ЛАЗАР СВЕТОГОРАЦ – СРПСКИ МОНАХ И ЧАСОВНИЧАР ИЗМЕЂУ ИСТОРИЈЕ И МИТА
LAZAR THE ATHONITE – THE SERBIAN MONK AND CLOCKMAKER BETWEEN HISTORY AND MYTH

Summary/Abstract: This article deals with the enigmatic Serbian monk Lazar, who in 1404, at the behest of Grand Prince Vasiliy I Dmitrievich of Moscow, constructed first known mechanical public clock in Russian lands. While Lazar and his invention were not unknown in Serbian historiography, they were largely neglected and so far, they were usually presented as a mere historical curiosity. Although no proper historical research has been dedicated to the Athonite monk and his mechanical clock, in recent years they became an object of many pseudo-scientifi c papers, popular books and newspaper texts, leading to the emergence of many modern myths and misconceptions. Th e article provides a critical review of the source material preserved in the Russian chronicles of XV-XVII century related to Lazar and his mechanical clock, and aims to put their reports in the proper historical context. It is important to note that almost everything that is known about Lazar and his invention comes from an entry in now lost Troitskaya chronicle, composed at the beginning of the 15th century, with some dubious additional information preserved in 16th century Voskresenskaya and Nikonovskaya chronicle. Lazar and his clock were also depicted in a miniature from the Illustrated Chronicle of Emperor Ivan IV ‘the Terrible’, but this drawing is just an artistic representation and consequently, of no historical value. Furthermore, several myths surrounding Lazar and his mechanical clock were debunked in the article. They include but are not limited to his alleged origin from the city of Prizren, statements that his clock worked for more than two centuries, and that Lazar was acquainted with heliocentric system a century before Nicolaus Copernicus. Instead of now widespread nickname ‘the Hilandarian’ it is proposed that Lazar should be properly called ‘the Athonite’ or ‘the Serb’, as he is mentioned by the Russian chroniclers.

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