The Life and Ascetic Labors in the Desert with His Father, and Separately His Journeys, Together with a Partial Account of the Miracles of Our Holy Father Sava, the First Archbishop and Teacher of the Serbs, as Related by the Venerable Domentijan, Hieromonk of the Monastery Called Hilandar, and Written by Theodosije, Monk of the Same Monastery
(On the Birth of the Saint and His Early Youth)
This man was the son of the great župan Nemanja, ruler of the Serbs, who held autocratic dominion over all the Serb lands – namely Dioclea, Dalmatia, and Travunia – extending eastward toward Illyria and westward unto the Roman regions. The aforesaid man was pious and God-fearing, not a lover of riches, surpassing all others in courage and martial skill, and abounding in all earthly goods. He was adorned with zeal, righteousness, mercy, and meekness. In accordance with the law, he took to wife one named Ana, who in no way fell short of her husband in virtue. Unto them were born sons and daughters, whom they illumined by divine baptism; and, instructing them in the holy books and in virtue, they rejoiced in the Lord.
After much time had passed, the said pious Anna ceased to bear children, for God had closed her womb, as of old He did Leah the wife of Jacob, so that she who had formerly borne might bear no more in due season; for which cause her husband reproached and insulted her.1 And both were in sorrow and grief, for their souls ardently desired yet another child. Rising by night to prayer unto Almighty God, they spake for themselves with tears, saying:
“O Master, Lord God Almighty,
who of old didst hearken unto Abraham and Sarah,
and unto the other righteous who besought Thee for a child.2
Hear now us also,
Thy sinful servants who pray unto Thee.
Grant unto us, in Thy goodness,
that we may receive yet one male child,
who shall be the consolation of our souls,
and, through Thee, the heir of our dominion,
and the staff of our old age,
upon whom we may lay our hands and find rest.
And we vow this vow unto Thee:
from the conception of the child
we shall abstain from lawful union,
and each of us shall preserve bodily purity
unto the end of our lives.”
And the Lord, who is nigh unto all who call upon Him in truth and heareth their prayer,3 hearkened unto their supplication, even as unto the other righteous. And this was the beginning of the ineffable judgments of God: that, as in life thereafter, so first in birth, the child should be wondrous. For this was not of human nature alone, but also by the command of the Almighty God, who overcometh the law of nature as He willeth. Thus the fruit of prayer, born according to nature, being given by God, was also dedicated unto God – and so it came to pass.
And when the woman had conceived, and the days were fulfilled, she bare a male child according to their supplication. And they rejoiced exceedingly in soul and glorified God, who had not despised their entreaty. And after a short while they begat him again by water and the Spirit,4 illumining him with divine baptism, and they called his name Rastko; and he grew well in the Lord. And when the child had gained strength, they delivered him to be instructed in the holy books. His parents, perceiving toward him a love beyond nature and measure, beheld him continually with insatiable affection; and their nobles likewise said that he would be the best among his brethren. And the child was comely in form and joyful in soul, and he advanced in learning, causing wonder by his understanding in so tender an age, so that all said: “This shall be some new portent.”
And when he had attained fifteen years, his parents assigned unto him a portion of their realm to govern, that he might withdraw from father and mother and take delight with the nobles, and rejoice with the sons of the great. But the young man, having tasted of the knowledge of the divine and holy books, read them yet more frequently, drawing from them the beginning of wisdom – the fear of God5 – and day by day he was kindled with divine love, adding fire unto fire with unquenchable desire. He judged that kingship and riches, glory and splendor, and all earthly prosperity are full of tumult and inconstant; he accounted the visible beauty and abundance of this world as a shadow. And understanding that feasting and merriment, and all that is human upon the earth, are vain and unreal, he took hold of the right path and devoted himself to the study of books, and was not slothful in standing at all the services of the Church. He loved fasting, avoided vain speech and unseemly laughter, and utterly abhorred the shameful and harmful songs of youthful passions, which weaken the soul. He was good, meek, and gracious unto all, not a lover of riches beyond most, and he held the monastic estate in exceeding honour – so that even his parents were in awe and felt shame, beholding such diligence and rule of virtue in one so young. And they deemed him as though he were not born of them, but truly given by God.
By Teodosije of Hilandar
Translated by Books of Jeremiah
