Mileševa as the Guardian of St. Sava’s Relics (or Why the Relics of St. Sava were Guarded in Mileševa)

Authors:

Pages: 364-375
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/GZSM2251

Abstract:

When Stefan the First Crowned together with archbishop Sava was having Žiča constructed, he determined that all Serbian kings and archbishops were to be crowned in it. Accordingly, archbishops ordained in Žiča, were supposed to be buried in it as well. However, Sava died in Bulgaria and originally was buried in Trnovo. When king Vladislav brought Sava’s relics to Serbia, he did not translate them to Žiča, but to Mileševo. Vladislav had Mileševa constructed but not when he was a king but the prince who at that time was not bearing a title of the crown prince. The fact that Vladislav’s successors never moved the relics of St. Sava, is the evidence that they met this, certainly unusual move, the translation of the relics to Mileševo, with the approval. What remains unclear is why they considered this act of King Vladislav to be legitimate. The only possible explanation is that Sv. Sava was also the head of Mileseva.

Keywords:

Saint Sava, king Vladislav, Mileševa, Žiča, relicts, foundation.

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