Belgrade, May 14, 2026
Photo: manastirvojlovica.rs
After more than 60 years, the land of a historic Serbian Orthodox monastery has been formally returned to the Serbian Orthodox Church by oil company NIS.
On May 11, the company donated the land containing the Vojlovica Monastery in Pančevo, which has been located within the Pančevo Refinery complex since 1965, the Serbian Church reports.
The donation agreement was signed by His Eminence Metropolitan Nikanor of Banat and NIS General Director Kiril Tyurdenev at the Patriarchal Palace in Belgrade. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije also attended the ceremony.
Tyurdenev stated that the monastery, a medieval monument, has been “a place of spiritual strength that has protected our refinery and our refinery workers for decades.” He added that the company was not only donating the land and monastery building, but wanted to support the monastery’s mission of gathering believers.
Photo: spc.rs
Metropolitan Nikanor described the signing as “a moment of great historical justice and spiritual joy” in which the endowment of St. Stefan Lazarević was being returned to its original home.
***
The Vojlovica Monastery of the Holy Archangels is located near Pančevo and belongs to the Banat Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is one of the most significant spiritual and cultural-historical monuments in the region.
The monastery was founded in the 15th century as an endowment of St. Stefan Lazarević. Throughout its history, it has endured numerous challenges while maintaining its spiritual and cultural mission, remaining a symbol of perseverance and faith. Due to its exceptional historical, architectural and cultural values, the monastery has been declared a cultural asset of exceptional importance.
During World War II, Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo (Dožić) and St. Nikolai (Velimirović) were imprisoned at Vojlovica Monastery. The monastery church contains a miracle-working icon of the Mother of God. St. Nikolai wrote a canon to this icon during his imprisonment, calling it “Canon to the Most Holy Mother of God the Word.”
Follow OrthoChristian on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe and Gab!
