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Agapitь
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Mentioned in the charter of veliki sluga Jovan Oliver in favour of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane. He was a protopopь.He composed between 1332 and 1341 the charter of Jovan Oliver, the veliki sluga of the Serbian lands and Pomorje, concerning the deserted settlement site Jastrebnica, which was reinhabited by Todor, who was in service of Jovan Oliver (protopopa Agapitь pisa).
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Arsenije
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Mentioned in the sources from 1343 to 1353. He was the Abbot (igumen) of the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo. He was the petitioner, who asked the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and Uroš, the Young King, to issue the chrysobull charter for the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo (Si hrusovulь uspomenutijemь grěš’nago črnoriz’ca Arsenija, igumena htětovьskaago napisa gospodinь kralь Stepanь sь synom’ si Urošemь). It is obvious that Arsenije was Abbot of the monastery at the time, when the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, together with his son, granted the chrysobull for the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo. He is probably identical with the Bishop of Zletovo, Arsenij, who is mentioned in the Lesnovo manuscript of Ephrem the Syrianʼs paraenesis from 1353 (poneže ne běh pisьcъ, nja povelěnïemь gospodina mi episkopa Arsenïa načrьtoh sih knigь). Arsenij was portrayed on the painting in the narthex of the Monastery of Archangel Michael in Lesnovo.
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Athanasij
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He was active probably in the first half of the 14th century. He was a monk and apparently scribe in the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo.He is mentioned two times in the priest’s service book (služebnik) from the middle of the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 7) of the University Library in Belgrade (60v: Bь da prosti monaha Athanasija; 84v: Athanasija i Neōfita).
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Bisariōnь
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Person
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Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He was a Kelar (κελλάρης) of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Germanь was responsible for the supplies of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo (i pri kelari Bisariōně).
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Dabiživь (3)
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Mentioned in the Lesnovski pomenik, a compilation of commemorations from the 16th to 18th century based on older sources. The terminus post quem for the entry regarding the family of the Despot Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) is 1353. He died on 25th November of an unspecified year. This date of memorial service is recorded by a later hand in the Oliver’s menaion from 1342 (Belgrade, National Library, Old collection Nr. 62, fol. 134v: Prěstavi se Dabiživь vь ·k·e· sego měseca) and also in the Lesnovian gospel from the 14th century (Zagreb, HAZU, Collection of A. Mihanović, Nr. 65, fol. 114: prěstavi se rabь boži Dabiživь vь ·k·e· sego měseca). He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko), Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan), Vidoslavь, Rusinь, Oliverь and Danica. He is attested in the Lesnovo pomenik along with his family as a ktitor (Poměni, gospodi, blagočьstivyihь ktitorь našihь vь carstvi si: Olivera děspota, i podružie Mariju, i čeda ihь: Dьnicu, Kraika, Damiana, Vidoslava, Dabiživa, Rusina, Olivera).
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Damianos (2)
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Person
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He was born after 1340/1341. Mentioned in the sources from 1347 to 1349/1350. He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko), Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь and Danica. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and their sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and their son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa, Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β).
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Danilь (2)
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Person
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Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He was a Monk of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Danilь was in the monastic community (i pri mnisě Danilě).
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Dobrevь
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Person
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He was already deceased in the middle of the 14th century. His son was Ivōta. His son is attested as a person to be prayed for and remembered for in the priest’s service book (služebnik) from the middle of the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 7) of the University Library in Belgrade (79v–80r: Da poměnete gospodь bogь rabь svoihь Ivōte Dobreva sina i podruga jemu Seslavu).
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Dragoslavь (6)
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Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav in 1330. He was the Župan of the administrive unit of Zletovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoja Zljatovьskoja županu Dra’goslavu). The inscription with the text "Dragoslavь župan" on the epitaph, which was excavated in the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Veles after 1858, might refer to the same person.
