Hierarch14th century

Saint Savva III Archbishop of Serbia

Reposed 16 July 1316

Also known as Sava III of Serbia

An archbishop of Serbia in the early fourteenth century, numbered among the holy Serbian hierarchs.

July 26New Calendar

Feast Day

August 8Old Calendar

Also commemorated

August 30NewSeptember 12Old

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Savva III, Archbishop of All Serbian and Maritime Lands

Life

Saint Savva III was Archbishop of Serbia in the early fourteenth century, leading the Serbian Church from 1309 until his death in 1316. He is numbered among the holy Serbian hierarchs and is venerated by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Rising through the ranks of the Church from abbot to bishop and finally to the archiepiscopal throne, Savva III is remembered both as a shepherd of the Serbian Church during the reign of King Stefan Milutin and as a notable patron of medieval Serbian church-building.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 4

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).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

Before 1309Hegumen and bishopSavva served as hegumen (abbot) of the monastery of Hilandar on Mount Athos and afterward became Bishop of Prizren, where he was involved in the building of the church of Our Lady of Ljevis (Bogorodica Ljeviska).
1309Elevation to archbishopHe was elevated to the office of Archbishop of Serbia, succeeding Jevstatije II, and used the style 'Archbishop of All Serbian and Maritime Lands' in the charters of King Stefan Milutin.
16 July 1316ReposeSavva III reposed; he was succeeded as archbishop by Nikodim I.

Contributions & Legacy

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Ecclesiastical career

Savva III began his monastic life as hegumen of Hilandar, the Serbian monastery on Mount Athos, before advancing to the episcopate as Bishop of Prizren. During his tenure at Prizren he contributed to the building of the church of Our Lady of Ljevis (Bogorodica Ljeviska).

In 1309 he succeeded Jevstatije II as Archbishop of Serbia, an office he held until his death in 1316. In the charters of King Stefan Milutin he is styled 'Archbishop of All Serbian and Maritime Lands.' He was succeeded by Archbishop Nikodim I, whose testimony records that Savva regularly gave aid to Hilandar throughout his life.

Architectural patronage

Savva III is regarded as an important figure in the development of architecture in medieval Serbia. King Stefan Milutin consulted with him in connection with the founding of the Banjska Monastery, though Savva did not live to see it completed.

As archbishop he rebuilt the Church of Saint George at Staro Nagoricane.

Veneration

Savva III is venerated as a saint and was canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church, which numbers him among the holy Serbian archbishops. His principal feast is kept on July 26, and he is also commemorated on August 30.

Member ofReadHide

Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs

Commemorated together · Aug 30

Companions1 figureShowHide

Contemporary King of Serbia, who consulted Savva on the founding of the Banjska Monastery and in whose charters Savva is styled Archbishop of all the Serbian and Maritime lands.

Saint Stephen Milutinof Serbia

Related Saints8 saintsShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Founder of the autocephalous Serbian Church and first holder of the archiepiscopal throne Savva later occupied.

Sava IFirst Archbishop of Serbia

Fellow holy Archbishop of the Serbian Church in the Žiča–Peć succession.

Eustathius IArchbishop of Serbia