Sopoćani

Coordinates: 43°7′5″N 20°22′26″E / 43.11806°N 20.37389°E / 43.11806; 20.37389

The Sopoćani monastery (Serbian Cyrillic: Сопоћани) (pronounced [sǒpotɕani]), an endowment of King Stefan Uroš I of Serbia, was built in the second half of the 13th century, near the source of the Raška River in the region of Ras, the centre of the Serbian medieval state. It is a designated World Heritage Site, added in 1979 with Stari Ras.

History

The church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and completed around 1265, with interior decorated shortly thereafter. Archbishop Sava II, who became the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1263, is represented in the procession of archbishops in the area of the altar. The frescoes of Sopoćani are considered by some experts on Serbian medieval art as the most beautiful of that period. On the western wall of the nave is a famous fresco of the Dormition of the Virgin. In the 16th century the monks had to temporarily leave the monastery on several occasions due to the Ottoman threat. Finally, during one of the raids in 1689 the Ottoman Turks set fire to the monastery and carried off the lead from the church roof. The brotherhood escaped with some important relics to Kosovo - but did not return to Sopoćani; it remained deserted for over two hundred years, until the 20th century. The church slowly decayed: its vaults caved in, its dome fell down, and the remains of the surrounding buildings were covered with rubble and earth.

Finally, during the 20th century the monastery was restored and today it is settled by a thriving brotherhood of dedicated monks. The fact that most of the Sopoćani frescoes still shine with radiant beauty - surviving more than two centuries of extreme exposure to the elements - many consider nothing less than a divine miracle.

Sopoćani was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia.

Fresco from Sopoćani

Burials

• Stefan Uroš I of Serbia
• Anna Dandolo
• Joanikije I

See also

• Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
• Tourism in Serbia
• Nemanjić dynasty
• Spatial Cultural-Historical Units of Great Importance

References

• Sopoćani, Vojislav Đurić, Prosveta, Beograd, 1991.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sopoćani.

• Official website
• BLAGO Fund: Sopoćani
• Aerial video of the Sopoćani

World Heritage Sites of Serbia Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius Stari Ras Đurđevi stupovi Peter's Church Sopoćani Studenica Monastery Medieval Monuments in Kosovo Visoki Dečani Patriarchate of Peć Our Lady of Ljeviš Gračanica Monastery

Cultural Heritage of Serbia Archaeological sites Exceptional Importance Great Importance Protected Monuments of Culture Exceptional Importance Great Importance Protected Historic Landmarks Exceptional Importance Great Importance Protected Spatial Cultural-Historical Units Exceptional Importance Great Importance Protected

National symbols of Serbia Constitutional Coat of arms (see also List) Flag (see also List) Anthem (see also List) National colours Cultural icons State decoration Regalia Heraldry Serbian eagle Serbian cross Cuisine Ćevapčići Gibanica Pljeskavica Šljivovica Monuments UNESCO Studenica Stari Ras and Sopoćani Gamzigrad Medieval Monuments in Kosovo Visoki Dečani Patriarchate of Peć Our Lady of Ljeviš Gračanica Other Church of Saint Sava Belgrade Fortress Smederevo Fortress Manasija Šargan Eight Golubac Fortress People Patron Saint Sveti Sava Depicted on Serbian dinar Vuk Karadžić (Linguist) Petar II Njegoš (Poet) Stevan Mokranjac (Composer) Nikola Tesla (Inventor) Nadežda Petrović (Painter) Jovan Cvijić (Geographer) Đorđe Vajfert (Industrialist) Milutin Milanković (Geophysicist) Slobodan Jovanović (Jurist) Fauna and flora Wolf Eagle Plum Oak Serbian Spruce Names and codes Names of Serbia .rs .срб Unofficial Serbian folk heroes Serbian epic poetry Three-fingers salute Mottos (Only Unity Saves the Serbs) National costume Šajkača Opanak Musical instruments Gusle Gaida Frula Mother Serbia Category

