MONASTERIES IN SERBIA

There are many monasteries in Serbia and the most beautiful ones and of great importance for European and world medieval architecture and art, are mainly concentrated in the valleys of rivers Ibar and Raška (Rashka). The oldest were built in the 12th century. Erstwhile, the medieval Serb state stretched through this, so called "Valley of the Kings", south of town of Kraljevo, below Novi Pazar.

Žiča Monastery - The Žiča monastery is located only a few kilometers from the center of the city of Kraljevo. It was built in the heart of the medieval Serb state, shortly after establishing the Orthodox Serbian Church's independence, by Sent Sava and his brother Stefan Prvovenčani, sons of Stefan Nemanja. Symbolically, it was built at an equal distance from Rome and Constantinople, stressing the tendencies of the medieval Serb state to balance between these two

Studenica Monastery - Studenica Monastery is situated 11km from village Ušće, on the regional road Kraljevo - Raška, by the river Studenica. It was built in the 12th century, endowment of the king Stefan Nemanja between years 1183 and 1196, and was dedicated to Virgin Mary. The same year King Stefan Nemanja gives the throne to his mid-son Stefan Prvovenčani and become a monk in Sveta Gora (on Mount Atos in Greece), where he dies in 1199. His youngest son Rastko, better known as Saint Sava, also a monk, transfers his remains to this monastery. His wife Anna and their two sons Vukan and Stefan Prvovenčani, are also buried here.

Sopoćani Monastery - The Sopoćani monastery is situated in the valley of the river Raška, near the ruins of the old capital of the medieval Serb state - Ras, 15 km west from the town of Novi Pazar. An endowment of King Uroš, the son of King Stefan Nemanja, it has been built in the 13th century, and dedicated to Holy Trinity.

Djurdjevi Stupovi Monastery - The Djurdjevi Stupovi monastery is located on the top of the forested hill, above the town of Novi Pazar. This monastery was built in 1170, an endowment of King Stefan Nemanja, shortly after his victory in the war with the Byzantines. It was dedicated to Sent George and also named by this saint and its two, impressionable bell towers. This complex was built in a mixture of Romanesque and Byzantine styles, so called Raška school style.

Ravanica Monastery - Ravanica monastery is located in the base of Kučaj Mountains, near the town of Ćuprija and village Senje, in the Pomoravlje region (valley of Morava river). It was built in the 14th century, between 1375 and 1377. Endowment of prince (knez) Lazar Hrebeljanović, it is dedicated to Ascension of Jesus Christ.

Manasija Monastery - Manasija monastery, also called Resava, is located in the Pomoravlje region, 2 km from the town of Despotovac, 30 km from the Belgrade - Nis highway, by the river Resava. It was built in the 15th century, between 1406 and 1418, by Despot Stefan Lazarević, also known as Visoki Stefan (Tall Stefan), and it is dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

and many many more of 405 Serbian Ortodox church monasteries. Built in the Middle Ages, these monasteries testify of rise and fall of the Serbian Empire and state. They were built by rulers to celebrate the glory of the saints, but also as their eternal resting places.