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Dьnica (2)
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Mentioned in the Lesnovski pomenik, a compilation of commemorations from the 16th to 18th century based on older sources. The terminus post quem for the entry regarding the family of the Despot Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) is 1353. She was the daughter of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). Her uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). She was the sister of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko), Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan), Dabiživь, Vidoslavь, Rusinь and Oliverь. She appears as an unnamed daughter of Ioannes Liberos in the accounts of the Byzantine historians Nikephoros Gregoras and Ioannes Kantakuzenos. Nikephoras Gregoras relates that the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos asked in 1342 his old friend Ioannes Liberos to smooth the way for an alliance with the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos was according to Nikephoros Gregoras in so dire situation, that he even proposed a marriage between his son Manuel and the daughter of Liberos. Ioannes Kantakuzenos gives account of the effort of Ioannes Liberos to realise the marriage between his daughter and Manuel Kantakuzenos. Ioannes Liberos brought even the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to convince the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in regard of the engagment beween the daughter of Oliver and Manuel. Dьnica (Danica) is attested in the Lesnovo pomenik along with her family as a ktitorica (Poměni, gospodi, blagočьstivyihь ktitorь našihь vь carstvi si: Olivera děspota, i podružie Mariju, i čeda ihь: Dьnicu, Kraika, Damiana, Vidoslava, Dabiživa, Rusina, Olivera).
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Germanь (1)
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Person
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Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He was the Ikonom (οἰκονόμος) of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Germanь was responsible for the income and expenditure of Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo (i pri ikonomě Germaně).
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Ivōta
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Person
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He died in the first half of the 14th century. He was probably a scribe in the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. His father was Dobrevь. He is attested as a person to be prayed for and remembered for in the priest’s service book (služebnik) from the middle of the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 7) of the University Library in Belgrade (79v–80r: Da poměnete gospodь bogь rabь svoihь Ivōte Dobreva sina i podruga jemu Seslavu).
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Iōanь (2)
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Deceased probably before 1349. He was the Bishop of Zletovo, 1347–1349. He is portrayed on the southern wall of the narthex of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with the accompaying inscription, which identifies him (vseōsveštenni episkupь zletovьski iōanь). According to Gabelić Iōanь perhaps donated the epitaphion with the scene Lamentation over the dead Christ to the Hilandar Monastery (gospodi bože našь prijemi dary abelovy i nojevy i jaronovy i zahariny i samoilovy i vsěhь svetihь tvoihь tako i otь ruku mene grěšnago iōanь primi se prinoštenije vь čьstь i slavu i vonju blagouhanьnu arhistratiga ... i ōca našego gavrila pustinožitelě. ruka grěšnago siropula). It is also supposed that he was buried in the north-western corner of the naos of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo.
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Kalinikь (2)
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He lived in the second quarter of the 14th century. He worked as a Scribe in the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. He wrote the manuscript of Gospel preserved in the collection of Antun Mihanović (HAZU IV d 12, III b 22). The manuscript is now located in the Archives of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb (popisa Kalinikь).
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Kraikos
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Mentioned in the sources from 1340/1341 to 1381. He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan), Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь and Danica. According to the stone inscription above the Western Entrance of the Katholikon in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo from 1340/1341, his father Ioannes Liberos, his mother Maria Liberissa and he sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa and Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) endowed the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with lands in the surrounding area (sьzda se světlyi i čьs(t)nъï.hramь.velikago vojevode vьïšnih silь. Arhistratiga Mihaila. Sьzda se i sьvrьši se. Vь dni Stefan(a) kral(a). Sь trudomь. Ï podanijemь raba B(ož)ija Ïōan(a) veikago voevode Ōlivera. I podružija ego rabu B(o)žiju Annu. Maru i vьzljublennago emu s(y)na Kraika. V(ь) lět(o). ƺ.ō.m.ḟ. se že sela i metohïe. Selo konь crkve Lěsnovo. Sь zaselkomъ Lukovu i u Bakově crkvь S(ve)t(o)ga Nikole sь selomь. Ï na rěcě zaselьkь Globica i selo Dobrьevo i u Drěvěnoi. S(ve)tьï Elisei i zaslьk Peštno i S(ve)ty Prokopije. I katunь Vlah(a) na Stroi i u Štipě S(ve)ty Nikola pop Sïfievь. i. k. kukei). Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and their son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. The portrait of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) is situated on the northern wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa, Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β). According to the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from 15th August 1381 Maria Liberissa expressed short before her death the will that the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo should devolve after her death on the Hilandar Monastery. Her sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Rusinь confirmed that their mother wanted to donate the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo to the Hilandar Monastery (I kako je i despotica Ōlivera despota na sьmrьti rekla i sь synōma svoima Kraikōmь i Rusinomь da je paki tai crьkvь Hilandaru).
