Lives of the Serbian Saints

tr. Yanich and Hankey, 1921

12. The Life of Saint Joannicius of Devich

This saint, the godly father and hermit, Joannicius, was born in Diocletia, on the coast of the Adriatic. We know not the names of his parents, but doubtless they were of the Orthodox Faith and of the Serbian people. When Joannicius was young he loved the Lord and desert places, wherefore he left his fatherland and came to the river Ibar, to a desolate place called Black River. There with great severity he followed the rule of prayer. Some of the monks then heard of him and went to him in the desert, and were received by him. They remained there to be instructed of him, and they came to know the holiness and the godly life of St. Joannicius. Then were they obedient to the saint, as to a spiritual father and leader, with their whole heart. After a while the godly Joannicius called upon his brothers to build a church and a monastery; which thing they did with the help of God and of Our Lord Jesus Christ. When the rumour spread abroad concerning the holy life of the godly Joannicius, many of the people came that they might follow the spiritual life with him. But some of those who came praised very greatly the holiness of the life of the godly Joannicius and his care for the monastery, so that godly man and servant of Jesus, Joannicius, was ill pleased. Therefore he punished his spiritual children and, commending them to the grace of the Lord, left his monastery and went to live in the desert of Devich, where was solitude and a spring of water, and began once more his former spiritual exercises. We see again the words of the Gospel in practice: “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, and a candle is not to be covered.” When the great despot George heard of him in Smederevo, he came to him with his men and besought him to pray to the Lord that his daughter might be made whole, who long time had been sick. And because the Lord looked upon his servant and upon the prayer of the godly Joannicius, George, giving thanks and praise to the Lord, built a church in honour of the Coming of the All Holy Mother of God to the Temple. He adorned it with great splendour and by royal letters gave to it many villages for its support. The godly Joannicius set the monastery in order and calling the brothers round him, took thought for their good life, giving his own life as their example. In the fullness of time he came to a great old age and went to the Lord. His body was buried in the church of the monastery three cubits deep in the ground. Through his relics the Lord of His mercy healed many who came with faith. Whom we also venerate and beseech that through the prayers of His saint He will have mercy upon us and grant us His Kingdom in the world of His saints. Amen.

Notes

The exact date of this saint is not known, but the mention of the despot George Brankovich shows that he belongs to this period.