St. Angelina Brancovich, Princess of Serbia

Commemorated on December 10 (also on July 1 & July 30)

Sts. Angelina and Stephen were the parents of St. John of Serbia. The life of the Serbian ruler, Stephen Brancovich, and his family was filled with instability and misfortune. After Serbia was seized in 1457 by the Turks, the then Serbian ruler’s middle son, Stephen, distinguished by a meek disposition and fine knowledge of Holy Scripture, went to the capital of Turkey after his sister had been given to Sultan Murat in marriage. Learning that the Turks had burned the Mileshevsk Monastery, St. Stephen rose up to defend Serbia.

When he married Angelina, the daughter of the Prince of Albania, the Turks threatened St. Stephen and his family with punishment. With his wife and three children, he was forced to hide first in Albania, and then in Italy, where he died.

St. Angelina transferred the incorrupt relics of her spouse to Kupinovo. At the end of the fifteenth century, their son, St. John, became ruler of Serbia. The incorrupt relics of St. John and his parents were afterwards glorified by many miracles.

By permission of the Orthodox Church in America (www.oca.org)