St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming

He was born around 1113 as Stefan Nemanja, in the lands of Zeta near the river Ribnica, and rose to become Grand Prince of the Serbs. Through long struggle he united the divided Serbian principalities into a single state and secured its independence, founding the Nemanjić dynasty that would rule Serbia through its golden age.

A builder of churches and monasteries, he raised among others the great monastery of Studenica, with its white-marble church of the Mother of God, which became the spiritual heart of the young Serbian Church. He labored to root out the dualist Bogomil heresy from his lands and to establish his people firmly in the Orthodox faith.

His youngest son Rastko had fled in secret to Mount Athos and there become the monk Sava. In 1196, after more than thirty years of rule, Nemanja summoned a council, abdicated his throne in favor of his son Stefan, and was tonsured a monk at Studenica with the name Simeon, his wife Anna becoming the nun Anastasia.

Not long after, the aged Simeon left Serbia to join his son Sava on the Holy Mountain. Together, father and son obtained the ruined monastery of Hilandar and rebuilt it as a house for Serbian monks, which it remains to this day. There Simeon ended his life in ascetic labor, reposing on the thirteenth of February, 1199.

From his relics there flowed a fragrant myrrh, and for this the Church names him the Myrrh-streaming. His son Sava later carried his body home to Studenica, and his veneration spread through all the Serbian lands. He is honored as the holy forefather of the Serbian people and the first of the line of holy kings and bishops that sprang from his house.