KULT SVETOG KRALjA MILUTINA: LITURGIJSKO – ISTORIJSKA ANALIZA

The celebration of king Milutin as a Saint began soon after his death. First commemoration of his feast was recorded in Romanov typicon (14th century), after which his service was transcribed in liturgical books. The Holy relics of Saint were in monastery Banjska when in the middle of the 15th century they were transferred to Serdica because of the risk of the Turks. Apart from Serdica, Samokov is mentioned as another seat of Saint's cult in Bulgaria. The translation of Holy relics in Bulgaria didn’t jeopardize the respect of the cult between Serbian people, and it is testified by a number of transcripts of services of Saint king Milutin in Srbljaks of the 16th century. The service of Saint king is one of the first services of the holy rulers that became part of Srbljak. Celebration of king Milutin in Bulgarian environment has been grounded on the serbianslavonic liturgical heritage. With transporting of Holy relics in Bulgaria the cult wasn't reshaped but continued with liturgical continuity. The Serbian manuscripts preserved their old role in new environment. Also, Russian texts of the service of Saint king are grounded on the Serbian manuscripts that were accepted in Russian liturgical practice without editorial interventions. The text of the Saints service has a clear liturgical continuity while the text of the Holy lives has more ways of its shaping even in Serbian environment. With representing of the liturgical texts we have shown that the cult, contrary to claims so far, was developed and known with Serbs even during Turkish period. When it comes to date of celebrating Saint's feast based on testimonies of the sources, we consider that the first date, 29th October, is liturgical and historical more ancient and that we must remember it although modern liturgical practice celebrates the feast of the Holy king on the 30th October.