Embroidering eternity: Jefimija as a proto-theologian in the Hesychast context of medieval Serbia

Abstract In her Pohvala Svetom Knezu Lazaru, Jefimija transcends the traditional role of courtly widow to emerge as a proto-theologian within the Hesychast milieu of late medieval Serbia. Written in the wake of the Kosovo defeat, her gold-threaded poem is not merely a lament but a mystical act of intercession. By invoking saints, channeling divine justice, and framing Lazar's martyrdom within Orthodox soteriology, she weaves theology directly into the material body of the saint. Her voice, rooted in humility yet rich with eschatological urgency, demonstrates how Orthodox women, through lament, could participate in shaping both the spiritual and political landscapes of their time. Jefimija's Pohvala is thus not only a cultural artifact but also a liturgical-theological performance, resonant with the Hesychast pursuit of divine union and national salvation.