(TRAVEL) Kosovo is a region in the heart of Europe that offers visitors an amazing journey through nature, history and religion.
Despite Kosovo’s rich history and beautiful views, tourists had avoided it for years because of the ethnic conflict between Albanians and Serbs.
While there are reports of violent incidents against the Serbian minority, it is largely safe to visit Kosovo and enjoy its beauty. It is also encouraging that both Belgrade and Pristina are working toward a compromise over Kosovo’s political status.
The region’s many Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries — numbering as many as 1,300 — offer a glimpse into Kosovo’s religious heritage. Their impressive numbers highlight Kosovo’s importance to Serbian history and culture.
With the feast of St. Vitus observed on Friday, here’s a look at five Serbian Orthodox monasteries that tourists must visit when they travel to Kosovo.
Draganac Monastery
The Draganac Monastery is located on the rolling hills near the city of Gnjilane and the medieval Serbian fortress of Novo Brdo in eastern Kosovo. The monastery’s history dates back to the 14th century.
It is the only inhabited monastery in that region. Dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, it serves as a central place for the religious and cultural life of the Serbian community in eastern Kosovo.
Besides being a spiritual home, the monastery is also a manufacturing center. It produces leather pouches and fragrant frankincense and publishes prayer books, among other things.
Gracanica Monastery
Gracanica Monastery is one of the most prominent Serbian medieval monuments from the 14th century. It was built by the Serbian King Milutin, who promised God that he would build a church for each year of his reign. The monastery is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin. Gracanica is considered one of the most remarkable works of Byzantine architecture and fresco painting, both of which are well preserved.
It is located in the small town with the same name on the outskirts of Pristina, Kosovo’s capital. Once a small and sleepy village, Gracanica became a political center for Kosovo Serbs and one of the largest Serbian enclaves in the region after the Kosovo War of 1999.
Besides admiring the beauty of the monastery, tourists who visit the town of Gracanica can experience firsthand the everyday struggles of the Serbian community living in a hostile environment.
Monastery of the Holy Archangels
Situated a few miles outside of Prizren, in the picturesque Rugova Canyon, the Monastery of the Holy Archangels is one of the forgotten marvels of the Orthodox world. It was founded by the Serbian Emperor Dusan the Mighty and served as his burial church.
During their conquest of the Balkans, the Ottomans looted and destroyed the monastery in 1455. A few centuries later, the monastery was demolished, and its materials were used by the Ottomans to build the Sinan Pasha Mosque in a nearby town. It took over 300 years for the monastery to be rediscovered. In 1927, the entire complex was archaeologically explored. However, the monastery was finally resurrected in 1998.
Despite efforts to rebuild and reestablish the monastery, its tragic history repeated itself. The complex of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels was looted and burned twice — first in June 1999 and again in March 2004.
For tourists passionate about architecture, this monastery offers insight into the Serbian ecclesiastical architectural style, as it is considered the birthplace of the Morava school style that flourished in the Serbian Late Middle Ages.
Monastery Visoki Decani
The Visoki Decani Monastery was built by the Serbian medieval King Stefan of Decani in 1335. The church within the monastery compound was constructed in a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine styles.
Visitors to Visoki Decani can admire more than 1,000 preserved original frescoes. Its unique architectural style and vast collection of frescoes have rightfully placed this monastery on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During the 2004 pogrom against Orthodox Serbs in Kosovo, NATO-led peacekeeping forces protected the monastery from Muslim Albanians attempting to throw Molotov cocktails at it.
In recent years, the monastery has achieved international prominence thanks to Father Sava Janjic, who has been the abbot of Visoki Decani since 2011. Sava’s dynamic presence on the internet and social media, advocating for the rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo, has earned him the nickname “cyber monk.” Always welcoming and speaking perfect English, Sava will make your visit to Visoki Decani unforgettable.
The Patriarchate of Pec Monastery
The Patriarchate of Pec is one of the most important Serbian Orthodox monasteries in the region. It is located on the banks of the Pec Bistrica river, near the city of Pec in western Kosovo. Considered a cornerstone of Serbian history and culture, it has been the headquarters of Serbian patriarchs and a home for artists and writers.
Today, the monastic community of the Patriarchate of Pec consists of 24 nuns who work tirelessly to preserve the monastery’s rich heritage. Since 2006, the Patriarchate of Pec Monastery has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it a must-see site on any Kosovo tour.