Jakov of Serres ( sr, Јаков Серски; 1300–1365) was a medieval Serbian writer, scholar, translator, and hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, one of the most important men of letters working in the 14th century.

Biography

Evidence about his life is scarce, but his literary legacy suggests an excellent knowledge of Greek and Slavic languages. In 1343, King (and eventually Emperor) Stefan Dušan began to build the Monastery of the Holy Archangels near Prizren; he appointed Jakov, a learned and highly esteemed monk, its first '' hegumen'' (abbot). Both Stefan Dušan and his wife Jelena were in awe of Jakov's wide knowledge and they often sought his company and counsel. In 1345, Stefan Dušan captured the city of Serres from the Byzantine Empire; and Jakov was appointed Metropolitan of Serres and its surrounding territories. The population of Serres was mixed Slavic, Albanian and Greek and Jakov was fluent in all three languages and their dialects. In fact, Jakov wrote some literature hymns in Greek and is numbered among the Greek authors as well as Serbian. Jakov was a disciple of Gregory of Sinai and a friend of Romylos of Ravanica. After the sudden death of Stefan Dušan in 1355, Jelena, Dušan's wife, became a nun, took the name Jelisaveta, and moved from Skoplje, the capital of Serbia, to Serres. From there, she administered her estates; and Jakov was at her side as wise counsel. Jakov wrote the '' Triodion'' which he sent as his bequest to the Monastery of the Theotokos in Sinai in 1359 or 1360. At present, the Triodion (a two-part Triodion, one for Lent and the other for the period between Easter and Pentecost) is kept in Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai. Copies are also kept at Hilandar Monastery, Mount Athos, Greece, and in libraries in the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. He is illustrated in the Serbian manuscript of scribe

Kalist Rasoder Kalist Rasoder was the author of the Tetraevangelion, also known as "Serres Gospel" book, written in 1354 in the Serbian recension of Church Slavonic. In view of the turbulent historical happenings in the region at the time, it is understandable ho ...

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Tetraevangelion ''Tetraevangelion'' ( el, τετραευαγγέλιον, "Four Evangelia/ Gospel Books"; ka, ოთხთავი, ''ot'kht'avi''; Old Slavonic: благовѣствованиѥ; bg, Четвероевангелие; sr, Четворојева� ...

'' ( The Four Gospels) dating to 1354, held at the British Library.

References

{{Serbian literature 14th-century Serbian writers Medieval Greek-language writers Medieval Serbian Orthodox clergy Serbian translators People of the Kingdom of Serbia (medieval) People of the Serbian Empire People from Prizren History of Serres 1300 births 1365 deaths 14th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops 14th-century Greek writers Medieval European scribes

Biography

See also

References