Banjska is a monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church, located at Zvečan in northern Kosovo and Metohija. Monastery Banjska, with a church dedicated to St. Stephen, was built between the 1313 and 1317, as a legacy of Serbian King Stefan Uros II Milutin, one of the most powerful rulers of the Nemanjić dynasty, and one of the most powerful rulers of his time in the Balkans. Milutin devoted Banjska as the church where he is to be buried. However, after the Battle of Kosovo 1389, his body was transferred to the Trepča, and then, 1460, in the Bulgarian city of Sofia, where it is now.
Patriarchate of Peć Monastery, is a group of churches near Peć, near river Pećka Bistrica, at the entrance to the Rugovska gorge. Peć Patriarchate is one of the major monuments of Serbian past. It is the seat of Serbian archbishops and patriarchs for centuries. Since its foundation in the 13th century, the Patriarchate is a gathering place of learned theologians, excellent writers and gifted artists and all those left evidence of their zeal in it. Therefore, it is now not only old capital of Serbian churches, but also a place where its keptimportant artistic legacy. UNESCO declared the Patriarchate of Peć monastery world cultural heritage on 13th July 2006. In the monastery there are four churches built side by side, so that today they made a single building. The oldest church of Sv. Apostles, was built in the third decade of the 13th century. A patron was the second Serbian Archbishop Arsenije I, who transferred the seat of the archbishopric here, which by that time was in the Žiča. Single-nave building with a cupola, large semi-circular altar space and elongated rectangular space, reminiscent of the architectural design of the monastery Žiča.
Holy Archangels Monastery was founded by the Serbian emperor Dusan Mighty (king 1331-1346, emperor 1346-1355). It is located in the canyon of the Bistrica River near the town of Prizren, in Metohija, and belongs to the Raska-Prizren Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Monastery was built from 1343 to the 1352 on the site of the old church, as a part of the fortress of Visegrad and as a tomb of Emperor Dusan church. It is believed that it was the culmination of Serbian religious architecture that is crucial impact on the establishment and development of Morava style. Within the complex, which covers an area of approximately 6.500m², there are two churches dedicated to the Holy Archangels (who was Dušans tomb church) and St. Nicholas, which were built in the Raska style. It is believed that the construction of the monastery and church of the grave, together with supporting facilities and protective walls were, finished 1352, and that it hosted at least 200 monks. The monastery was, after the arrival of the Ottomans 1455 looted and demolished, and by 1615 it was destroyed to the ground, and its material is used for the construction of Sinan Pasha Mosque in Prizren.
The Decani Monastery is situated in a valley near Decani Bistrica river, west of Pec, below the mountain massif Prokletije. Building of Church of Christ Pantocrator (Almighty) started 1327, undert the patronage of the Serbian King Stefan Uros third of Decani. The main master was Vita from Kotor, a Catholic monk, and the work was overseen by Archbishop Danilo II, which look after "building and stronghold" of the church having gathered "a great many artistic and skilled craftsmen”. Stefan of Decanihimself built the cornerstone of this church on 1330. The founder issued a charter which was graciously given its rich as endowment. After death of King Stephen, his work continued his son Stefan Dusan and completed the construction of Decani in 1335 year. At the time of slavery to the Turkish Empire, this, once empirial monastery, survived, but in very difficult circumstances. UNESCO declared the Decani Monastery the place of World Cultural Heritage on 2004, stating that his frescoes are one of the most valuable examples of the so-called renaissance Palaeologus, the Byzantine art and valuable record of life in the fourteenth century. Church was painted much later, in 1347-1348. Proportion of the monastery (36 meters long and 30 meters high), for the time completely unusual contributed to this monastery called "High" (High Decani). Nobly simple, harmonious proportion of this monastery, is the largest Serbian medieval monument. According to legend, Stefan of Decani has chosen the site where the monastery now lies. His majesty walked a lot for this purpose, then suddenly stumbled on this place enchanted by its beauty.
