ŽIČA
MEDIEVAL MONASTERIES Enduring guardians of Serbian spirituality From Gračanica and
al time to visit one of these monaster- ies. But even those who aren’t believers will find that these holy places are rich in artwork and set in beautiful natu- ral settings, so there’s something for everyone’s soul on this journey. IN KOSOVO – GRAČANICA Kosovo, in the very south of the coun- try, represents the heart of the Serbi- an Orthodox religion and is where the most beautiful religious spaces have been created. They resist the ravag- es of time and survive as the most im- portant symbols of faith, and one of the most beautiful is certainly Gračan- ica. The endowment of powerful Ne- manjić dynasty ruler King Milutin, it lives on in glory today, but also in the peace of its long-gone beginnings in the 14 th century, when it was construct- ed (1321). The subtle handwritten sig- nature of the builder, whose name has
been lost to history, can be seen on the church dedicated to the Virgin Many. Built in the Byzantine-Serbian style, Gračanica stands out due to the con- trast of its red and yellow bricks. Tes- tifying to how the monastery once ex- isted is the unique Gračanica Charter, which is inscribed on the wall to the right of the altar. NEAR NOVI PAZAR - SOPOĆANI Novi Pazar is one of the most impor- tant regions of the Raška district, rep- resenting a former capital of the Ne- manjic state, and subsequently the seat of the Ottoman Sandžak. Testifying to the historical significance of the south- ern part of Raška are its exceptionally beautiful Orthodox monasteries. If you find yourself in this part of Ser- bia, be sure to visit Sopoćani, which is one of the most beautiful and impor-
Studenica to Ravanica and Mileševa, and from Visoki Dečani to Žiča and Sopoćani, you can get acquainted with Serbia through the most valuable monuments of its culture and history A s holy sites that date back thousands of years, Ser- bia’s famous monasteries are perhaps the best way to get to know Serbia, its values, faith and traditions. Whichever direction you go, you’ll be able to tour stunning architecture, icons, and relics of the most important figures in Serbi- an history. This month in which Chris- tians are this year celebrating Easter on the same day according to both calen- dars (20 th April), just might be the ide-
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