Resava Monastery - the most important information
The Resava Monastery is one of the most important monuments of Serbian medieval culture. Its other name is Manasija Monastery. It is the most important building that belongs to the Moravian school (Moravian style in Serbian architecture during the Middle Ages). This Orthodox monastery is located near Despotovac, on the territory of the Pomoravski district. It represents the endowment of the despot Stefan Lazarević, the son of Prince Lazar. Find out more about the Resava Monastery and its significance below!
Appearance and significance of the monastery
The Resava Monastery began to be built in 1407. The construction of this Orthodox church took more than a decade. The entire monastery complex is surrounded by large walls, which served to defend against numerous enemies at the time. This fortified whole consisted of 11 towers, among which the Donjon tower, better known as the Despot's tower, stood out. The frescoes of the Resava monastery are among the greatest achievements of medieval painting, although only a third of the frescoes have been preserved. Immediately after its founding, this monastery became the cultural center of the despotate. His famous Resava school was a transcription workshop - a source of written works and translations throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. The books that were copied here were highly appreciated.
Characteristics of the monastery church
The church of the Resava monastery is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It is one of the most important architectural monuments of the Moravian style in Serbia. The character of the facade decorations separates this building from other churches of that time. So, this church consists of 2 separate parts: the nave on the east and the narthex on the west. The dome rises in the middle of the nave, while the walls on the outside are precisely walled with carved sandstone blocks. The narthex got its present appearance after the renovation in the 18th and 19th centuries.
How to get to the monastery Resava?
- Belgrade is about 140 km away from this monastery, so if you start from the Serbian capital by car, you will travel to it by an hour and 45 minutes (via A1 / E75).
- From the center of Jagodina you can reach the monastery in half an hour (via Route 185). We recommend the following taxi carriers: Lav taxi (035 232-356), Taxi Boom (035 820-32-03) and Đole taxi (035 225-205).