Monastery Gračanica dedicated to St. Mother of God in southern Serbia, on the left bank of the river Gračanka, south of Pristina in Kosovo and Metohija, is legacy of King Milutin, his wife Simonida and son Stephen. It was built on 1321 in place of the old church where it was chair of Lipljan diocese. During XIV and XV century was a period of great spiritual glory of the monastery. Gracanica had hundreds of monks who were very agile in spiritual and artistic activity. In the second quarter of the XVI century it was the center of Novo Brdo Mitropolit, who brought first printing machine to the monastery. Later, due to the large Turkish crimes, the monastery was abandoned and the church was used for parish needs. After the Second World War, the monastery was restored by nuns and since then it serves as a women's monastery. Today there lives 20 nuns dealing with iconography, service, agriculture and other monastic obedience. This monastery is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site along with three other Serbian Orthodox Church monasteries called "Medieval Monuments in Kosovo and Metohija."
Tvrdoš monastery is located near Trebinje, in the Republic of Srpska (BIH). The monastery is the seat of the Herzegovina-Zahumska diocese. Tvrdoš monastery was built on the foundations of a church which dates from the fourth century after Christ, before the time when the Serbs received Christianity, which only speaks of tradition and longevity of Christianity in the region of Herzegovina. Foundations of these church could be seen in the monastery, below glass part of the monastery floor . Tvrdoš together with the ruins of the old monastery lies on a rocky plateau near Trebinje. Monastery was built around the 1509. However, in the 1517 it was decorated with fresco paintings fresco painter Vice Lovrov from Dubrovnik.
Monastery of St. Prohor Pčinjski is located on the wooded slopes of Mount Kozjak on the left bank of the river Pčinja, near Vranje. According to legend, it was built in the XI century by Byzantine emperor Roman Diogenes in gratitude to St. Prohor Pcinjski, which he predicted would become emperor. The monastery is a cultural and educational center of the area and it is theological seminary, a copying workshop, and organizes learning Courses in icon craft. After the Battle of Kosovo (1389) monastery was destroyed by the Ottomans, and the on1489 it was rebuilt by the Marin from Kratovo. Fom that period originate the painted frescoes which are among the most significant artistic creations of its time. In the XVI century in the monastery there was a painting workshop, whose artists painted frescoes of great art value in the chapel on the south side of the church.
Sopoćani, home of the Holy Trinity, was built by King Stefan Uros I (1243-1276) near the spring of the river Raska. The monastery is located west of Novi Pazar. At this place, the home of the Serbian medievalNemanjić dynasty, the third son of King Stefanleft legacy which with its size and beauty is above all earlier Serbian churches. The frescoes of the monastery Sopoćani are a masterpiece of art, which many years later brought worldwide fame to Sopocani. Today it is one of the most important Serbian cultural monuments, which in 1979. was included in the UNESCO list of world heritage together with medieval monuments protected under the united entirety Stari Ras and Sopoćani.
Ravanica monastery is situated at the foot of the mountain Kučajskе. Ravanica was founded by Prince Lazar, who was killed at the Battle of Kosovo on St. Vitus Day, 28th June 1389. The church is dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord, and it was surrounded by a solid defensive wall with seven towers. Ravanica was built between 1375 and 1377. The frescoes were painted a few years before the Kosovo battle. According to its architectural and artistic features the church represents a beginning of Ravanička Morava school. The church is the original architectural features created by merging trifoliate basis and model of an inscribed cross with five domes. The church is built of alternating rows of stone and brick, decorated with ceramic-plastic decorative elements.
Monastery Mileševa, Serbian medieval monastery, is situated on the river Mileševka. It is built in Raska style, by King Stefan Vladislav (1234-1243) in the first half of the thirteenth century as his legacy, and in he himself was buried within the monastery. In the narthex, which King Vladislav was joined the mian building on 1235, he laid the relics of his uncle, St. Sava. Turks took the body on 1594, and transferred it to Vračar (Belgrade) and burned in an attempt to break the Serbian spirit.
The monastery was founded at the time of the Latin Empire, in the style branch so-called "plastic feel" that is characterized by monumental, decorative and tends to avoid forms of classical antiquity.
Monastery Manasija (Resava) is one of the major monuments of Serbian medieval culture and one of the most important buildings, which belongs to the so-called "Moravia school. The monastery was built by Despot Stefan Lazarevic, also known as High Stefan. The construction took place between 1407 and 1418 year. Immediately after its establishment, Manasija has become a cultural center of Serbian state under rule of Despot Stefan. Its "Resavska school" was a hand copying workshop, and was the source of written works and translations, and after the fall of the Serbian lands under Turkish rule, throughout the 15th and 16th century. During the centuries of Ottoman occupation, the monastery was repeatedly devastated and destroyed. Although badly damaged, frescoes of Manasija are among the greatest range of medieval art.
