Right-Believing
Right-Believing Right-Believing King Stefan Uroš I the Great, of Serbia
?–1277
Right-Believing King Stefan Uroš I the Great of Serbia — of the Nemanjić dynasty, founder of Sopoćani Monastery, who received monastic tonsure as Simeon at the end of his life.
Right-Believing King Stefan Uroš I the Great, of the Nemanjić dynasty, son of St. Stefan the First-Crowned, ruled Serbia from 1243 to 1276. Under his reign the country experienced economic and cultural flourishing, strengthened ties with the West through the silver trade, and the Church received generous support. Uroš founded Sopoćani Monastery — one of the outstanding monuments of medieval Serbian architecture and fresco painting, which later became his burial place.
In 1276, after a revolt led by his elder son Dragutin, Uroš was forced to abdicate. He spent his final years as a monk, tonsured under the name Simeon. He died on May 1, 1277, and was buried at Sopoćani. He is venerated by the Serbian Orthodox Church among the right-believing rulers of the Nemanjić dynasty.