Saint Stephen Milutin, King of Serbia, His Brother Dragutin and Their Mother Helen

Saint Stephen Milutin, king of Serbia, his brother Dragutin and their mother Helen. Saint Stephen ascended the royal throne of Serbia in 1275 and governed the country wisely until 1320. The royal throne was handed over to Saint Stephen of his own free will by his elder brother Dragutin, who preferred the monastic life to the work of a king and laboured in secret in a pit he had dug. Their holy mother Helen helped her holy sons, who stood at the summit of earthly glory and spiritual ascent, with her prayers and her motherly counsel.

Mother and sons, as their position allowed, laboured much to convert the heretical Bogomils to the true faith. Saint Dragutin died on 2 March 1316.

The holy King Stephen Milutin valiantly defended the Orthodox Serbs by word and deed against their many enemies. In thanksgiving to the all-good Lord he built more than forty churches, many monasteries and shelters for the infirm. The blessed one cared especially for the houses of Athos. Saint Stephen died on 29 October 1320. Two years later the blessed one’s incorrupt relics were brought up.

Saint Helen, the devout mother of the sons well-pleasing to the Lord, after her husband’s death devoted herself to godly works; before her death she was tonsured a nun, and on 8 February 1306 she committed her soul to the Lord in peace.