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Churches and Monasteries in Kosovo, Serbia. Outline. History of Serbs in Kosovo and Acceptation of Orthodox Christianity as a state religion Early developments of Slavic culture on Balkan Peninsula Era of Nemanjic dynasty Serbian church an population in Kosovo under Turks
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Outline • History of Serbs in Kosovo and Acceptation of Orthodox Christianity as a state religion • Early developments of Slavic culture on Balkan Peninsula • Era of Nemanjic dynasty • Serbian church an population in Kosovo under Turks • 19th century and beginning of 20th century • Inter-war period • Communism • Current situation
Early developments of Slavic culture on Balkan Peninsula • As early as 5th and 6th centuries AD they migrated from their ancient lands in Northern Europe to the Balkan Peninsular • First occurrence of an en-masse baptism among the Serbs happened during the reign of Emperor Heraclius (610-641). • It is thought that the baptism of Serbs occurred during the reign of Knez Mutimir (before the year 891). • Literacy among Slavs are closely connected with their adoption of Christianity in their own popular language. • Cyril and Methodius. • Diocese of Velic" (Velich) is the first purely Slav diocese to be mentioned in historical documents, and its first bishop, from 893, was St. Clement himself.
Era of Nemanjic dynasty • The Serbian medieval state, which under the Nemanjic dynasty (12th to 14th century) grew into a major power in the Balkan peninsula, developed in the nearby mountain regions, in Raska (with Bosnia) and in Duklja (later Zeta and then Montenegro). • The center of the Nemanjic slate moved to Kosovo and Metohia after the fall of Constantinople (1204). At its peak, in the early the 14th century, these lands were the richest and the most densely populated areas, as well as state and its cultural and administrative centers. • In Nicaea, in 1217 St. Sava was ordained archbishop of the Church in Serbia receiving the title "Archbishop of Serbian and Maritime Lands".
Churches and Monasteries • The cultural and demographic strength of the Serbs is best illustrated by the presence of 1,500 monuments of Serbian culture identified so far. • Around 1,300 of those are churches, monasteries and chapels • Most significant monasteries were built during 13th and 14th century - the Nemanjic Dynasty
Gracanica • Gracanica Monastery one of King Milutin's last monumental endowments. • It is situated in the village of Gracanica, 5 km. from Pristina, the administrative centre of Kosovo and Metohija region. • Gracanica was constructed on the ruins of an older 13th-century church of the Theotokos, which was built on the ruins of a 6th-century early Christian three-naved basilica.
Patriarchate of Pec • The Monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec is located at the very entrance of the Rugova gorge near Pec. • The temple of the Holy Apostles was built by Archbishop Arsenije I in the third decade of the 13th century. He was also responsible for the painting of the church around 1260. • Archbishop Nikodim built the temple of St. Dimitrije next to the northern side of the church of Holy Apostles between 1321 and 1324, while Archbishop Danilo II built the churches dedicated to Virgin Odigitrija and St. Nikola on its southern side.
Patriarchate of PecThe Mother Church of the Serbian Patriarchate
The Patriarchate of Pec - three churches comprising a unique architectural structure
Banjska Monastery Holy Archdeacon Stephen • Banjska monastery is situated in the town of Banjska in the vicinity of Kosovska Mitrovica. • Banjska was the endowment of King Milutin. , and it was constructed between 1312 and 1316. • The monastery was built as King Milutin`s burial church.
Recane, Church Of St. Djordje In the village of Recane, east of Suva Reka, there is a small church dedicated to St. Djordje, the endowment of an unknown Serbian duke who was buried there on 23 December 1370.
The church of Virgin's Vavedenje In Lipljan was probably built in the second or third decade of the 14th century.
Crna Reka Monastery • Crna Reka monastery is a hermitage in the midst of the south Serbian mountains situated in the gorge of the Black River. • It is surrounded by high rocks and lush vegetation. • It dates from 13th century when a small church dedicated to the Holy Archangel Michael was built in a big cave.
The Holy Virgin of Ljevis Cathedral - Prizren • The church of the Most Holy Theotokos is located in the old part of Prizren. • This building had the features of Byzantine provincial architecture. • It is assumed that the Bishopric mentioned in a charter by the Byzantine emperor Basil II in 1018, was situated in this church (monastery). • In 1219 the old church was partially restored, by Stefan the First Crowned had, and the walls were decorated with paintings with inscriptions in Old Slavonic. • The church of the Most Holy Theotokos was thoroughly rebuilt by the order of King Milutin in 1306-1307. Therefore, the present church is King Milutin's endowment.
St. Spas Church - St. Saviour, Prizren • The endowment of landowner Mladen Vladojevic with his parents, at the time of Dusan's rule. • It was built around 1330 and in 1348 given as a gift to the nearby monastery of Holy Archangels.
Budisavci, Church Of Christ’s Transfiguration • The church dedicated to Christ’s Transfiguration was built in the village of Budisavci, 17 km east of Pec, in the 14th century. • It is not known whether it was the endowment of a landowner or the founder was King Milutin as can be assumed on the basis of the partially preserved inscription on a stone tablet built in the eastern side of the apse. • The tradition even relates this shrine to the sister of King Stefan Decanski.
Visoki Decani Monastery • Visoki Decani Monastery is situated in the western part of the UN administered Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohia. • It was built between 1327 and 1335 by the Serbian medieval king St. Stephen of Decani and was dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord. • Although the monastery buildings suffered damage from the Turkish occupation, the church has been completely preserved with beautiful 14th century fresco paintings. • Today a young brotherhood of 30 brethren lives in the monastery continuing the centuries old tradition of the past.
The Brotherhood of the Visoki Decani Monastery, November 2002
Holy Archangels Monastery • Holy Archangels Monastery was built on the site of an older church during the period from 1343 to 1352 as the pious endowment of Tsar Dušan.
SS. Cosmas and Damian Monastery"Sveti Vraci Monastery" • St. Cosmas and Damian's Monastry is situated in the village of Zociste, 5 km. east from Orahovac, near Prizren. • The founder of the Monastry is not known nor it is recorded exactly when the monastery was built. • It is first mentioned in 1327 in the chryssobule of St. King Stephen of Decani who donated certain estates around the monastry to the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos. The oldest preserved fresco fragments date back to the 14th century.
St. Peter's church was built in 7th century and is the oldest church in the Diocese
Frescos • There were two great painters from the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries. • Metropolitan Jovan and his brother Makarije, famous for their works in Pelagonija, and in Serbia, in the Morava basin. • Other painters where brought by rulers of Serbia from different sides of Byzantine and Russia emperies
Archbishop of Serbia - Arsenije I - the founder of Patriarchate Monastery, 13th c.
St. Symeon Nemanja - Holy Virgin of Ljevis, Prizren 14th century
Destruction In Recent History • From 1999 – 2006 over 140 orthodox churches and monasteries where destroyed by ethnic Albanian extremists. • During this period more than 200,000 Serbs and another 150,000 non-Albanians left Kosovo due to the ethnic cleansing committed by ethnic Albanians
