The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

in the midst of these brotherhoods; (they have) many cells of silence³⁶ after the great Ephraim, and they converse with the leaves and the birds and the water. Among them are many monks who by (their own) ascetic struggle unceasingly glorify and praise God, One in Trinity, as the angels glorify Him with unceasing chant, and with them one may sing: "The little hills are girded with joy, and the deserts have wondrously blossomed."³⁷

11. From them came forth also the great Simeon and Sava, a great and honorable thing to hear and to tell; (they) surpassed all human nature by despising it and (by) their ascetic struggle; here every zeal of human nature is directed toward God and virtue; with these struggles they (Simeon and Sava), who are worthy of every praise, were crowned from the beginning. For they forsook not only houses and villages, which are almost of no account, but such great power: the command of armies, treasuries, the height of the throne and the rest of the greatness that power (gives), and they took the cross upon their shoulders, rejoicing in Him who leads them to another kingdom, better than this one. And they (Simeon and Sava) also brought a multitude of their children to God. But to number their virtues is the same as to number the sand of the sea.

12. It is needful to seek out the causal root of what was said earlier, (and) from there to see who they are and whence they are and of what roots they are the branches; and how the (branch) that blossomed in our age ruled; and who is the restorer of the aforesaid (things) and an enlightener after (the example) of Sava, equal to the apostles, the most illustrious (that is, the most glorious) among the illustrious (that is, the glorious). Now, (however), one must touch upon the third degree, (that is,) pass from the land to those who till it, and from those who till it to him who ruled worthily. We have laid this foundation (because it leads from) bondage to hireling service, (and from) hireling service to sonship.

13. And now I beseech all of you to listen attentively, not to him who speaks, but to Him who does what no one can do; and to him who puts together (what is) diverse. For it was not we who adorned this land with words, nor the inhabitants who live in it - we have cast a drop from the abyss into the air - but God, who from the beginning (does) works and adorns (them). Therefore, then, upon that open sea we meet with the most wise and the most eloquent to set forth (these things). It must be known that this (land) is adorned and surpasses others (also in this), that its inhabitants confirm the words of the Gospel and of the angels with deeds. Still greater and more marvelous is the divine providence (when the matter concerns) this divine man /Despot Stefan/, who from the beginning, from generation to generation, keeps His promises (given to those) who tremble at His name. To Abram (God), having promised, ordained that (he wait) 430 years and 40 more, that his seed (that is, his offspring) might inherit the Promised Land; and, as is told - God laid the fear and dread of Adam upon all the beasts of the earth; and the lions, having sensed Adam's disobedience, began to devour men, but Daniel,³⁸ thinking that he was Adam according to obedience, (having sensed) the fear of Adam from him, they received (him) better than Adam, for he is the seed of obedience. Likewise (the Despot)