MONASTERIES AND SACRAL FACILITIES

The 15th century Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Manasija was founded by Despot Stefan Lazarević – the son of Prince Lazar Hrebeljanovic and the first Serbian ruler who proclaimed Belgrade capital of Serbia. The monastery of Manasija (also known as Resava) is situated near Despotovac, a town in Serbia.

The centuries of the Ottoman Empire’s reign over these areas and the Turkish abuse have not missed the monastery of Visoki Decani. In the Turkish time, the monastery facilities were ruined, but the church has been fully preserved, along with all its valuable frescos from the 14th century. Even the turbulent later history did not manage to diminish the importance of this shrine, which has been and remained an important spiritual center, not only for the Kosmet Serbs, but on a larger scale.

In downtown Leskovac, the city in southern Serbia, there is a unique Odzaklija church, dedicated to the birth of Holy Mary. It is specific for the fact that at the time of construction, in early 19th century, it had a chimney (in Serbian adaptation of the Turkish word – odzak), hence the name.

The monastery of St John the Baptist (predecessor), one of the two monasteries in Jasunja, near Leskovac, was erected in early 16th century on the foundations of an older monastery. In the past few years the icons paintings have been restored, and as part of the preparations for the celebration of five centuries of the monastery, also under way are the works on the renovation of facilities and arranging the churchyard, which requires support of the donors.

The Mileseva monastery was built in 1219 as the endowment of prince Vladislav, the later king of Serbia. The church is dedicated to the Ascension. The monastery has been damaged a lot over the course of following centuries, and it was renovated in 1863, owing to Mihailo Obrenovic.

The church of St Paraskevi of Rome, in the village of Rudare, near Leskovac, is the oldest temple in the area. It was erected on the foundations of en early-Christian basilica from the 5th century, at the time when the famous Empress’ Town – Justiniana Prima was built. During the Turkish occupation, the church in Rudare was the spiritual center not only for Leskovac, but the wider vicinity as well, and to this day events are held in this compound, which gather many people.

Legend has it that the Fenek Monastery, situated in the region of Srem, not far from Belgrade, was founded by despotess Angelina Brankovic, later to be venerated by the Serbian Orthodox Church as St Angelina. The monastery is dedicated to Saint Parascheva (Petka). The earliest historical records about the Monastery date back to 1563 (a manuscript by hieromonk Zachary). The old church was torn down in 1793, while the new one was built in 1797.

The Serbian Orthodox monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Zočište, near Orahovac, in Metohija, is one of the holy places visited by people of various confessions. This has been for centuries so – the well-meaning and God-fearing people have found spiritual peace and salvation for their ordeals here. A few hours spent in front of the relics of the healers, Saints Cosmas and Damian, is said to cure one of any illness or complaint. Such a belief did not fade even after the tumultuous events in this monastery, caused by the others – vandals and godless men.

From Istok, a little town in Metohija, we are heading towards the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Gorioč, which is situated on the brink of a very fruitful valley – a hill called Beli kamen (the White Rock). In the distance, we spot a wood of conifers which seems to be treasuring something precious. We can tell that by the roofs emerging from the pine trees –the roofs of the Gorioč monastery.

When your voyages bring you to the southern part of Serbia, once you visit the Devil’s Town and widely renowned Lukovska and Prolom spas, do not skip the religious landmarks of these parts. In the municipality of Kursumlija there are lot of churches, monasteries and remains of the sanctities dating as far back as to the antiquity, so we have visited some of them.