Crkva Uspenja Presvete Bogorodice

Crkva Uspenja Presvete Bogorodice - the most important information

At 15 km from Sokobanja, in Banja Josanica, there is one of the oldest religious buildings in the Sokobanja valley. It is the church dedicated to the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God. Next to this church, there is also another one, Crkva Svetog Dimitrija, and the museum Zavicajni Muzej, which make this entire complex a valuable treasure of Josanica.

Church history
Crkva Uspenja was probably built in the 11th century and has been nurtured and maintained since then. It is built of stone, with narrow windows, and without a dome, so it has a very specific look, reminiscent of church Petrova Crkva in Novi Pazar - the oldest church in Serbia. Due to the specific appearance of the old building, this temple is visited by many, especially on the day of the church's Slava - August 28.

The significance of the church complex
As the church Crkva Uspenja is part of a larger complex of cultural and historical significance, it represents a unique hub in which the heritage of this entire region has been preserved. The role of this old church is partially taken over by the new church dedicated to St. Demetrius. In addition to these places of worship, the museum Zavicajni Muzej completes the church complex with historical archives, which gives this spiritual center even greater tourist potential.

What to see
The church Crkva Uspenja itself has an interesting appearance on the outside, and on the inside, it is characterized by striking details. Pay attention to:

Frescoes by unknown authors - paintings show a cycle of "Great Holidays" and "Sufferings".
Iconostasis - which is very specifically made and has an unusual depiction of Jesus as a child, adult, and old man.

Apart from these sacral and cultural monuments, Josanica is known for its healing water and air, so here you can refresh yourself at thermo-mineral springs.

When visiting the church Crkva Uspenja, you will be able to visit this entire churchyard complex where you will hear and see many interesting things:

Crkva Svetog Dimitrija (Church of St. Demetrius) - is located next to the old church and represents the newer religious building of Josanica dedicated to St. Demetrius.
Zavicajni Muzej (Homeland Museum) - is located in the church residence from the 19th century and is under state protection. Here you can see various exhibits from the field of history and ethnology of this area.

The church complex in Josanica is truly rich in every sense of the word, so here you can learn a lot about Serbian history, find peace in a place of worship or just enjoy the ambiance.

How to get to the church complex
The churchyard is located near the entrance to Josanica, across from the Josanica cemetery. You can reach it:

By car: on the road Sokobanja - Knjazevac there is a turning point for Banja Josanica. This road passes by the church complex, which is located on the right side of the main street.

Additional information