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Liberissa Maria
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The hypothesis of J. Radonić that Maria Liberissa was identical with Maria Palaiologina (Μαρία Παλαιολογίνα) was refuted by M. Laskaris. Mentioned in the sources between 1340/1341 and 1349. She is mentioned as a deceased person in the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from the 15th August 1381. She appears as Despotica (1347–1350, before 1381) and βασίλισσα (1349). It is not clear, if her father was Georgios Karabides (Γεώργιος Καραβίδης). She was married to Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver). They had together six sons (Kraikos [Κράϊκος, Krajko], Damianos [Δαμιανός, Damjan], Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь) and one daughter (Danica). According to the stone inscription above the Western Entrance of the Katholikon in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo from 1340/1341, she, her husband Ioannes Liberos (Ioan Oliver) and her son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. She, her husband and her son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) endowed the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with lands in the surrounding area (sьzda se světlyi i čьs(t)nъï.hramь.velikago vojevode vьïšnih silь. Arhistratiga Mihaila. Sьzda se i sьvrьši se. Vь dni Stefan(a) kral(a). Sь trudomь. Ï podanijemь raba B(ož)ija Ïōan(a) veikago voevode Ōlivera. I podružija ego rabu B(o)žiju Annu. Maru i vьzljublennago emu s(y)na Kraika. V(ь) lět(o). ƺ.ō.m.ḟ. se že sela i metohïe. Selo konь crkve Lěsnovo. Sь zaselkomъ Lukovu i u Bakově crkvь S(ve)t(o)ga Nikole sь selomь. Ï na rěcě zaselьkь Globica i selo Dobrьevo i u Drěvěnoi. S(ve)tьï Elisei i zaslьk Peštno i S(ve)ty Prokopije. I katunь Vlah(a) na Stroi i u Štipě S(ve)ty Nikola pop Sïfievь. i. k. kukei). Her name appears on a metal polycandilion with an inscribed medallion, which was ordered for the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo by Ioannes Liberos, when he held the position of the Grand Duke (voevoda oliver anna marija). Maria Liberissa together with her husband and her sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Maria Liberissa together with her husband and her son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. The portrait of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) is situated on the northern wall of the chapel. Maria Liberissa and her family sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β). According to the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from 15th August 1381 Maria Liberissa expressed short before her death the will that the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo should devolve after her death on the Hilandar Monastery. (I kako je i despotica Ōlivera despota na sьmrьti rekla i sь synōma svoima Kraikōmь i Rusinomь da je paki tai crьkvь Hilandaru).
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Liberos Ioannes
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Person
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Mentioned in several sources between 1336 and 1354. The inscription placed next to the portrait of Ioannes Liberos on the north wall of the naos in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo lists all dignities, which were granted to him during his career (azь rabь hristovь iōanь ōliverь po milosti božiei i gospodina mi krala stefana bihь u srьblemь veliky čelnikь potom veliki sulga potomь veliki voevoda potomь veliky sevastokratorь i/a za věrnoe emu porabotanije po milosti božiei i veliki despotь vseja srьbskije zemle i pomorьskije i učestnikь grьkomь). Srdjan Pirivatrić presumes that the titles of grand sebastrokrator, grand despot and učestnik, were bestowed upon Ioannes Liberos by Byzantine imperial authorities before coronation of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in 1346. He held the position of veliki čelnik, before 1341. veliki sluga (megas domestikos), 1332–1341 (ja sluga veli Ōliverь/Iōanь veliki sluga Ōliverь vьse srpskie zemlie i pomorskie). veliki vojvoda (megas dux) 1341/1342 (sь trudomь i podanijemь raba božija ioana velikago voevode olivera; Veliki voevoda Ōlïver povelě pisati, a Stanislavь pisa; ōbьdrьžeštu ōblastiju vseju ōvčepolьskoju velikomu vojevodě Ōliveru, vь horě Zletovcěi; jegože velikyi vojevoda Ōliverь sьzda is temelja; povelěnijemь gospodina velikago vojevode Ōlivera; Bogь da prostitь velikago vojevodu Ōlivera). He was the son-in-law of Georgios Karabides (Γεώργιος Καραβίδης). His brother was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was married to Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija). He had six sons (Kraikos [Κράϊκος, Krajko], Damianos [Δαμιανός, Damjan], Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь) and one daughter (Danica). Already in 1334 he got acquainted with Ioannes Kantakuzenos during the meeting between the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos and Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in Rhadobosdion (Radovište). They became friends. Jovan Oliver entrusted before 1341 his subordinate Todorь with the task to settle the deserted settlement site Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica, which was in possession of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane. Jovan Oliver issued between 1332 and 1341 a charter, in which were listed the rights and duties of Todorь at Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica (Naidohь selište pusto Svetago Dimitrija u Jastrebnicě i podahь moga člověka Todora, koi mi se prěda izь Grьkь, po ruce da naseli ōmozi selo). Ioannes Liberos, the son-in-law of Georgios Karabides, stated on 28th June 1336 in the presence of Nikola Falletro, the comes of the town of Ragusa, that he received the former treasury of Karabides from Junije Lukarević. Ioannes Liberos swore that he will give the treasury to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and request a charter for Junije Lukarević from the king, which will confirm the receipt of treasury and ruled out the possibility of demand by the king, Liberos or the children of Karabides (Oliuer Gherchinich, baro domini Regis Raxie et gener Charauide, constitutes ante presentiam nobilis et potentis viri domini Nicolai Falletro, honorabilis comitis Ragusii, contentus e confessus fuit habuisse et recepisse et apud se habere a Junio de Lucarom de Ragusio unam centuram de argento et unam ladicam de argento, ponderis inter ambas librarum tredecim et unciarum V, et centum nonaginta quinque ducatos de auro, que centura et ladica et ducati acomandati fuerunt per dictum Carauidam, socerum olim dicti Oliueri, eidem Junio, ut idem Junius confessus fuit. Et similiter idem Oliverius confessus fuit tantas fuisse res et ducatos, accomandatas eidem Junio per dictum Charauidam et non plures, cum infrascriptis pactis et condictionibus, uidelicet quod ipse Oliuerius teneatur et debeat predictam centuram et ladicam et ducatos dare in manibus domini Regis Raxie in presentia Petri de Ribica et Marini filii Junii de Uolcasso de Ragusio et fieri facere ab ipso Rege eidem Junio de Lucaro unam apouiliam, sigillatam suo sigillo, continentem, qualiter ipse dominus Rex uel suus successor nec frater, filii seu filia dicti Charauidi seu aliqua alia persona de dicta centura et ladica et ducatis non possint facere uel mouere aliquam litem uel questionem in regno Raxie et Slauonie seu in aliquo loco, in curia uel extra, eidem Junio). Ioannes Liberos owned and received from the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan landed estates in the region of Ovče Pole, Zletovo and Tikveš for his service. According to the stone inscription above the Western Entrance of the Katholikon in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo from 1340/1341, he, his wife and his son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. He, his wife and his Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) endowed the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with lands in the surrounding area (sьzda se světlyi i čьs(t)nъï.hramь.velikago vojevode vьïšnih silь. Arhistratiga Mihaila. Sьzda se i sьvrьši se. Vь dni Stefan(a) kral(a). Sь trudomь. Ï podanijemь raba B(ož)ija Ïōan(a) veikago voevode Ōlivera. I podružija ego rabu B(o)žiju Annu. Maru i vьzljublennago emu s(y)na Kraika. V(ь) lět(o). ƺ.ō.m.ḟ. se že sela i metohïe. Selo konь crkve Lěsnovo. Sь zaselkomъ Lukovu i u Bakově crkvь S(ve)t(o)ga Nikole sь selomь. Ï na rěcě zaselьkь Globica i selo Dobrьevo i u Drěvěnoi. S(ve)tьï Elisei i zaslьk Peštno i S(ve)ty Prokopije. I katunь Vlah(a) na Stroi i u Štipě S(ve)ty Nikola pop Sïfievь. i. k. kukei). He supplied the monastery with the Menaion. The scribe Stanislavь, who wrote the menaion, recorded, that Ioannes Liberos donated also frames for the screen icons and church vessels to the monastery with the intention to grant the monastery to the Hilandar Monastery (velikyi vojevoda ōliverь sьzda is temelija i sьvrьšivь i popisa i vsakimi dorotami ukrasivь, sьsudï zlatьïmi i srebrьnьïmi pokova velikyje ikony srebromь i zlatomь, jakože jestь lěpo domь božii ukrašati, podavь sela i metohije i pašišta i livade i planine milostiōvь kralevovь utvrьdivь vse sinore i zapisavь zlatopečatnymь hrisovulomь