Sofia: Marking the 700th anniversary of the death of the Holy King Milutin

As of today, a series of manifestations in Bulgaria will mark the anniversary of the death of Serbian King Milutin, whose relics rest in the Church of the Holy Sunday in Sofia and whose cult in that country has been strong since the 16th century.

King Milutin died on 29 October, and this year marks the 700th anniversary of his death. The anniversary will be marked both on 29 October, when Bulgaria marks that date, and on 12 November, when the Serbian Orthodox Church marks it.

This time, according to Ambassador Jović, the Embassy of Serbia in Sofia got involved in order to mark that date together with the Metropolitanate of Sofia, and a series of manifestations are beginning today.

Thus, today, in front of the Church of the Holy Sunday in Sofia, an icon will be consecrated, which will arrive from Serbia, while tomorrow, on 28 October, a solemn concert of church chanting will be held. On Friday, 29 October, the hierarchical liturgy will follow, with the traditional act of changing the vestments.

"This year, a liturgy will be held, originally planned on the central streets of Sofia, but due to the epidemiological situation, it will go around the church", Jović added.

The evening service in honor of the holy king Milutin will follow in the evening.

According to the ambassador, a priestly conference will be held on 2 November in the Metropolitanate of Sofia.

"For the first time, we are marking this date according to both calendars. Thus, there will be an evening service in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, in Gornja Banja, on 7 November. That temple is also called the Monastery of the Holy King, because according to one historical source, Milutin stayed in it for 20 years. Then, on 10 November, the hierarchical liturgy will be served in the Monastery of St. Petka in Vladaya, because one of the arks where the relics of the king were kept is located there", said Jović.

Then, on 11 November, an evening service and a requiem will be held, and a day later, when the Serbian Orthodox Church marks the repose of King Milutin, a holy hierarchical liturgy will be served.

The ambassador points out that the series of manifestations is the right way to try to mark everything that the holy king Milutin did during his life, to show the way in which he is still respected among the Serbian and Bulgarian people.

"Let us, as an embassy, ​​shed light on the role of King Milutin as a link that can serve as a further stimulus in the development of relations between the Serbian and Bulgarian people, to seek a common path in such matters, for the benefit of our two countries and the entire region", Jović said.

He added that this year there will be no greater presence of believers, admirers of King Milutin, due to the epidemiological situation, but the day of King Milutin's death will certainly be marked, in memory of him and the significance that his relics still have today.

King Milutin, the second son of King Uroš, is one of the most important Serbian rulers, and he came to the throne after the abdication of his older brother, King Dragutin, who retired in 1282.

Milutin fought numerous wars, expanding his power deep into Byzantine territory, and his power was reflected in the organization of the state, in a large army, excellent economy and finances.

He ruled for 40 years and brought the reputation of the Serbian state and people to a high degree.

He did a lot for the culture of the Serbian people, and he built cities, summer houses, especially in Kosovo and Metohija, built and donated churches and monasteries, and this construction activity was accompanied by the development of art, painting, literature and applied arts related to the church and books.

He built hospitals, promoted large monastic estates as economic resources, minted money, and opened mines.

King Milutin built the Banjska monastery as his endowment.

Source: Tanjug