Saint Nikodemos, Archbishop of Serbia
Saint Nikodemos (Νikόdēmos) the Archbishop of Serbia, a gifted ecclesiastical writer and learned theologian, like many Serbian bishops, first contested on Holy Mount Athos where he was tonsured, and then he was chosen as Igoumen of Hilandar Monastery (1312–1316). The Hieromonk Gervasius wrote that the Saint was a native of "a western country, the land of Raska, called Serbia."
After the death of the Serbian Archbishop Sava III, Saint Nikodemos was elected as Archbishop of All Serbia and the Land of Pomor, and ascended the primatial throne in 1317.
The Hierarch translated the Rule of Saint Savva the Sanctified from Greek into Serbian. In the Synaxarion he included the dates of the repose of the Serbian rulers and Archbishops in order to commemorate the departed with festive services (if they were glorified as Saints). In his translation of the Jerusalem Typikon, Archbishop Nikodemos reminds us that even Saint Savva of Serbia wanted his churches to be built like the churches of Jerusalem, and the Lavra of Savva the Sanctified. In the preface to this work, he says: "Almighty God, Who knows our weakness, gives us spiritual strength if we first show our work." In a note dating back to the year 1319, the Saint indicates that he undertook the translation of the Typikon, fulfilling the will of Saint Savva. He concludes his exhortation with the following words: "I beseech those who come after me to complete that which remains unfinished because of the shortness of my life."
While he was still the Igoumen of Hilandar, Blessed Nikodemos, at the request of Kings Milutin and Dragutin, and the entire council of the Serbian land, went to Constantinople to Patriarch Nikon and Emperor Andronikos, in order to promote the reconciliation of the warring brothers. As Archbishop, the Saint stood at the head of the embassy of Hilandar Monastery, which had arrived in Serbia to ask King Milutin for forgiveness and his son, Stephen of Decani (Dečani), was returned from exile. This was reported by the Church writer Archbishop Daniel II, who also took part in the reconciliation process. "And this Bishop," writing about Saint Nikodemos, "truly had boldness... approaching him, he began to speak sweet and prudent words, by which it was possible to turn his great wrath into meekness."
On January 6, 1321, Saint Nikodemos crowned Stephen Uros (Uroš) III of Decani with the royal crown. George Tsamblak described this event as follows: "He was met by the Hierarch Archbishop Nikodemos... with great joy and royal honors. In the temple, Archbishop Nikodemos took the royal crown of the kingdom and placed it on Stephen's head, showing him to be the rightful king.
Saint Nikodemos was the builder of the church of Saint Demetrios in the Patriarchate of Pec (Peč), and the church of Saint Savva of Serbia at Lizitsya. He restored Zicha (Žiča) Monastery and took special care of the cell of Saint Savva in Karyes on Mount Athos. The Saint left a testament that the Serbian Archbishops should deliver to this cell everything that Saint Savva himself once specified.
Sincerely devoted to Christ's teachings, and to his people, the Hierarch was an irreconcilable fighter against false teachings and heresies, especially the Bogomils1. In the Church Service in honor of Saint Nikodemos, composed by Bishop Mark between 1404 and 1412, it is reported that the Saint waged a fierce struggle against heretics, including the Latins. The hymnographer likened the Hierarch to an axe cutting down the intentions of heretics who came from foreign countries.
The Hierarch's biographer reports that he was Archbishop "for only eight years of his short life," and departed to the Lord as a relatively old man. This occurred on May 11, 1324. The relics of Saint Nikodemos were placed in the church of Saint Demetrios at Pec. The exact date of their discovery unknown, but already by 1391 they had been placed in a special ark. The glorification of Nikodemos as a Saint happened quite early. Just as early, the Church veneration of this Saint appeared in Russia. Icons of Saint Nikodemos can be found in the frescoes in the monastery of Morača, the church of Saint Nicholas near Moraca (Morača), and in the monastery of Orahovica.
Saint Nikodemos reposed on May 11, 1325. He is also commemorated on August 30, the Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs, and at the Synaxis of All Saints of Mount Athos (a movable Feast on the Second Sunday after Pentecost).
1They were dualists, or Gnostics, who believed in a world within the body and a world outside the body. They rejected the Christian hierarchy, the Cross, and they did not build churches, since they regarded their body as a temple. This gave rise to various practices to cleanse themselves through fasting or dancing.