i prědastь ju u svetu goru stoi bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsakymь utvrьždenijemь). As a Grand Duke, Ioannes Liberos, ordered the fabrication of a metal polycandilion with an inscribed medallion for the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo (voevoda oliver anna marija). When the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos had proceeded in 1342 with his army along the right bank of the river Vardar, he discovered the forces of Ioannes Liberos near Belesos (Veles). The Byzantine emperor sent an envoy to Liberos in order to remind him of the friendly contacts they had before. Very short after the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos had crossed the river, Ioannes Liberos hosted him and his troops for three days. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos, who placed reliance on Liberos, even proposed a marriage between his son Manuel and Danica, the daughter of Liberos. Ioannes Liberos provided accomodation for the Byzatine emperor and his troops in Skopje. In the meantime Liberos visited the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the area of Morava. Liberos persuaded the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to receive the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos favourably. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan then sent Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan), the brother of Ioannes Liberos, to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in order to let him know about his soon arrival in Tao (Pauni) near Pristenon (Priština). In July/August 1342 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan formed an alliance with the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. Ioannes Liberos brought the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to convince the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in regard of the engagment beween Danica and Manuel. Ioannes Liberos then accompanied the Byzantine Emperor with the Serbian auxiliary forces on the campaign to the town Serres. He fell ill before the gates of town of Serres. As sebastokrator Ioannes Liberos donated another medallion with monogramms for the polycandilion in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The monastic endowment of Ioannes Liberos became a seat of new founded Episcopy of Zletovo between 1346 and 1347, which is documented in the charter of confirmation issued by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (v’seljubimomu vlastelinu svetago carьsva mi despotu Ōliveru, iže jestь sьzdalь svetyi hramь ōnь ōtь osnovanija, iže vь městě Lěsnově, i ukrasivь v’sěkymi lěpotami crьkьvnymi, i udarovavь sel’mi i sь zaselьci, i sь planinami, i sь pročïimi ōtesy zemlje te). Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. The portrait of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) is situated on the northern wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos and his family sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β). Ioannes Liberos appears for the last time in the papal letter from May 1354, in which Innocent VI. sent the identical instructions for the most powerful nobles in the Serbian empire, who contributed to the possibility of an union between the Serbian and Roman churches (Oliverio despoto Serviae).
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Mpogdanos
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Person
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Mentioned in the sources between 1342 and 1371. He was a local ruler (governor) in Macedonia. He controlled the area of the Rhodopemountains according to the later byzantine historian Laonikos Chalkokondyles (Μπόγδανον τὸν τὴν Ῥοδόπην κατέχοντα). His brother was the Despot Jovan Oliver (Ioannes Liberos). He was sent by Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in order to greet him and to let him know that the Serbian king will soon arrive (πέμψαντες δὲ πρὸ αὐτῶν Μπογδάνον τὸν Λιβέρου ἀδελφὸν, ἠσπάζοντό τε βασιλέα καὶ ἐδήλουν, ὡς ὀλίγῳ ὕστερον ἀφιξόμενοι πρὸς ἐκεῖνον). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan entrusted the region between Serres and the river Vardar to him, because he was skilled warrior and a good man according to the later byzantine historian Laonikos Chalkokondyles (τὰ δὲ ἀπὸ Φερρῶν ἔστε ἐπὶ Ἀξιὸν ποταμὸν Μπογδάνῳ ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθῷ καὶ τὰ ἐς πόλεμον οὐκ ἀδοκίμῳ). After the battle at the river Marica he became a vassal of the Ottoman Sultan Murad I. (μετὰ ταῦτα Μπόγδανον τὸν ταύτῃ ἡγεμόνα ὑπαγόμενος, ὥστε οἱ ἕπεσθαι σὺν τῇ αὐτοῦ στρατιᾷ).
