ROYAL PROTECTOR St. Archangel Micheal on a 16th century icon. Folk tradition asserts him being the family patron saint (Krsna slava) of Czar Dusan - and thus of the Nemanjic family - in a charming epic poem where the Archangel scolds Dusan for not following proper rites of the feast. Historically, the patron of the dynasty and throne was St. Stephen the Archdeacon, whose image appears alongside the kings on early Nemanjic monetary issues; the use of the titular royal name Stefan is believed to stem from this patronage as well.