Monastery Ljubostinja lies near Trstenik and Vrnjacka spa,lLocated in the small mountain valley of the river Ljubostinjska. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The monastery was built from the 1388 to the 1405 year. In Ljubostinja were buried Princess Milica, Lazar's wife and nun Jefimija that were here after the Battle of Kosovo (1389), and became a nun with a number of widows who lost their husbands, knights in the Serbian battles of Marica and Kosovo Polje. Today Ljubostinja is female monastery which preserves and maintains about fifty nuns. During the “Kocina krajina” (1787-1788) rebellion against Turks, Ljubostinja invited the people to revolt.
Monastery Kalenić is the female monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and belongs to Šumadijska Diocese. The monastery is located near the Rekovac. It is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. Kalenić was founded protovestiar(noble title) Bogdan, a prominent nobleman in service of Stefan Lazarevic. The church was built and painted between the 1413 and 1420. Monastery was abandoned in the late XVII century, and restored him mid-XVIII century by monks from Moraca. By artistic values monastery is one of the most important cultural monuments in Serbia. The church was built in the Morava style, richly decorated outside, and the frescoes are among the best preserved frescoes accomplishments of the XV century.
Gradac monastery lies on the elevated plateau above the river Gradac, at the edge of the forested slopes of mountain Golija. It is located west of the medieval fortress Brvenik. The exact year of construction of the monastery is not known. It is believed that it is from the last quarter of the XIII century. Monastery is legacy of Serbian queen, Jelena (Helen) of Anjou. It was built in the style of the Raska school. After taking the throne by the Serbian king Dragutin, holy queen Jelena get from king the part of the kingdom which she governed by the end of her life. Archbishop Daniel described the virtues and merits of the holy Queen acquiring in the Orthodox Church. "Sharp word, a gentle nature, life without blemish, in command meek ... big and small, rich and poor, righteous and sinners, sick and healthy, each of them equally respect ..." She died on 8 February 1314 in old age. Duriing a great cold her body was passed in Gradac and buried.
Đurđevi stupovi (St. George pillars) is Serbian Orthodoxmonastery, dedicated to St. George, located on the hill above Novi Pazar, in the Old Raska(Serbia). Đurđevi pillars are one of the oldest Serbian monasteries. The monastery was built by a Great Zupan Stefan Nemanja in the first years after coming to the throne. (Construction was completed in 1171), and the church was painted around the 1175. The monastery was inducted into the world cultural heritage and it is under protection by the UNESCO. The monastery exists for over 830 years, and trough that time it was in ruins for 300 years and last in 40 years it is renewing. Today, the monastery was largely rebuilt. There is 7 monks living in it.
Studenica Monastery is one of the largest and richest monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is located 39 km from Kraljevo, and it was founded by Stefan Nemanja in the year 1190. Fortified walls of the monastery surroundingtwo churches: the Church of the Holy Virgin and Kings church (Church of Saints Joachim and Anne) both made of marble. The monastery is known for its collection of frescoes from the thirteenth and fourteenth century. UNESCO included Studenica in the list of World Heritage Sites, on 1986. Studenica Monastery is dedicated to the Holy Virgin. The first phase of works is completed in the spring of 1196, when Stefan Nemanja left the throne to his son, Stefan the First Crowned and returned to Studenica. Nemanja's third son Sava Nemanjić is, after reconciling his brothers Stefan and Vukan, transferred the relics of St. Simeon in Studenica where they are today.
Žiča is the monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church which is located near the town of Kraljevo. The monastery, together with the Church of the Ascension of Christ, was built by the first Serbian king Stefan the First Crowned between the 1205 and 1225 year. The monastery was destroyed in the XIII century, but was re-built by King Stefan Milutin in early XIV century.
When, at the beginning of the thirteenth century Saint Sava returned from the holy mountain Athos to Serbia, the Serbian state was shaken by conflict between the Serbian throne successors, Stefan and Vukan. After reconcilinghis feuding brothers, St. Sava, along with prince Stefan decided to build a monastery Žiča Serbian Imperial Lavra(monastery settlement). A place where the monastery was built is as far from Constantinople and as from Rome, which meant that Serbia is at the crossroads between the Orthodox East and Catholic West.
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he laid the relics of his uncle, St. Sava. Turks took the body on 1594, and transferred it to Vračar (Belgrade) and burned in an attempt to break the Serbian spirit.