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Neōfitь (2)
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Person
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He was active probably in the first half of the 14th century. He was a monk and apparently illuminator in the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. He is mentioned in the priest’s service book (služebnik) from the middle of the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 7) of the University Library in Belgrade (84v: Athanasija i Neōfita).
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Neōr
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Person
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Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Hilandar Monastery from 1354/1355. He possessed a land between the village Krilatica and Trьnovac. His land was donated by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to the Hilandar Monastery. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan moved the miners from Zletovo and settled them on the former land of Neōr (I na Krilatici zemlja koja jestь ōt Trnov’ca na čimь jestь sědělь Neōrь, posadi rudare koje prěseli ōt Zljetove).
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Novakь (2)
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Person
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He died in the second quarter of the 14th century. He was a scribe (dijak) in the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. He is attested as a person to be prayed for and remembered for in the Menaion for the Month August, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 17) of the University Library in Belgrade (117r: Novaku dijaku věcna pamet).
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Oliverь (3)
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Person
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Mentioned in the Lesnovski pomenik, a compilation of commemorations from the 16th to 18th century based on older sources. The terminus post quem for the entry regarding the family of the Despot Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) is 1353. He died on 6th September of an unspecified year. This date of memorial service is recorded by a later hand in the Oliver’s menaion from 1342 (Belgrade, National Library, Old collection Nr. 62, fol. 95v: Prěstavi se Ōliverь [despo?]tь ·ѕ· dьnь sektebra měseca, věčna mu pametь). He was the son of of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko), Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan), Dabiživь, Vidoslavь, Rusinь and Danica. He is attested in the Lesnovo pomenik along with his family as a ktitor (Poměni, gospodi, blagočьstivyihь ktitorь našihь vь carstvi si: Olivera děspota, i podružie Mariju, i čeda ihь: Dьnicu, Kraika, Damiana, Vidoslava, Dabiživa, Rusina, Olivera).
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Pafnutij
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Person
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He was active around 1340/1360. He worked as scribe apparently in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. His written record is preserved in the Miscellany for Virgin Mary (Bogorodičnik) with the praise for Saint Simeon and Sava from Teodosij, , which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 19) of the University Library in Belgrade (i spasi me grěšnago Pafnutija).
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Partenije
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Person
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Attested in the the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He worked as a scribe in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. His written record is preserved in the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski (Bogь da prosti Partenija ča mi popisa).
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Raděnko
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Person
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Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren from 1347/1348. His mother is attested in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren (i sь htěnijemь matere Radeikove). He realised the will of his mother and donated the Church of the Holy Archangels in Veles with people, mills, vineyards and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the gift of Raděnko in the charter for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren (I priloži Raděnko sь htěnijemь i sь milostiju carьstva mi, i sь htěnijemь matere Radeikove, crьkvь u Velesu Arhaggela s ljudmi i s mlini i s vinogradi, i sь vsěmi pravinami crьkve te).
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Rusinь (3)
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Person
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Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from 15th August 1381. He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko), Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan), Dabiživь, Vidoslavь, Oliverь and Danica. According to the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from 15th August 1381 Maria Liberissa expressed short before her death the will that the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo should devolve after her death on the Hilandar Monastery. Her sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Rusinь confirmed that their mother wanted to donate the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo to the Hilandar Monastery (I kako je i despotica Ōlivera despota na sьmrьti rekla i sь synōma svoima Kraikōmь i Rusinomь da je paki tai crьkvь Hilandaru). He is attested in the Lesnovski pomenik along with his family as a ktitor (Poměni, gospodi, blagočьstivyihь ktitorь našihь vь carstvi si: Olivera děspota, i podružie Mariju, i čeda ihь: Dьnicu, Kraika, Damiana, Vidoslava, Dabiživa, Rusina, Olivera).
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Sava
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Person
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Attested in the marginal note of the prologue, which was written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330. He was the Hieromonk of the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Sava conducted the services in the monastic church (i pri jeromonasě Savě).
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Seslava
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Person
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She was probably already deceased in the middle of the 14th century. She was married to Dobrevь. Her son was Ivōta. Her son is attested as a person to be prayed for and remembered for in the priest’s service book (služebnik) from the middle of the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 7) of the University Library in Belgrade (79v–80r: Da poměnete gospodь bogь rabь svoihь Ivōte Dobreva sina i podruga jemu Seslavu).
