Venerable Peter of Korisa

Life

A native of the village of Korisa, above the Monastery of Saint Mark near Prizren (according to another tradition, from a village near Pec). As a youth he plowed with a one-eyed ox. He was uncommonly meek and without anger. Together with his sister Helen he withdrew early to the ascetical life. He struggled very firmly and perseveringly. In a difficult battle with demonic temptations he proved victorious. A multitude of monks gathered around him, and he was their instructor. Fleeing from the glory of men, he hid for a time in Crna Rijeka, where Saint Joanikije of Devic later struggled. In old age he reposed in his cave in Korisa. On the night when he reposed, a light of many candles was seen in his cave and angelic singing was heard. This wondrous saint lived probably in the thirteenth century. Over his wonderworking relics Emperor Dusan built a church, which was a dependency of Hilandar. In more recent times the remnant of the relics of Saint Peter was secretly transferred to Crna Rijeka, where it rests to this day.