Son of Stefan Nemanja, the great Serbian governor, born in 1169. As a young man, yearning for a spiritual life, he fled to the Holy Mountain where he became a monk and with rare zeal went through the entire ascetic constitution. He achieved the independence of the Serbian Church, and became its first archbishop. Together with his father Nemanja, later the monk Simeon, he built the Hilandar Monastery, and then many other monasteries, churches and schools, mostly in Serbia. He reconciled his brothers, the Serbs with their neighbors, and strengthened the Church of Christ among his people. The greatest Serbian teacher and educator, the cornerstone of Serbian culture and spirituality. He died in Tarnovo, Bulgaria, in 1236, on his return from his second journey to the Holy Land.

Venerable Martyrs Fathers of Sinai and Rait. Saint Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers. Saint Nina, Enlightener of Georgia.