highlights

Studenica is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Serbia. It is located near the township of Usce. It was built by Stefan Nemanja, in the late 12th century. The main church, built entirely out of white marble, is dedicated to the Ascension of the Holy Virgin – a Christian holiday celebrated on the 15th of August. Monastery complex is surrounded by a massive wall that encompasses the old dormitory. A particularly interesting thing are the two round towers form the second entrance, and the main entrance, a tall tower with wooden roof. Monastery is richly decorated, and most of the frescoes are quite well preserved. Monastic complex also includes the king Radoslav’s parvis, a church built by king Milutin, a small church dedicated to St. Nicolas, basis of the St. John’s church and a museum. On a nearby hill there is a small cave complex, St. Sava’s ascetic cell.

history

In April 1809 Novi Pazar was temporarily conquered by Karadjordje, but he didn’t manage to penetrate the fortress in the city centre. The city was liberated from the Turks in 1912, and from the Austro-Hungarians in 1918. During the Second World War, the city was occupied by the Germans and severely devastated. It was finally liberated in 1944.

After the monastery had been completed, Stefan Nemanja abdicated from the throne in favor of his son, Stefan Prvovencani, and became a monk in the monastery, together with his wife, queen Anna. Shrines with the relics of Stefan Nemanja (St. Simeon Mirotocivi), his son Stefan Prvovencani and queen Ana (St. Anastasija) can be seen in the monastery.

Some of the construction workers that took part in the building of the monastery had come from the coastal regions – thus the unusual motives on main church’s outer walls, such as the anchor-shaped ornaments and heads of fantastic animals.

In the first decades of the 12th century, more precisely in 1215, the head of the monastery was St. Sava. In this period Studenica became the cultural and religious center of medieval Serbia. St. Sava founded the first Serbian hospital in Studenica, under the name of “Sveti Duh” (Holy Ghost), which had a separate section for psychiatric patients. In the same period the dining room, library and the western tower were built.

After the fall of the Serbian kingdom, in 1459, Turks attacked the monastery several times. In early 17th century it was struck by a strong earthquake, which damaged the churches but didn’t destroy them.

In 1594, Sinan-pasha burned the relics of St. Sava on the Vracar hill in Belgrade.

getting there

Studenica monastery is located 8 kilometres from the township of Usce, which lies on Ibar motorway, in the Ibar river valley. Monastery is located between the mountains Radocelo and Cemerno, and the river Studenica that flows into Ibar.

You can reach Usce by any bus running operating between Belgrade and Novi Pazar (see “getting there” for “Novi Pazar” destination).

There are four daily buses connecting Usce and Studenica, leaving Usce at 07.00 am, 02.30 pm and 06.30 pm.

things to see

Monastery is surrounded by thick walls, which encompass the old residential part. Main entrance is between two low round towers, and the western entrance is a tall tower with wooden roof. The Ascension church itself was built entirely out of white marble. One of the most interesting things is the floral and animal ornaments of the windows and main door, as well as decoration of outer walls, in form of fantastic animals. Animal motives are also present on the window panes made of coloured lead, which are best seen from the inside of the church.

Frescoes inside the main church are well preserved. They were damaged only during the early restauration attempt during the reign of Kradjordjevic dynasty, when the restauration workers made holes in the walls so that the new mortar, on which the new frescoes were to be painted, would stick to the walls. The new layer of frescoes was later removed, but the old ones are scared with a number of small white holes, giving the impression of snow falling over the figures. The most famous fresco is dated from 1209 and it represents the Crucifiction. Other important frescoes are the ones of the Holy Virgin, Saint Sava and the founder’s portrait of Stefan Nemanja.

The church of king Milutin, built in 1313 and dedicated to St. Joachim and Anna, is completely preserved, and the frescoes still have strong and vivid colours they had in the times of the painting. A founder’s portrait of king Milutin, holding a small church in his hands, can be seen on the wall.

The small church of St. Nicholas was built out of stone, and the frescoes inside it are preserved only fragmentarily. It is locked most of the time, and if you wish to see it you may ask any of the priests or monks to unlock it for you. Just next to this church is the stone basis of a small church dedicated to St. John.

As a part of the monastery walls, on the first floor there is a museum boasting a number of valuable exhibits from the times of the medieval Serbian kingdom. Of special interest is the golden ring that belonged to the king Stefan Prvovencani, the tapestries woven by the nuns, etc.

In the hills, high above the monastery, there is the ascetic cell of St. Sava. It is a cave with a bricked entrance, that can be reached by a narrow wooden bridge clinging to a rock.

accommodation

Monastery guest rooms (just outside the walls, open 4:45h - 21h, call in advance, 036 / 836 - 422, stay limited to one night only, the price is 10 euros)

Studenica hotel (5 minutes walk from the monastery; 036 / 836 - 222; 036 / 836 - 110; bed and breakfast in single / double / triple room = 9 / 8 / 8 euros)