Tirana, Albania, April 14, 2021
Photo: Facebook
A portion of the holy relics of St. John Vladimir were recently returned to the Albanian Orthodox Church. St. John Vladimir was a 10th-century Serbian prince and is known as a beacon of Orthodoxy in Albania and throughout the Balkans.
The relics had been previously been kept the National History Museum in Tirana. His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Elbasan festively greeted the transfer of the relics to the monastery named for the saint in Shijon, on the outskirts of Elbasan, the Albanian Ministry of Culture reported on Monday.
The relics were accompanied and returned by the Albanian Minister of Culture and the director of the museum. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was also present.
St. John’s full relics were located in the monastery from 1381 to 1995, after which they were transferred to Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tirana. The relics were taken to the monastery for its patronal feast on June 3 and 4.
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The holy Martyr John Vladimir, a Serbian prince, was born in the 10th century. From his childhood he was raised in piety, and at maturity he wisely governed his holdings of Illyria and Dalmatia, preserving the holy faith in purity.
The noble prince was married to Kosara, a daughter of the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel. Summoned for talks with the Bulgarian Tsar John-Vladislav, he was treacherously murdered by the Tsar on May 22, 1015, at the entrance to a church. Kosara, the pious spouse of the holy prince, entered a women’s monastery that she built, and where also she died, not leaving the church until the very end of her life. The relics of the holy prince are located near Elbasan.
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