Holy Martyr John Vladimir, King of Serbia

Life

He was of princely lineage from Zahumlje. His grandfather was named Hvalimir, and his father Petrislav. As a ruler he was wise, merciful, meek, chaste, and courageous. He prayed to God fervently and willingly built and supported churches. But he had difficult struggles both from within and from without: from within with heretics and Bogomils, and from without with conquerors: Emperor Samuel and Emperor Basil. Samuel treacherously captured him and cast him into prison. While he languished in prison, an angel of God appeared to him and foretold that he would soon be freed from prison but that he would nevertheless end his life as a martyr. Having come to know him better, Samuel grew to love him and gave him his daughter Kosara as his wife. When Samuel died, his son Radomir became emperor. But Radomir's cousin Vladislav slew Radomir, and then treacherously summoned Vladimir and beheaded him also in the year 1015. The relics of this holy king and martyr rest incorrupt in his monastery near Elbasan, and through the centuries miracles have occurred and continue to occur over them to this day. Near the Monastery of Saint Naum, a church was erected in 1925 to this crowned martyr as the founder of that glorious monastery.