Lives of the Serbian Saints

tr. Yanich and Hankey, 1921

Glossary

Angel way of life—the most ascetic of the rules for the monastic life in the East.

Archimandrite—a dignitary of the Orthodox monastic orders; below a bishop.

Autocrat—a ruler of an independent state who has no overlord.

Ban—a military governor, acting as representative of the king.

Banat—the territory ruled by a ban.

Dachila—the title of the governors appointed by the Turks to rule conquered provinces.

Despot—lord, the title of the last Serbian rulers. It does not exclude the existence of an overlord.

Despotitza—the title of a widow of a despot.

Ecclesiarch—an official in an Orthodox monastery mainly responsible for the services.

Eikon—a sacred picture of Our Lord or a saint.

Higumen—the head of a monastery.

Holy Mountain—always refers to Mount Athos and its monasteries.

Lavra—a monastery founded by a king.

Prvovenchani—first crowned.

Voievode—a petty chieftain, baron.