Jefimija

Saint Jefimija Јефимија Jelena Mrnjavčević Јелена Мрњавчевић
Fresco detail in Ljubostinja Monastery
Born	Јелена Немањић Jelena Nemanjić
Attributes	Orthodox Nun Christian poetry
Writing career
Native name	Jelena Mrnjavčević
Occupation	Nun
Nationality	Medieval Serbian
Years active	14th century
Notable works	Royal doors curtain of Hilandar; covering of Prince Lazar's Poem Her Lament for a Dead Son Poem Encomium of Prince Lazar Ark
Spouse	Jovan Uglješa Mrnjavčević
Relatives	Vojihna Nemanjić of Drama (father) Jelena (mother)

Jefimija (Serbian Cyrillic: Јефимија, Serbian pronunciation: [jěfiːmija]; 1349–1405), secular name Jelena Mrnjavčević (Serbian Cyrillic: Јелена Мрњавчевић, pronounced [jělena mr̩̂ɲaːʋtʃeʋitɕ] or [mr̩ɲǎːʋ-]), daughter of Caesar Vojihna, member of the collateral branch of Nemanjić dynasty and widow of Jovan Uglješa Mrnjavčević, is considered the first female Serbian poet. Jefimija's mother, Caesaraea Jelena, after the death of her husband became an Orthodox nun under the name Jevpraksija (Eupraxia) and in 1358 made a considerable donation to the Koutloumousiou monastery.^[1][2]

Jefimija's Lament for a Dead Son and Encomium of Prince Lazar are famous in the canon of medieval Serbian literature.^[3][4] Her lament for her beloved son was carved on the back of the diptych, (two-panelled icon representing a virgin and Child) which Teodosije, Bishop of Serres, had presented as a gift to the infant Uglješa at his baptism. The piece of art has Jefemija's lament engraved on its back.^[5] Jefimija was also as a skilled needlewoman and an engraver.

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  Embroidered cross standard
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  Embroidered iconography
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  Poem

She is included in The 100 most prominent Serbs.

• Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina
• Princess Milica of Serbia
• Saint Angelina of Serbia
• Mara Branković
• Olivera Despina
• Jelena Balšić
• Helen of Anjou
• Simonida
• Katarina Branković

• Ćirković, Sima (2004). The Serbs. Malden: Blackwell Publishing.
• Gavrilović, Zaga (2006). "Women in Serbian politics, diplomacy and art at the beginning of Ottoman rule". In Jeffreys, Elizabeth M. (ed.). Byzantine Style, Religion and Civilization: In Honour of Sir Steven Runciman. Cambridge University Press. pp. 72–90.
• Pavlikianov, Cyril (2001). The Medieval Aristocracy on Mount Athos: Philological and Documentary Evidence for the Activity of Byzantine, Georgian and Slav Aristocrats and Eminent Churchmen in the Monasteries of Mount Athos from the 10th to the 15th Century. Sofia: Center for Slavo-Byzantine Studies.

• "Monahinja Jefimija (1922)".