|
|
|
|
Ravanica:
with the church of the ASCENSION
OF OUR LORD
This monastery is located in Vrdnik
on the south slopes of Fruška Gora. You arrive there by following
the signs. The only monastery from these parts that is located
in a populated area. The original old church was dedicated to
Saint John the Baptist and there are writs to that effect. The
new church which is there now is dedicated to The Ascension of
Our Lord. The past and founding of this monastery is unclear.
The first mention of it dates back to 1589 although it is considered
to be much older. It is errected during the 15th and the beginning
of the 16th century. Little is known about it untill 1697 when
it was inhabited by monks from the Ravanica monastery from Serbia
escaping the Turks. That is when they brought the remains of Prince
Lazar, renovated the church and dedicated it to The Ascension
just as the church Ravanica near Ćuprija is also dedicated to
the Ascension. That is why this monastery got the name Ravanica.
In the church itself on the right hand side of the altar in the
coffin untill 1989 used to lay the remains of Saint Prince Lazar
when they were transferred to the Ravanica monastery near Cuprija
to his Patrimony. Today on that very place lies the empty coffin.
Beside the coffin in a glass box a part of the bones of Prince
Lazar are kept. In the church there are also the remains of Saint
Anastasia from the Third century as well as holy relics from the
tomb of Jesus Christ. The monastery's dormatories are considered
among the most beautiful in Fruška Gora. The monastery is active,
female and in the care of nuns.
| |