highlights

The Manasija monastery, surrounded by colorful nature, lies on the hill upon the Resava River not far away from the little town Despotovac. Monastery was built in the 15th century by the Despot Stefan Lazarevic. The church itself is placed within the fortress fortified with eleven completely preserved defensive towers, which makes this monastery unique in Serbia. Beside the church, the dormitory and the dining room are placed inside the fortress, but you can also see the ruins of additional buildings crashed down long time ago. The frescoes -portrait of the Despot Stefan, “The Holy Warriors” and “The Souls of the Righteous held by Divine Hand” with souls alike little babies dressed in blue and pink, are only some of the many amazing paintings that can be seen inside the church.

history

The Manasija Monastery is a foundation of Despot Stefan Lazarevic, built between 1406 and 1418. In the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, and the defeat which led to the Serbian vassalage, Knez Lazar Hrebeljanovic was killed, leaving his under aged son Stefan to rule the state. The Serbian knight Stefan participates in battles by the Turkish side, and the Byzantium Emperor pronounces him a despot. During his rule, he’s trying to balance between Hungary and Turkey and manages to keep the independence of Serbian Despotat as much as he can.

Stefan Lazarevic was known as a very noble and brave leader and also, a good artist (his poem “Slovo ljubve”(the word of love) is considered as a predecessor of Serbian love poetry). The Manasija monastery is his most important Stefan’s foundation because he was supposed to be buried in, but, because of his sudden death in 1427, Despot Stefan was buried in Koporin Monastery, his other endowment.

A few years after the Manasija was built, a manuscript workshop, known as Resava School, was opened here, so the monastery becomes the cultural and educational center.

getting there

The Manasija monastery, also known as Resava, lies about 3km North-West from Despotovac, on the hill upon the Resava River.

You can reach Despotovac by bus from Belgrade (twice a day- 11:15 and 20:15), and from Despotovac to Manasija you can walk or hitch hike. For more information you can call the bus station in Despotovac (phone: 035 / 611-162). You can reach the Monastery by car, using highway E 75 from Belgrade, via Svilajnac and Despotovac. The monastery is on the way to Lomnica and Panjevac. kolima, auto-putem E75 od Beograda, pa preko Svilajnca, kroz Despotovac. Manstir je na putu za sela Lomnicu i Panjevac.

things to see

Because of the tumultuous times in which the monastery was built, the monastery church and dormitories are fortified by strong ramparts and towers. Enormous fortress, in which the monastery was, is built on the irregular polygonal bases with 11 cogged towers, among which the northern, Despot’s tower, distinguishes itself.

On the skirts of the fortification the dormitories and the dining room are, and in the central part is the church devoted to the Holy Trinity. In spite the fortification, Turks managed to conquer the monastery in 1439 and burn it many times. The church itself represents the biggest but also atypical monument of Morava architectural school. In contrast of other churches of this school, the façade of Manasija is made exclusively from monumental cut stones, not brick, following the tradition of older Rascian monasteries.

In the parvis there are remains of two older buildings from the original monastery complex. From the church to the South you can see the ruins of a big dining room, which had an extra floor that served as a stable and manuscript workshop.

The frescoes are only partially preserved, but what can be seen today is one of the best works of medieval art. One of the most famous frescoes is a portrait of Despot Stefan Lazarevic. In the arch is the fresco representing “The Souls of the Righteous held by Divine Hand”. From the painting “The Holy Warriors” and their brave and noble appearance we can feel the atmosphere of Serbia during the rule of Despot Stefan Lazarevic.