Devič

Devič Monastery
	Devič Monastery reconstruction after it was burned down in 2004
Monastery information
Full name	Манастир Девич
Other names	Manastiri i Deviçit
Order	Serbian Orthodox
Established	1434
Dedicated to	St. Joanikije of Devič
Diocese	Eparchy of Raška and Prizren
People
Founder(s)	Despot Đurađ Branković
Important associated figures	Đurađ Branković; Patriarch Makarije; Euphemia the Nun
Architecture
Heritage designation	Cultural monument of Exceptional Importance
Designated date	24 March 1948
Site
Location	Skenderaj, Drenica, Kosovo
Public access	Limited

The Devič Monastery (Serbian: Манастир Девич, romanized: Manastir Devič; Albanian: Manastiri i Deviçit) is a Serbian Orthodox abbey in Kosovo. It was built in 1434 and is dedicated to St Joanikije of Devič. Devič was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it is protected by the Republic of Serbia.

History

The founder of the monastery is Despot Đurađ Branković, who had it built in memory of his daughter. In the Ottoman census from 1455, the monastery is mentioned as the church of the Theotokos (dedicated to The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple). During Turkish occupation the monastery was pulled down, but the church and the site with the grave of St. Joanikije was reconstructed, and was painted in 1578.

Serbs leaving monastery after 2004 unrest

The monastery was destroyed and burnt down during World War II in 1941 by forces of the Albanian Fascist Party, the prior Damaskin Bošković was killed, and Italian troops disassembled the two big bells and took them away in 1942. It was rebuilt in 1947.

Devič was a target of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in 1999. The monastery was vandalized and all food and two cars were stolen. The marble tomb of the patron saint St. Joannicius of Devič was desecrated by local Albanian in June 1999. Since then it has been under the constant protection of French KFOR troops.^[1]^[2]

It was the target of new attacks by Albanians in the most serious unrest in Kosovo on 18 March 2004 when the nuns were evacuated for safety reasons by Danish KFOR troops. Following that the monastery was pillaged and torched. The Serbian Orthodox Church received confirmation of the monastery's plight the following day from the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Gallery

Burned and desecrated interior of the Devič. Note UÇK graffiti in the church apse.
Burned monastery lodgings covered in snow
Burned monastery lodgings covered in snow

Notes

a.

References

^ "CNN - KLA rebels accused of vandalizing Serb monastery - June 17, 1999". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
^ "DESTRUCTION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA SINCE ARRIVAL OF NATO" (PDF). Sv-luka.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2016-11-11.

External links

Video of the burned, destroyed and desecrated Devič monastery complex
"Манастир Девич у близини Србице". Споменици културе у Србији.
Official page on Devic Monastery
WashPost: Serbian Nun Stands Her Ground Against Albanians 5-25-1999
Photo story on destruction of Devič, ERP KIM, March 2004

[cnn-1] "CNN - KLA rebels accused of vandalizing Serb monastery - June 17, 1999". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-03-03.

[2] "DESTRUCTION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA SINCE ARRIVAL OF NATO" (PDF). Sv-luka.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2016-11-11.

[1]

[2]

