Avakum the Deacon
Serbian Orthodox monk
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Deacon Avakum (Serbian: Ђакон Авакум; 1794–30 December 1814) was a Serbian Orthodox monk of the Moštanica Monastery who joined Hadži-Prodan's rebellion. Suffering a martyr's death through refusing to convert, he and his associate Pajsije were proclaimed New-Martyrs (novomučenici) with commemoration on 17 December.[1] The commemoration is especially venerated in Trnava village.[1]
1794
Knešpolje, Ottoman Empire
Belgrade, Ottoman Empire
Saint Avakum the Deacon | |
|---|---|
A mosaic icon bearing his likeness in the Church of Saint Petka in Belgrade | |
| Holy hieromartyr | |
| Born | Lepoje Prodanović 1794 Knešpolje, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 30 December 1814 (aged 19–20) Belgrade, Ottoman Empire |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 30 December (O.S. 17 December) |
Avakum is the Serbian version of the Greek name Avvakoum (Αββακούμ, from Biblical Habakkuk).
Lepoje[2] or Ljepotan Prodanović[3] was born in c. 1794[4] in a village of Knešpolje[3] near the Moštanica Monastery in the Bosnia Eyalet.[4] He was educated and became a deacon under Ðenadije (or Genadije) Šuvak.[4] After pressure by Turks to pay globa (fines), Ðenadije took his son Stojan and Avakum and Avakum's mother with him to find a more peaceful place.[4] They walked across Bosnia and settled at the Trnava Monastery near Čačak, where the hegumen was Pajsije Ristović, living up until then alone.[4] They helped Pajsije with work.[4] Avakum was described as young and beautiful.[5]
After the failed First Serbian Uprising in 1813, the Ottomans began a reign of terror against the Serbs. The people decided to attempt yet another revolt, this time under Hadži-Prodan Gligorijević.[6] Among the organizers of the rebellion were the Trnava clergy of hegumen Pajsije, hieromonk Genadije, deacon Avakum and priest Radovan Vujović.[6] The rebellion was quickly suppressed, also with the help of former rebel leader Miloš Obrenović who rightly believed that it was not the right time for revolt.[6] Pajsije was impaled upon capture.[4] Some captured rebels were given the choice of converting to Islam or impalement; Genadije and his son chose conversion while Avakum refused.[7] The Turks tried to convince him, and while walking the Belgrade streets with the pole his mother stopped him and told him to save his life.[8] He was imprisoned at the Nebojša Tower.[3] The Turks tried again to convince him at the final site but Avakum refused, and seeing his fearlessness and faith they decided to pierce his heart with a knife and not impale him alive, but dead.[9]
The local school of Trnava is named after him.[1]