Jevstatije I

Who was Jevstatije I?

Saint Jevstatije I or Eustathius I was the sixth Serbian Archbishop, holding the office from 1279 to 1286.

He was born in the Budimlje parish, near Ivangrad. As a young man he took his monastics vows in Zeta, before going to Hilandar monastery, where he later became the hegumen, succeeding Joanikije, holding the office 1162-1165. He left the monastery and became the Bishop of Zeta, and later the Serbian Archbishop in 1279, succeeding Joanikije I. He died on 4 January 1286. His relics were buried in the Patriarchate of Peć in 1289-1290, after being transferred from the ruined Žiča monastery.

The Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates him on 4 January according to the Julian calendar, or 17 January according to the Gregorian calendar.