Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia
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.
Contemporaries
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Guided reading
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SAINT SAVA, METROPOLITAN OF SERBIA (1250).
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 Sabbas was the first to occupy this see.
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 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 nstantinople had such great confidence in him that he established him as his vicar for all the surrounding provinces.
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 , who always regretted his former state, obtained permission from the Holy See to resign from his dignity to return to Mount At hos, where he died a few years later, around the year 1258. He is honored among the Greek-Catholics on February 14.
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 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.
Entities
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Frequently asked questions about Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia
Who was Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia?
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.
What is Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia: Serbia.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia?
Contemporaries include: Saint Anthony of Padua (Ferdinand), Saint Arthaud of Belley, Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.
When did Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia die?
Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia died around 1300.
Who are the relatives of Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia?
Relatives of Saint Sava, Metropolitan of Serbia: Étienne (brother).
Annexes & related entities
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Key Events
- Monk at Mount Athos
- Appointed first Archbishop of Peć and Metropolitan of Serbia
- Appointed vicar by the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople
- Resigned from his position to return to Mount Athos
- Died at Mount Athos