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Devic Monastery
Devic Monastery near Srbica (Drenica district) was first built in the first half of the 15th century, and was first endowed by Joannicius of Devic (born in the 14th century), the saint with whom the past of this holy place is connected. According to a folk legend, founding of the monastery is ascribed to Despot Djuradj Brankovic, who had it built to the memory of his virgin daughter, which is how the monastery got its name. The fact that Grgur, the son of Despot Djuradj, presented the monastery with a bell in 1458, reinforces the theory that the monastery is connected to the Brankovic family. In the Turkish census from 1455, the monastery is mentioned as the church of the Theotokos (dedicated to the Entrance the Holy Theotokos Mary into the Temple) with monks. The Turks pulled the monastery down, and it remained deserted until the re-establishment of the Patriarchate of Pec in 1557, during the time of the Patriarch Macarius Sokolovic. The church and the site with the grave of St. Joannicius was reconstructed, and was painted in 1578, during the time of Prior Pachomius and Hieromonk Longin with brethren. Fragments of the paintings painted at the time are preserved in the church's apse as well as above Joakinije's tomb where the presentation of the Ascension is the most evident testimony to the inventiveness of the painter. The reputation that the monastery enjoyed in the 16th and 17th centuries due to its saint's relics was increased by its fruitful transcription school. The fact that it managed to be active also in the 19th century is evidenced by oil wall paintings painted after its renewal in 1863.
Monastery Devic suffered the greatest devastation during World War II. Albanians destroyed and burned the monastery in 1941, and savagely killed Damaskin Boskovic, the Prior. Italians disassembled the two big bells and took them away. Only the grave of St. Joannicius, covered with stones from the destroyed church, remained in the monastery. Reconstruction of the monastery began in 1947.
Due to numerous reconstructions, the monastery church lost its original appearance. The southeast paraclis, which had a rectangular base and a spacious apse, is the oldest part of the church. It is covered with a semi-spherical arch ceiling. East from the altar space is the chapel with the marble tomb of Saint Joannicius (Jonicije) of Devic, the patron-saint of the monastery.
The church was painted in the mid-16th century, and in 1578, during the incumbency of Patriarch Pachomius, which is supported by a preserved inscription. The latest paintings originate from 1863, but they were removed in 1966, so that the older and more valuable paintings could be revealed. Only the royal door remained from the original iconostasis. The existing iconostasis was made in 1974 by nuns from Celije monastery, while the carving is the work of Milan Milosevic from Cacak.
The grave of "Blessed Stojana" (Euphemia the Nun), who died in 1895, is in the church. The chapel and the well of St. Joannicius of Devic are outside the monastery.
The monastery was reconstructed in 1954 and returned to active monastic life by the late abbes Parasceva and her sisters who found only heaps of stones on the place where monastery had been. Today there are eight nuns in the monastery who cultivate the monastery land by their own hands . The greatest spiritual treasure of the monastery are the relics of St. Ioanichios of Devic who is known as a great miracle-worker. Almost every day miracles and healings happen in this monastery.
The entrance gate and the courtyard with the belfry
The monastery graveyard
Desecrated tomb of St. Joanikije of Devic
Signature of UCK terrorists - bullets and UCK acronime on the holy icon
An Albanian extremist killing a Serb Orthodox Abbot of Devic - Damaskin Boskovic, 2nd World War
Albanian Nazis comitted terrible crimes against Serbs in WW2 in presence
of German and Italian occupation forces.
serbian army:
Tavna monastery
Brief history
The date of foundation is hidden somewhere in the shadows of the far past, before the fatal cataclysm which the Serbian people experienced with the coming of the Turks. National tradition, not without reason, sets the date of foundation as beeing during the Nemanich period, or to be more exact, during the region of King Dragutin, who rules these areas as "King of Srem". The cronichles of monasteries Tronosha and Pech say it was built by Dragutin's sons Vladislav and Uroshitz. The present church of monastery Tavna, biult in the same place as the original, is without doubt older than the other monastic churches in the region, Ozren, Liplyel, Vozucha and Gostovich. Monastery Tavna was damaged in th first years of Turkish rule, but was restored by the people under the leadership od haiduks (anti-Turkish gighwaymen). This was not the only time monastery was damaged. Later, drugign the Turkish period there were several attacks on monastery, because haiduks were hiding in it. Later, in the World Wide Wars, Tavna was destroied, but people and monks from the village used to rebuild the church of the monastery.
From 1941. to 1945. Tavna was totaly destroides by the Ustahas (soldiers of Independent state of Croatia). They killed many persons, and also Zdravko Yovanovich from Zhepcha who was shot by a firing squad at the door of the church. On his gravestone is the following inscription: "Killed 1943 by the Ustacha Blue Division protecting and defending the monastery."
kellymaureen:
Gorgeous buildings, exterior and interior.....can people tour them?
serbian army:
--- Quote from: kellymaureen on November 13, 2007, 09:09:37 PM ---Gorgeous buildings, exterior and interior.....can people tour them?
--- End quote ---
Oh yes, but for some monasteries you will need escort like monastery Decani in Kosovo. Italian soldiers will protect you on your way from muslim Albanians. I will post many more pictures of Serbian monasteries. Monks and nuns will be more than happy to see you on liturgy O0 O0
kellymaureen:
--- Quote from: serbian army on November 13, 2007, 09:18:16 PM ---
--- Quote from: kellymaureen on November 13, 2007, 09:09:37 PM ---Gorgeous buildings, exterior and interior.....can people tour them?
--- End quote ---
Oh yes, but for some monasteries you will need escort like monastery Decani in Kosovo. Italian soldiers will protect you on your way from muslim Albanians. I will post many more pictures of Serbian monasteries. Monks and nuns will be more than happy to see you on liturgy O0 O0
--- End quote ---
Are the muslims trying to destroy the buildings?
I love old churches, they are just beautiful!
Being protected by Italian soldiers sounds nice ^-^
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