Saint Arsenije I Sremac
Encyclopedia
Arsenije Sremac or Arsenius (died 1266) was the second archbishop
of the Serbian Orthodox Church
(1233–1263) and a disciple
of Saint Sava
of Serbia.
, in the village of Dabar, near Slankamen (today Stari Slankamen
). The exact date of his birth is unknown. He took monastic vows, probably in St. Demetrius Monastery in today's Sremska Mitrovica
. When he heard of St. Sava's work, he was impressed and left for the monastery
of Žiča
. He soon became St. Sava's disciple and his syncellos. He was appointed as the ecclesiarch of the monastery and later Archimandrite
of Žiča, because of his religious life.
When Serbia was invaded by Hungary, St. Sava sent St. Arsenius to find a safer place in the south to establish a new episcopal See
. Arsenius chose Pech
, where he built a monastery and a church which was at first dedicated to the Holy Apostles, and then to the Lord's Ascension.
When St. Sava decided to abdicate, he decided that Arsenije would succeed him. Arsenije was consecrated bishop
. He was able to continue in the work of his predecessor. He built Peć monastery
and participated in the translation of St. Sava's sacred bones from Trnovo
to the monastery of Mileševa
. St. Arsenije crowned King Stefan Uroš I
. He helped King Stefan Uroš I and Queen St. Helene in building the monasteries Sopoćani
and Gradac
.
He suffered a stroke in 1263, after which he was succeeded by Saint Sava II
, nephew of Saint Sava
. St. Arsenije died on October 28, 1266.
His relic
s were buried at the Pech monastery, but now rest in the Zhrebaonik, Montenegro. His feast day is celebrated according to the Orthodox liturgical calendar
on October 28 (for those churches, such as the Serbian Orthodox Church, which follow the traditional Julian Calendar
, October 28 falls on November 10 of the modern Gregorian Calendar
).
Patriarch of Serbia
This is a list of the Archbishops and Patriarchs of Peć and the Serbs from the creation of the church as an archdiocese in 1219 to today's Patriarchate. The list includes all the Archbishops and Patriarchs that led the Serbian Orthodox community under Patriarchate of Peć...
of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
(1233–1263) and a disciple
Disciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
of Saint Sava
Saint Sava
Saint Sava was a Serbian Prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church, the founder of Serbian law and literature, and a diplomat. Sava was born Rastko Nemanjić , the youngest son of Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja , and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in...
of Serbia.
Early life
St. Arsenije was born in SyrmiaSyrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....
, in the village of Dabar, near Slankamen (today Stari Slankamen
Stari Slankamen
Stari Slankamen , also known as Slankamen , is a village located in the Inđija municipality, in the Srem District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...
). The exact date of his birth is unknown. He took monastic vows, probably in St. Demetrius Monastery in today's Sremska Mitrovica
Sremska Mitrovica
Sremska Mitrovica is a city and municipality located in the Vojvodina province of Serbia, on the left bank of the Sava river. As of 2002 the town had a total population of 39,041, while Sremska Mitrovica municipality had a population of 85,605...
. When he heard of St. Sava's work, he was impressed and left for the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Žiča
Žica
Žiča is an early 13th century Serb Orthodox monastery near Kraljevo, Serbia. The monastery, together with the Church of the Holy Dormition, was built by the first King of Serbia, Stefan the First-Crowned and the first Head of the Serbian Church, Saint Sava....
. He soon became St. Sava's disciple and his syncellos. He was appointed as the ecclesiarch of the monastery and later Archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
of Žiča, because of his religious life.
When Serbia was invaded by Hungary, St. Sava sent St. Arsenius to find a safer place in the south to establish a new episcopal See
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
. Arsenius chose Pech
Pech
The Pech are an indigenous people in northeastern Honduras, whose population, as of early 2005, had been reduced to 3,800. The Pech language is a member of the Chibchan family of languages, and, although it is still spoken by older people, it is in danger of extinction in the relatively near...
, where he built a monastery and a church which was at first dedicated to the Holy Apostles, and then to the Lord's Ascension.
Archbishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He was able to continue in the work of his predecessor. He built Peć monastery
Patriarchate of Pec
The Patriarchate of Peć is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located near Peć. The complex of churches is the spiritual seat and mausoleum of the Serbian archbishops and patriarchs....
and participated in the translation of St. Sava's sacred bones from Trnovo
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists...
to the monastery of Mileševa
Mileševa monastery
Mileševa is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located near Prijepolje, in southwest Serbia. It was founded by King Vladislav, in the years between 1234 and 1236...
. St. Arsenije crowned King Stefan Uroš I
Stefan Uroš I of Serbia
Stefan Uroš I was the King of Serbia from 1243 to 1276, succeeding his brother Stefan Vladislav.-Life:Stephen Uroš was the youngest son of Stefan the First-Crowned and Anna, the granddaughter of Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice....
. He helped King Stefan Uroš I and Queen St. Helene in building the monasteries Sopoćani
Sopocani
The Sopoćani monastery , an endowment of King Stefan Uroš I of Serbia, was built in the second half of the 13th century, near the source of the Raška River in the region of Ras, the centre of the Serbian medieval state. It is World Heritage Site, added in 1979 with Stari Ras...
and Gradac
Gradac Monastery
Gradac Monastery is a monastery in the Republic of Serbia. It lies on the elevated plateau above the river Gradačka, at the edge of the forested slopes Golija. It is 21 km northwest of Raška and 12.5 km west of Brvenik and Ibar highway...
.
He suffered a stroke in 1263, after which he was succeeded by Saint Sava II
Saint Sava II
Saint Sava II was the 3rd Serbian Archbishop that held office from 1263 until his death in 1271. He was the middle son of King Stephen II Nemanjić and Eudokia Angelina, his two brothers were Stephen Radoslav and Stephen Vladislav I and he had a sister, Komnena Nemanjić...
, nephew of Saint Sava
Saint Sava
Saint Sava was a Serbian Prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church, the founder of Serbian law and literature, and a diplomat. Sava was born Rastko Nemanjić , the youngest son of Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja , and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in...
. St. Arsenije died on October 28, 1266.
His relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s were buried at the Pech monastery, but now rest in the Zhrebaonik, Montenegro. His feast day is celebrated according to the Orthodox liturgical calendar
Orthodox liturgical calendar
Orthodox liturgical calendar may refer to:*Eastern Orthodox Church liturgical calendar*A special Hebrew calendar, also called a luach, normally used in synagogues belonging to Orthodox Judaism which lists the Jewish liturgy and prayers and blessings to be recited during the week, Sabbaths, and on...
on October 28 (for those churches, such as the Serbian Orthodox Church, which follow the traditional Julian Calendar
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
, October 28 falls on November 10 of the modern Gregorian Calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
).
External links
- Repose of St Arsenius, Archbishop of Serbia Orthodox iconIconAn icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
and synaxarion