v t e Immovable Cultural Heritage of Exceptional Importance
Archaeological Sites	Vinča Mediana Justiniana Prima Mramorje Velika humka Rudna Glava Gamzigrad Trajan's Bridge Lepenski Vir Diana/Karataš Kraku Lu Jordan Starčevo Bassianae Sirmium Židovar Gomolava Čibska šuma Kalvarija Ulpiana Viminacium
Cultural Monuments	St. Achillius Dositej's Lyceum Residence of Princess Ljubica Belgrade Fortress Captain Miša Mansion Belgrade Cathedral Museum of 4 July Secret Partisan Print Shop Residence of Prince Miloš Topčider Church Topčider Parish House Topčider Obelisk Pokajnica Golubac Fortress Takovo complex Manasija Tabula Traiana Kragujevac District Courthouse House of Svetozar Marković Sobrašice of Lužnice Žiča Studenica Maglič Lazarica with Kruševac Fortress St. Nicholas Monastery Holy Mother of God, Kuršumlija Lazarevac Memorial Church Mačkov Kamen complex Despot Stefan Memorial Hajduk Veljko's Powder Magazine Early Byzantine Tomb Skull Tower Niš concentration camp Đurđevi Stupovi Petrova Church Sopoćani Stari Ras Hristić family House Banja Monastery Mileševa Partisan Hospital, Prijepolje St. Peter and Paul's in Gornja Dobrinja Gradac Monastery Kalenić Smederevo Fortress Museum of 1941 Uprising Partisan printing house "Borba" Headquarters of the Main People's Liberation Committee of Serbia Plant nursery, Užice Partisan Hospital, Krčagovo Kadinjača Stari Han Oplenac Ljubostinja Ravanica House of Dimitrije Tucović Atenica Wine cellar Prnjavor Memorial Chapel Wooden Church, Dub St. Peter and Paul's in Sirogojno Monument to the Unknown Hero Prohor Pčinjski Bođani Monastery Bač Franciscan Church Dunđerski Palace Neštin House Bački Petrovac House Beočin Monastery Rakovac Monastery Šlajz Bishop's palace, Vršac Mesić Monastery Vojinović Bridge Medieval palace of Vučitrn Monastery of St Barbara Danilović House Hadum mosque Orthodox Church in Čurug St. Nicholas', Stari Slankamen Velika Remeta Vrdnik-Ravanica Grgeteg Monastery Jazak Monastery Mala Remeta Candlemas Church, Krušedol Selo Krušedol Monastery Novo Hopovo Staro Hopovo Gorioč Our Lady of Hvosno St. John's, Crkolez St. Nicholas', Đurakovac St. Nicholas', Kikinda Suvača Orthodox Church in Mokrin Churches in White Drin valley Dobra Voda Dolac Church Drsnik Church Mlečane Church Čabić Church Kijevo Church Pograđe Lower Church Pograđe Upper Church Romanian Church in Uzdin Holy Thetokos', Vaganeš Ubožac (Rđavac) Presentation of Mary, Lipljan Arača Almaška Church Church of The Assumption, Novi Sad Novo Brdo St. Nicholas', Velika Hoča St. John's, Velika Hoča Vojlovica Transfiguration Church, Pančevo Transfiguration Church, Budisavci Bajrakli Mosque St. Jeremiah's, Goraždevac Warehouses of Karlovčić Ogar House St. Luke's, Kupinovo St. Nicholas', Sibač Kaljaja St. Peter of Koriša Holy Salvation, Prizren St. Nicholas', Prizren Churches of Sredačka Župa Holy Virgin, Sredska St. George's, Sredska St. Nicholas', Mušnikovo St. Paraskevi, Mušnikovo Bogoševce Church Gornje Selo Church Drajčići Church Sinan Pasha Mosque Hammam of Prizren Imperial Mosque St. John's, Sombor Devič Divša Kuveždin Petkovica Monastery Warehouses of Golubinci Šišatovac Old St. Stephen's, Sremska Mitrovica Patriarchate of Karlovci Saint Nicholas', Sremski Karlovci Subotica Synagogue Subotica City Hall Virgin Hodegetria, Mušutište St. George's, Rečane Catholic Church of Čoka Orthodox Church of Vilovo Zvečan Fortress Sokolica Monuments of Nerodimlje Nerodimlje Medieval Town Petrič Fortress St. Uroš Holy Archangels, Gornje Nerodimlje Churches of Sirinićka Župa St George's, Gornja Bitinja St. Theodor Tyron's, Donja Bitinja St. Nicholas', Gotovuša St. Nicholas', Štrpce Privina Glava Orthodox Church of Molovin Holy Archangels Gračanica Visoki Dečani Our Lady of Ljeviš Patriarchate of Peć Banjska Monastery Terzijski Bridge Miloš Obrenović's House
Historic Landmarks	Bela Crkva Bubanj Šumarice Stolice Marićevića jaruga Radovanjski Lug Cer Memorial Ossuary Vuk Karadžić's birth house Kraljevo Memorial Park Čegar Ljubić Boško Buha Memorial Complex Chapel of Peace Site of the Battle of Slankamen Vezirac Hill Memorial Idvor Memorial Complex Site of the Battle of Senta Syrmian Front Memorial Complex Takovski grm
Spatial Cultural-Historical Units	Knez Mihailova Street Tešnjar Novi Pazar Fortress with the Old Bazaar and Altun-Alem Mosque Gornja Dobrinja Complex Negotin Wine Cellars Rajac Wine Cellar Rogljevo Wine Cellar Štubik Wine Cellar "Staro selo" Etno Complex Topčider Stari Ras area Gazimestan Sremski Karlovci Bač Fortress Dositej's Lyceum area Fruška Gora Military Technical Institute Complex

Devič

History

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links