🇺🇸 Serbian Medieval Medicine (Deep Dive)

Serbian medieval medicine represented a complex synthesis of Byzantine tradition, Western scientific influences, and Christian spirituality, established as a vital pillar for the preservation of the state and its people during the Nemanjić dynasty. Saint Sava was the pioneer of its institutionalization and legal framework, laying the foundations for organized medical care by founding the first monastery hospitals at Hilandar and Studenica. The healthcare system expanded further through diplomatic and international ties, as evidenced by Serbian hospitals in Jerusalem and Constantinople, as well as the engagement of leading Italian physicians at Serbian courts and in coastal cities like Dubrovnik and Kotor. A high level of expertise and parity with contemporary European university centers is confirmed by rich scribal activity, most prominently exemplified by the Hilandar Medical Codex No. 517. Although these scientific developments were interrupted by the fall of the medieval state, this medical heritage was preserved within monastery walls until the enlightened return of Serbian physicians to European science in the 18th century.SOURCES:Antić R. The role of Christianity in the development of European and Serbian medieval medicine. Arch Oncol. 2010;18(4):111-4.Arsenijević O, Lugonjić M. Kultura pamćenja začetaka srpske medicine. Kultura. 2021;(171):277-98.Bojanin S. Lečenje biljem u srednjovekovnoj Srbiji. Osnovni pregled. Godišnjak za društvenu istoriju. 2012;1:7-34.Bojanin S. Prvih deset godina istraživanja Hilandarskog medicinskog kodeksa (1952–1961). Inicijal: Časopis za srednjovekovne studije. 2022;10:111-48.Božanić S, Elaković Nenadović A. O upotrebi meda i voska u srednjovekovnoj Srbiji – medicina, ishrana, religija. Godišnjak Filozofskog fakulteta u Novom Sadu. 2022;47(1):139-56.Gavrilović V. Dubrovački arhiv kao izvor za zdravstvenu kulturu srednjovekovne Srbije. Acta med-hist Adriat. 2004;2(1):41-60.Ilić-Tasić S, Pantović M, Jović N, Ravanić D, Obradović D, Sretenović S, et al. Lečenje epilepsije u srpskim srednjovekovnim manastirskim bolnicama. Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2009;137(11-12):702-5.Ilić-Tasić SD. Epilepsija u srpskim srednjevekovnim zemljama [Doktorska disertacija]. Kragujevac: Univerzitet u Kragujevcu, Fakultet medicinskih nauka; 2012.Lugonjić MS, Arsenijević OM. Kultura pamćenja začetaka srpske medicine. Baština. 2021;31:283-300Pajić S, Jurišić V. Predstave medicinskih instrumenata i opreme u srpskom srednjovekovnom slikarstvu. Zograf. 2014;38:55-76.Pajić S, Jurišić V. Lanceta ili flebotom na likovnim predstavama u umetnosti srednjovekovne Srbije. Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2015;143(9-10):639-43.Pantović M, Ravanić D, Milovanović DR, Pantović V, Pantović M. Srpska srednjevekovna medicina – baština ali i strela usmerena ka budućnosti. PONS Med Č. 2009;6(20):24-33.Pavlović B. Manastirske bolnice u srednjovekovnoj Srbiji. Crkvene studije. 2004;1:381-8.Vacić Z. Guidelines for the preparation and dosage of medicines, instructions for their use, and methods of application according to the Hilandar Medical Codex No. 517. [Научни рад]. 2025.Vacić Z. Srpska srednjovekovna medicina. Сажетак предавања на 220. састанку Секције за историју медицине Српског лекарског друштва. Београд; 2021