Female Patrons of Monasticism in the Late Medieval Balkans (13th-14th Centuries)

Abstract

This article focuses on the role of women as patrons of monastic institutions, monks and church hierarchs in the late medieval Balkans. Two case studies from medieval Serbia are examined to demonstrate the peculiarities of the relationship between female rulers and bishops, as well as of the different forms and aspects of female patronage of monasticism, like founding and donating to monasteries or commissioning liturgical books. One of the most important questions concerns the motivation of women for patronizing monks. It is suggested that there was some interplay in cooperation between female patrons and monks. The question is posed whether prayers, commemoration, spiritual guidance and even the composing of a vita (i.e. contributing to the veneration of a new saint) may be understood as a form of compensation on the part of the monks towards female patrons.