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Simeōnь
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Person
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Mentioned in the charter of veliki sluga Jovan Oliver in favour of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane. He was the Hegumen of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane (igumenu Simeōnu). The Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane owned a deserted settlement site in Jastrebnica. Jovan Oliver, the veliki sluga of the Serbian lands and Pomorje, showed favour to Simeōnь, the hegumen of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane (ja sluga veli Ōliverь stvorih milostь gospodinu mi Svetomu Dimitriju iže u Kočěnehь, a na lice igumenu Simeōnu/a siju milostь učinihь u Kočaněhь na lice igumenu Simeōnu, da ōnь ōbladuje) and entrusted Todor with the task to settle Jastrebnica (Naidohь selište pusto Svetago Dimitrija u Jastrebnicě i podahь moga člověka Todora, koi mi se prěda izь Grьkь, po ruce da naseli ōmozi selo). Jovan Oliver issued between 1332 and 1341 a charter, which specified the rights and duties concerning the reinhabited monastic land.
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Simonь
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Person
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He was probably already deceased in the the 14th century. He apparently worked as a scribe in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo He was commemorated in the Menaion for July from the the 14th century, which is now in the Old and Rare Book Collection (Ćorović 15) of the University Library in Belgrade.
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Stanislavь (3)
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Person
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He was active between 1330 and 1342 in the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. He was a scribe. He came from Štip according to the inscription on a fresco of Jesus Christ in the Church of Saint George in Gorni Kozjak (azь stanislavь gramatikь ōt štipa). His marginal note is preserved in the prologue (Belgrade, SANU 53) with the short biography of the Saint Gabriel of Lesnovo from 1330 (rǫkoję mnogogrěšnaago raba božija Stanislava). Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver in 1342 according to the colophon of the manuscript (rukoju mnogogrěšnago Stanislava). Ilija Velev supposes that Stanislavь worked in the Marko’s Monastery near Skopje in 1353, since he left a marginal note in the manuscript of the Prologue for the Months September-November (ōt zde počehь Stanislavь dïakь).
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Tahate
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Person
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Attested in the manuscript of Ephrem the Syrianʼs paraenesis from 1353. He was a monk and scribe in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The colophone of the manuscript of Ephrem the Syrianʼs paraenesis gives account about the monk Tahate, who was commisioned by Arsenije, the Bishop of Zletovo, to copy the works of the Syrian father (povelěvšomu mi pisati sihь knigь moeǫ hudostiǫ tahate črьnьcь).
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Theōdosi
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Person
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Attested in the two marginal notes in the manuscripts, which were written by the scribe Stanislav Lesnovski in 1330 and 1342. He was the Hegumen of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo. The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue in the time, when Theōdosi was the Hegumen of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo (pri igumeně Theōdosi). Stanislavь copied also a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver in 1342. He again mentions Theōdosii as the spiritual leader of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lesnovo (Pisa že se kniga sija vь lěto ѕ.ō.n. carьstvujuštu gospodu našemu Ïsu-Hristu, pri igumeně Theōdosi).
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Todorь (1)
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Person
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He was in the service of Jovan Oliver, the veliki sluga of the Serbian lands and Pomorje. He came from the Byzantine Empire. Jovan Oliver entrusted him with the task to settle the deserted settlement site Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica, which was in possession of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane. Jovan Oliver issued between 1332 and 1341 a charter, in which were listed the rights and duties of Todorь at Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica (Naidohь selište pusto Svetago Dimitrija u Jastrebnicě i podahь moga člověka Todora, koi mi se prěda izь Grьkь, po ruce da naseli ōmozi selo).
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Vidoslavь
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Person
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Mentioned in the Lesnovski pomenik, a compilation of commemorations from the 16th to 18th century based on older sources. The terminus post quem for the entry regarding the family of the Despot Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) is 1353. He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko), Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan), Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь and Danica. He is attested in the Lesnovo pomenik along with his family as a ktitor (Poměni, gospodi, blagočьstivyihь ktitorь našihь vь carstvi si: Olivera děspota, i podružie Mariju, i čeda ihь: Dьnicu, Kraika, Damiana, Vidoslava, Dabiživa, Rusina, Olivera).
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