Peter of Koriša

Petar Koriški (in Serbian: Петар Коришки; lived in the 13th century) was the first hermit saint of Medieval Kingdom of Serbia, who lived in a cave on Rusenica mountain, part of the Šar Mountains range, where he gained fame as an ascetic wonderworker among his people.^[1] The Serbian Orthodox Church now venerates him on 5 June (Julian Calendar).

He was born in Ujmir, a village south-west of Peja and died in the town of Korishë, which is located in Prizren, Kosovo. Petar and his sister, after the death of their parents, joined a monastic community and later both became hermits.^[2] It is said that Petar healed those who sought his help and his fame spread with the ensuing years, transforming into the "Cult of Petar of Koriša."^[3]

His rock-cut monastery is also known as the Hermitage of St. Peter of Koriša.

Petar Koriški was the only saint that was neither a state ruler nor head of the Church, though an exception was made in his case by the Serbian Orthodox Church.^[4][3]

In the next century, Teodosije the Hilandarian popularized Petar in his 1310 realistic work titled "The Life of Petar of Koriša." Teodosije's narrative demonstrated the characteristics of a novel.^[5][6]