St John Vladimir (or Jovan Vladimir) was a medieval ruler of the principality Duklja, which is part of today’s Montenegro. Around the year 1010 AD, the principality was conquered by Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria, and John Vladimir was taken prisoner in the process. Fortunately for John Vladimir though, the Tsar’s daughter, Kosara, had previously fallen in love with him and begged her father to spare John’s life. The Tsar, who apparently loved his daughter very much, agreed to release him from prison. John Vladimir and Kosara then got married, and he was reinstated as the ruler of Duklja. Did they now live happy every after? No. Sadly, some years later he became the victim of a family feud and was beheaded in front of a church in Prespa. According to local legend, he was a very devout Christian and therefore demanded that his head would be cut off with his own cross. After the execution, his body rode – head in hand and his wife sitting on the horse behind him – to his last resting place near Elbasan. Shortly after his death, his relics became famous for their healing properties, and John Vladimir was recognized as a martyr and saint.