC|year=1989|origyear=1951|publisher=St. Vladimir's Seminary Press|isbn=978-0-88141-065-5|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Vlasto|first=A. P.|title=The Entry of the Slavs into Christendom: An Introduction to the Medieval History of the Slavs|year=1970|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521074599|ref=harv}}
* {{cite journal|last=Živojinović|first=M.|title=Стефан Немања као монах Симеон|journal=Међународни научни скуп Стефан Немања - Свети Симеон Мироточиви - историја и предање, Септембар 1996|editor=Калић, Јованка|publisher=|location=Београд|year=2000|pp=101—113|ref=harv}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
Kjk* {{cite journal|last1=Ferjančić|first1=Božidar|last2=Maksimović|first2=Ljubomir|title=Sava Nemanjić and Serbia between Epiros and Nicaea|journal=Balcanica|volume=45|year=2014|pages=37–54|publisher=SANU|url=http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/ft.aspx?id=0350-76531445037F}}
* {{cite journal|last=Marjanović-Dušanić|first=Smilja|year=2015|title=Charisma and authority: Toward a hagiographic portrait of St. Sava|journal=Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta|volume=52|pp=277-289|doi=10.2298/ZRVI1552277M}}
* {{cite journal|last=Marković|first=Miodrag|title=The first journey of St. Sava of Serbia to Palestine|journal=Zograf|volume=29|pp=47-92}}
* {{cite journal|last=Miljković|first=Bojan|year=2015|title=Sava, Stefan Radoslav and Demetrios Chomatenos|journal=Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta|volume=52|pp=259-275|doi=10.2298/ZRVI1552259M}}
* {{cite journal|last=Mošin|first=Vladimir|title=Правни списи Светога Саве|journal=Међународни научни скуп, Сава Немањић — Свети Сава, Историја и предање|publisher=SANU|location=Београд|year=1979|pp=101—128|ref=harv}}
* {{cite journal|last=Petrović|first=Miodrag|title=Свети Сава као састављач и преводилац ''Законоправила'' — српског номоканона|journal=Историјски часопис|volume=49|year=2002|url=http://www.iib.ac.rs/docs/IstorijskiCasopis49%282002%29.pdf|pages=27–46}}
* {{cite journal|last=Savić|first=Aleksandar Z.|year=2015|title=‘Imagining’ Babylon - geography and hagiography in St Sava of Serbia’s middle eastern itinerary|journal=Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta|volume=52|pp=291-312|doi=10.2298/ZRVI1552291S}}
* {{cite book|last=Simović|first=Ranko|title=Sveti Sava: prvi srpski prosvetitelj|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R4gyAAAAMAAJ|year=1997|publisher=Draganić}}
* {{citation|last=Zorić |first=Petar |script-title=sr:Законоправило Светога Саве и правни транспланти |year=2006 |url=http://www.alanwatson.org/sr/petarzoric.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Alan Watson |language=Serbian |ref=harv |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930183520/http://www.alanwatson.org/sr/petarzoric.pdf |archivedate=September 30, 2011 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://istorijska-biblioteka.wikidot.com/art:sveti-sava Istorijska biblioteka: Sveti Sava] {{sr icon}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090224071402/http://rastko.org.rs/knjizevnost/liturgicka/svsava-sabrana/index_c.html Collected works] {{sr icon}}



{{DEFAULTSORT:Sava}}
[[Category:Scholastic philosophers]]

{{Sourceattribution|Saint Sava|1}}