Princess Jelena (Elena) Branković-Berislavić was the wife of the Despot Stephen Štiljanović who is also venerated as a Saint. After his death around 1515, she fled to Germany in order to escape from the Turks.
Later, a light appeared at his grave by night, which led to the discovery of his holy relics. The Saint's body was kept for a long time in the monastery of Šišatovacnto at Fruška Gora. When she learned that her husband's incorrupt relics had been uncovered, Saint Jelena went to the monastery to venerate them. After witnessing the miracles which took place at his grave, she decided to remain there with the monastic name Jelisaveta.
The only known historical source mentions Jelena Bogdanović in 1535. When, as a sign of gratitude for his loyalty, King Ferdinand granted the estate of Ešćen in Srem. There is no reliable information that they had offspring.
According to tradition, Princess Jelisaveta founded the Monastery of Petkovica in 1522.
As a nun, she lived in a monastery near Šišatovac, spending her days in fasting and prayer. She was buried in the vestibule of the Šišatovac Monastery Church, on the left side of the Relic of St. Stefan Štiljanović.
After a life of asceticism, Saint Jelena reposed in 1546 on October 4. There is reason to believe that she was buried at the Convent of the Most Holy Theotokos in Sremski Karlovci.
Šišatovac Monastery Church situated on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina.
