Holy Martyr Joannicius, Patriarch of Serbia (†1349) — September 3 / September 16 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 3 according to the Julian Calendar (September 16 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Joannicius, Patriarch of Serbia.

Saint Joannicius, Patriarch of Serbia, was a native of the city of Prizren. It is known that he first served as secretary to the Serbian king, and then, from 1339, governed the Church in the rank of archbishop. In 1346 a council of all the hierarchs of Serbia, attended also by the Patriarch of Bulgaria, at the wish of King Dušan elected Archbishop Joannicius as Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The holy father reposed on September 3, 1349. He is buried in the monastery of Peć.