Venerable Symeon the Myrrh-streaming, King of Serbia (+1200)

The Venerable Symeon the Myrrh-streaming, King of Serbia, lived in the twelfth century. In the world he was called Stefan Nemanja and was Grand Župan (prince) of Serbia. Symeon laboured much for his homeland: he united the greater part of the Serbian lands and won independence for the country. He diligently protected his people from the heresy of the Latins and other heretical teachings. At the age of eighty Stefan went to Athos, where his son, the Venerable Sava (commemorated 12 January), had already become famous for his holy life. Here together they restored the abandoned monastery of Hilandar, where monks from various countries gradually gathered. Saint Symeon was a valiant ascetic and a wise teacher of the brothers. He died on 13 February 1200. Myrrh flowed from the blessed ascetic’s incorrupt relics. Saint Sava translated his father’s remains and placed them in the church of the Most Holy Theotokos on the bank of the River Studenica.