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Despot Stefan Lazarević

The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

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divided the land (of Israel), and in the way he raised up a new portico for the new Israel at Gilgal,9 and (in) the way he delivered (his people) from the surrounding enemies with great wisdom and might. At the fitting time he entered into battle against the enemies, in many ways, like the judges (of the Old Testament); (yet) Samson10 the strong was overcome by a woman, while this one (the Despot) never faltered in the least in all his life.

.ѳ. Elijah the Tishbite11 I do not cite; for (he) never gave himself over to the weaknesses and despair of Eli, the priest and judge of Israel, keeping in mind the mighty (prophet) Samuel, to whom the Lord spoke in the pillar of cloud; (he) held dominion and set up kings, and rebuked a king, wondrous among the prophets.

.i. David the son of Jesse, of whom God also bore witness, I likewise do not cite, for He said: "I have found David... a man after mine own heart";12 verily, (God) found the ever-remembered (Despot Stefan), who loathed pride and held (it) an abomination, and was ever exalted through humility, as much as one is able to receive.

.аi. Solomon spoke, sitting upon the throne of David his father;13 he pacified (the lands) toward the north and the south, of Assyria and of Egypt, so that the queen of Ethiopia (that is to say, of Sheba)14 came with gifts. For God gave him the name Solomon, which means peaceableness; and (He gave it to him) also because of his deeds. And (Despot Stefan) during his reign brought to peace toward himself the mightiest states, eastern and western, so that (the rulers) who reigned at various times gathered to him from all sides; he caused them to treat his land with respect, and the western /rulers/ called him lord and guardian of their land; at the fitting time he sent his chosen men to them (one by one), and, with the army, also nobles and dynasts from the whole land. And it never came to pass that any of them /of the westerners/, of the lowest or of the highest rank, went home without telling of his great gifts, worthy of every praise. From childhood he waged fierce battles and showed valor; and he possessed primordial wisdom, for which reason in all lands he was called the glorious Despot; and the small Serbian (state) scepter (that is, the state) acquired a great name and was proclaimed throughout the whole world, even more than (many) glorious rulers of other peoples who were exalted (over many) nations.

his hands upon him, proclaimed leader of the people of Israel. Entrusting this duty to him, Moses encourages him with the words: "Be strong and of a good courage" (Deuteronomy 31:7–8).

  1. Joshua 4:19–20.
  2. A Hebrew folk hero. God endowed him with extraordinary strength - he tore apart, for example, a young lion with his hands. He waged war against the Philistines. He fell in love with the Philistine woman Delilah, who learned that all his strength lay in his long hair, which he had never cut. While he slept, she cut off his hair and all his strength went out of him. He was cast into prison, his hair meanwhile grew back, and after some time he was brought out at the feast of the idol Dagon to entertain the Philistines. Samson prayed to God, seized two pillars of the house with his hands, and the whole house in which the princes and the people were collapsed and killed them all (Judges, ch. 16)
  3. A prophet in Israel, a native of Tishbe, hence the Tishbite. He rebuked the Israelite king Ahab and his wife for their sins. By God's command he withdrew to the brook Cherith, where a raven brought him food in its beak. He was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire. According to the teaching of the Church, Elijah together with Enoch will come again to the earth before the Second Coming of Christ.
  4. Acts 13:22.
  5. 1 Kings 2:12.
  6. 1 Kings, ch. 10.