Today Jan 27/14 we commemorate one of the greatest saints in the Serbian church, St. Sava I enlightener and first archbishop of Serbia.

 

Saint Sava, First Serbian Archbishop, Son of Stefan Nemanja, great Serbian prefect, born in 1169. As a young man, yearning for a spiritual life, he fled to the Holy Mountain where he became a monk and with rare zeal went through the entire ascetic constitution. He brought about the independence of the Serbian Church, and became its first archbishop. Together with father Nemanja, later monk Simeon, he built the Hilandar monastery on Mt. Athos, and then many other monasteries, churches and schools, mostly in Serbia. He reconciled his brothers, Serbs with their neighbors, strengthened the Church of Christ in his people. The greatest Serbian teacher and educator, the cornerstone of Serbian culture and spirituality. He passed away in Trnova, Bulgaria, in 1236, on his way back from his second trip to the Holy Land.

Troparion - Tone 3

Thou wast a guide to the Way of Life, a first Hierarch and a teacher;

thou didst come and enlighten thy home country, O Sava, and give it rebirth by the Holy Spirit. Thou hast planted thy children like olive trees in the spiritual Paradise. O Equal-to-the-Apostles and Saints, pray to Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Kontakion - Tone 8

As the first great hierarch and co-worker with the Apostles, the Church of thy people magnifies thee; and since thou hast found favor with Christ, save us by thy prayers from every calamity, so that we may proclaim to thee: Rejoice, God-wise Father Sava.

Troparion - Tone 8

O guide of Orthodoxy and blessed teacher of virtues, purifier and enlightener of thy homeland, beauty of monastics, most wise Father, Holy Sava, by thy teaching thou didst enlighten thy people,

O flute of the Spirit, pray to Christ God for our souls.