Page 388 - Kosovo Metohija Heritage

Fr. Daniel M. Rogić
Prince Lazar, fresco from Kremlin, Moscow, 1564–65, repainted 1652–66,
Cathedral of the Holy archangels (archangelsky Sobor)
allowed monks to take the body of Lazar for honorable burial in the Church of the Holy ascension in Priština. The great poetic saying of the Serbs rang true: Sve je sveto i čes- tito bilo, i milome Bogu pristupačno (“everything was holy and honorable, and acceptable to the gracious God”).
One year later (1390–91), in a solemn procession from Priština to Ćuprija, led by Patriarch Danilo iii, the body of Holy Great-Martyr Prince Lazar was brought to his foun- dational monastery, Ravanica. along the way, mourners, especially the Christian women and children, lamented the loss of the fallen Holy emperor and his soldiers, as Ra- chel weeping for her children (cf. Matt. 2:18). Many at first were bewildered and did not understand the meaning of his life, especially his life-giving death, and the significance
of the Battle of Kosovo itself. They also mourned for elder jug-Bogdan and his nine sons, as well as the heroic soldiers Milan of Toplica, ivan Kosančić, Miloš Obilić, the Musić brothers (who were buried at the Monastery of Nova Pav- lica), and the thousands of Christian soldiers martyred on the Field of Kosovo.
Many of the women who came to the battle field after- ward, as well as those who awaited the body of Saint Lazar at Ravanica, were like the Myrrh-bearing women who came to the tomb of Christ to anoint and lament over the Lord’s body. Princess Milica cried out: “O how i lament, how i grieve, and there is no one to comfort me. Weep with me, O fields and valleys, for you have become partakers of their bodies and blood! Cry with me, O mothers, and mourn for your most beloved children! Grieve, O wives, for your tri- umphantly gallant husbands!” The beloved Kosovo Devoj- ka (unknown Maiden of Kosovo), who had come to the battle field as to a tomb, lamented: “Most bewildered evil has come upon me; most sorrowful if i were to grasp the branch of a green pine tree, even the green pine would with- er.” and the blessed mother of the nine jugović brothers, after receiving the severed right hand (with ring) of her youngest son Damian—delivered to her by two black ra- vens was in total shock at such a disaster, so much so that she could not speak. Husband and nine sons had been mar- tyred, her heart swelled and burst asunder.
Yet to the amazement of all, upon opening the casket at Ravanica, all those gathered together found the holy body of Lazar, with severed head, exuding a fragrant myrrh, and they beheld a supra-sensual, uncreated light beaming from within the casket. as the funeral Liturgy was chanted and all received the precious Body and Blood of our Lord jesus Christ, the sorrow began to turn into joy, the wailing began to cease, and up lifted hands and hearts began to silently praise God. Those who venerated Holy Lazar, giving him the last kiss, were healed of their spiritual maladies, were fortified in spirit, were inflamed ever more for the Life- giving Cross and Glorious Resurrection of jesus Christ. His burial in the Monastery Church of the ascension was a complete turning point in the history of the Serbian peo- ple: having been certainly founded and formed in Christ and Orthodoxy earlier by St. Sava and his father Stefan Ne- manja St. Simeon, they now were fully consecrated and purified by the glorious martyrdom of Holy Prince Lazar.
indeed, the sorrow of the nation was transformed into joy. Princess Milica, who shortly thereafter, in 1393, became Mother eugenia as a nun in Ljubostinja, cried out for joy: “Rejoice, O Lazar, my never sleeping eye; Lazar who out- shines all the stars, Preacher of the Trinity, Liberator of the imprisoned, Pillar of the Church; Rejoice, O teacher of he- sychasts. Blessed art thou indeed, O Lazar; bless me who blesses thee.” in 1405, the nun jefimija, the widow of Des- pot john Uglješa Mrnjavčević, and the cousin of Princess Milica eugenia, composed a wondrous encomium which she sewed with gold and silver thread onto the silk shroud
386