c. 1198 – 1271
Son of King Stefan the First-Crowned and a nephew of St. Sava I, who became a monk on Mount Athos and later Archbishop of Serbia, shepherding the Serbian Church in the thirteenth century.
Our Father among the Saints Sava II, Archbishop of Serbia
Saint Sava II was the third Archbishop of Serbia, serving from 1263 until his death in 1271. Born Predislav, he was a member of the Nemanjić dynasty: a son of King Stefan the First-Crowned and his Byzantine wife Eudokia Angelina, and a nephew of Saint Sava I, the first Serbian Archbishop, whose monastic name he later took.
He embraced monastic life in imitation of his sainted uncle, was appointed Bishop of Hum, and eventually assumed the leadership of the Serbian Church. He guided it through the middle of the thirteenth century until his repose, and is venerated as a saint with a feast day on February 8.
(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) O Hierarch Savva, divine thunder, spiritual trumpet,
planter of faith and pruner of heresies, great favorite of the Trinity,
while standing with the Angels before God,
pray unceasingly for us all.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Savva,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Sava II belonged to the Nemanjić dynasty. His father was King Stefan the First-Crowned and his mother was the Byzantine princess Eudokia Angelina. He had two older brothers, Stefan Radoslav and Stefan Vladislav, a half-brother, Stefan Uroš I, and two sisters, of whom only Komnena is known by name.
His uncle was Saint Sava I, the first Archbishop of Serbia, whose monastic name Predislav adopted and whose ascetic example he sought to follow.
Before leading the Serbian Church, Sava II served as Bishop of Hum. He became the third Serbian Archbishop, in the line of succession after Arsenije I (Saint Arsenius) and before Danilo I.
Accounts of the exact years of his episcopate vary: his accession is most often dated to 1263, though some sources give 1266, and his repose is placed variously in 1268, 1269, or 1271.
His holy relics are preserved at the Patriarchate of Peć, the seat of the ancient Serbian Patriarchate.
He is depicted in a fresco at the Visoki Dečani Monastery.
The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates Sava II as a saint. His feast is kept on February 8 (corresponding to February 21 on the Julian calendar).
Sava II, born Predislav, was a son of the royal house of Nemanjić, which gave the Serbian Church and crown a remarkable line of saints.
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