Gracanica Monstery of the Dormition—the Serbian Pearl

The Monastery of Gracanica, dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, is located in the center of Kosovo and Metohija. This monastery—an endowment from the Serbian King Milutin—was built in 1321. Its patron generously bestowed upon it precious gifts, lands, and special rights. The monastery church arose on the place where once was the cathedral church of the ancient Lipljan bishropric. Gracanica is one of the pearls of medieval Serbian culture, and one of the most significant places in Serbian history and spirituality. With its name are connected many works of art and literature, beginning from the middle ages to our own times. In the fourteenth-fifteenth centuries, the monastery was at its height. There were hundreds of monks laboring there, leading intense spiritual lives and developing trades and handicrafts. During the second quarter of the sixteenth century, the residence of the Novobrde Metropolia was located in Gracanica, which opened the first printing press in the monastery. Later due to attacks from the Turks the monastery became empty, and services where held it as a parish church. After World War II, the monastery became a convent for nuns, and the new residents took up the labor of restoring it. Now the sisters labor in iconography, handicrafts, agriculture, and other monastery obediences.
Gracanica Monastery

Gracanica Monastery

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Gracanica Monastery. Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

Gracanica Monastery. Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Gracanica Monastery. Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

Gracanica Monastery. Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

The Pantocrator in the central dome of the Dormition Church

The Pantocrator in the central dome of the Dormition Church

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Holy soldiers Artemy and Nikita

Holy soldiers Artemy and Nikita

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Holy Great Martyr Mercurius

Holy Great Martyr Mercurius

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Sts. Savva, Constantine and Helen

Sts. Savva, Constantine and Helen

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Simoneda

Simoneda

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Prophet Elias in the desert

Prophet Elias in the desert

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Burial of Bishop Theodore of Lipljan (14th c)

Burial of Bishop Theodore of Lipljan (14th c)

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

The Last Judgment. Resurrection of the Dead.

The Last Judgment. Resurrection of the Dead.

Detail. Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Theodore, son of Despot Djurdja Brankovic (1429)

Theodore, son of Despot Djurdja Brankovic (1429)

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Sts. Thecla and Euphemia

Sts. Thecla and Euphemia

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Theodore, son of Despot Djurdja Brankovic (1429)

Theodore, son of Despot Djurdja Brankovic (1429)

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

The Last Judgment. Detail

The Last Judgment. Detail

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

The Pantocrator. Central dome

The Pantocrator. Central dome

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Holy Monk-Martyr Stephan the New

Holy Monk-Martyr Stephan the New

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Sts. Simeon the Myrrh-Streamer and Anna Nemanici, parents of St. Savva the Serb

Sts. Simeon the Myrrh-Streamer and Anna Nemanici, parents of St. Savva the Serb

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Holy Apostles John the Theologian, Luke, and Andrew

Holy Apostles John the Theologian, Luke, and Andrew

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Holy King Milutin Nemanic, the patron of Gracanica

Holy King Milutin Nemanic, the patron of Gracanica

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

An ancient tombstone

An ancient tombstone

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

St. Maximos the Confessor.

St. Maximos the Confessor.

Modern icon Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov)/Pravoslavie.ru

Holy Hierarch Savva, Archbishop of Serbia

Holy Hierarch Savva, Archbishop of Serbia

Modern icon Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov)/Pravoslavie.ru

Great Martyr Prince Lazar

Great Martyr Prince Lazar

Modern icon Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov)/Pravoslavie.ru

Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos

Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov) / Pravoslavie.ru

After the war in 1999, the residence of the Rasko-Prizren bishopric was in fact moved to the monastery, after being forced to leave the cathedra in Prizren. The Monastery acquired not only a new cultural significance, but also an important administrative center for the Serbs of Kosovo and Metohija. Here meetings, reception of guests, and importance decisions for the life of the Church and its people are conducted. A comparatively large Serbian enclave has nestled up to the monastery, and pilgrims and tourists visit it often. There are remarkable frescoes in the monastery, including depictions of members of the Nemanic dynasty. Here can be seen the images of Serbian archbishops and Patriarchs. There is also a collection of ancient icons preserved in the monastery. Photo: Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov)/Pravoslavie.ru
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