Monastery Manasija, the pearl of Serbian medieval culture

Among the green hills of the picturesque Resavian gorge, surrounded by the magnificent defense towers of the medieval fortress, there is a monastery whose fortress belongs to top performances of Serbian architecture, and the frescoes to the highest ranges of Serbian medieval painting – Manasija.

<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="http://www.manastiri-crkve.com/manastiri/manastir_manasija.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">http://www.manastiri-crkve.com/manastiri/manastir_manasija.htm</a>

In the year 1407. Then the despot Stefan Lazarević decided to raise his endowment, a place for peace and a flat for silence.In the immediate vicinity of the city that was named after him, Despotovac, he found a place where he began to build a magnificent monastery complex and a fortress of twelve towers around it

<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="http://opusteno.rs/slike/2012/05/despotovac-slike-14698/manastir-manasija-resava-9.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">http://opusteno.rs/slike/2012/05/despotovac-slike-14698/manastir-manasija-resava-9.html</a>

.After ten years of work, a monastery was built that always caused the admiration of those who had the opportunity to see it.Built as a defensive fortification, eleven towers are connected to the walls that allowed defenders to move.Entering the very heart of this fascinating medieval fortress, comes to a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity.With its beautiful and valuable frescoes, the central building of the monastery settlement gives a special seal to this sacred place.

<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="http://www.leparesava.com/sr/opstina-despotovac/turizam/top-destinacije/manastir-manasija.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">http://www.leparesava.com/sr/opstina-despotovac/turizam/top-destinacije/manastir-manasija.html</a>

Manasija is also known for the Resavia school, which was within the monastery during the first half of the 15th century.It brings together learned monks, translators, writers  who decorated the manuscripts of books, which made the monastery long considered a symbol of spirituality and enlightenment.

<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="https://flii.by/file/rz4xrl95rps/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://flii.by/file/rz4xrl95rps/</a>

Of the preserved frescoes, the most famous is the one on which the despot Stefan holds a charter in one hand, and in the second model of the monastery.Great scenes are the scenes of the holy Serbian warriors, as well as scenes from the life of Lord Christ.

<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="http://www.radio-gold.rs/manastir-manasija/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">http://www.radio-gold.rs/manastir-manasija/</a>

The best preserved building of the original monastery complex is the monastery’s dining room.After the church, the dining room were the most important and most monumental building in the monastery, so it is especially interesting to visit the room where the monks stored food more than 600 years ago. The dining room is also the largest medieval dining room in Serbia.During the reconstruction of the monastery church in Manasija in the beginning of the 21st century, mortal remains were discovered. DNA proved that it was despot Stefan, son of Prince Lazar.

<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="http://palankadanas.com/%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81-%D1%81%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%82-%D1%81%D1%80%D0%BF/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">http://palankadanas.com/%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81-%D1%81%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%82-%D1%81%D1%80%D0%BF/</a>

The Resava district is a paradise for lovers of culture, art, history, and exceptional natural beauty.For more than 600 years, the monastery has been demolished and devastated many times. The extensive restoration was done in 1956, and the renovation continues today. Manasija is owned by the Republic of Serbia and proclaimed a cultural monument of exceptional importance.