Serbian Orthodox Church Serbian Orthodox Church overview topics Overview topics Patriarchs (current) Holy Synod Serbian saints Serbian Orthodox monasteries (list) See also Đurđevdan Vidovdan Subdivisions of the Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitanates Belgrade and Karlovci Dabar and Bosnia Montenegro and the Littoral Zagreb and Ljubljana Australia and New Zealand Traditional dioceses Bačka Banat Banja Luka Bihać and Petrovac Braničevo Buda Budimlja and Nikšić Dalmatia Upper Karlovac Kruševac Mileševa Niš Osječko polje and Baranja Raška and Prizren Šabac Slavonia Srem Šumadija Timișoara Timok Valjevo Vranje Zahumlje and Herzegovina Žiča Zvornik and Tuzla Diaspora dioceses Austria and Switzerland Britain and Scandinavia Buenos Aires Canada Central Europe Eastern America New Gracanica - Midwestern America Western America Western Europe Ohrid Archbishopric Metropolitanate of Skopje Eparchy of Prespa and Pelagonija Bregalnica Debar and Kičevo Polog and Kumanovo Veles and Povardarie Strumica Defunct Cetinje Belgrade Metropolitanate Hum Trebinje Lim Metropolitanate Onogošt-East Herzegovina Budimlja Užice Marča Spiritual leaders of the Serbian Orthodox Church   Archbishops (1219–1337) St. Sava St. Arsenije I Sremac St. Sava II Danilo I Joanikije I St. Jevstatije I St. Jakov St. Jevstatije II St. Sava III St. Nikodim I St. Danilo II   Patriarchs (since 1346) 1346–1463 St. Joanikije II Sava IV St. Jefrem St. Spiridon Danilo III, Patriarch of Serbia Sava V Danilo IV St. Kirilo St. Nikon Teofan Nikodim II Arsenije II 1557–1766 Makarije Sokolović (St.) Antonije Sokolović Gerasim Sokolović Savatije Sokolović Nikanor Jerotej Filip Sokolović Jovan Kantul Pajsije Janjevac Gavrilo I Rajić (St.) Maksim Skopljanac Arsenije III Čarnojević Kalinik I Skopljanac Atanasije I Mojsije Rajović Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta Joanikije III Karadža-Grk Atanasije II Gavrilović Gavrilo II Sarajevac Gavrilo III Vikentije Stefanović Pajsije II Grk Gavrilo IV Grk Kirilo II Vasilije Jovanović-Brkić Kalinik II Grk since 1920 Dimitrije Varnava Gavrilo Vikentije German Pavle Irinej   Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Karlovci (1690–1920) Arsenije III Čarnojević Isaija Đaković Sofronije Podgoričanin Vikentije Popović Mojsije Petrović Vićentije Jovanović Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta Isaija Antonović Pavle Nenadović Jovan Đorđević Vićentije Jovanović Vidak Mojisije Putnik Stefan Stratimirović Stefan Stanković Josif Rajačić Samuilo Maširević Prokopije Ivačković German Anđelić Georgije Branković Lukijan Bogdanović   Metropolitans of Belgrade (1801–1920) Leontije Lambrović Agatanel Antim Melentije Pavlović Petar Jovanović Mihailo Jovanović Teodosije Mraović Inokentije Pavlović Dimitrije Pavlović   Metropolitans of Zeta/Cetinje/Montenegro (1484–1920) Visarion Vavila Roman German Vasilije Makarije Dionisije Romil Pahomije Đerasim Venijamin Nikanor and Stevan Rufim Njeguš Mardarije Kornečanin Rufim Boljević Vasilije Veljekrajski Visarion Borilović-Bajica Sava Očinić Danilo I Sava Petrović Vasilije Petrović Arsenije Plamenac Petar I Petar II Danilo II Nikanor Ivanović Ilarion Roganović Visarion Ljubiša Mitrofan Ban   Zahumlje and Herzegovina (1508–1854) Jovan Visarion Maksim Marko Nikanor Antonije Savatije Sokolović Visarion Silvestar Leontije Basil of Ostrog Savatije Ljubibratić Antim Ananije Jerimija Josif I Prokopije I Aksentije III Josif II Eparchy Serbian Orthodox monasteries Serbia Banjska* Devič* Gračanica* Peć* Holy Archangels* Visoki Dečani* Zočište* Banja Bukovo Ćelije Crna Reka Đurđevi stupovi Gornjak Gradac Kalenić Kastaljan Koporin Ljubostinja Manasija Mileševa Nimnik Pokajnica Prohor Pčinjski Pustinja Rača Rajinovac Ravanica Rukumija St. Nicholas Sopoćani Studenica Suvodol Tronoša Tuman Vitovnica Zemun Žiča Beočin Bešenovo Divša Grgeteg Jazak Krušedol Kuveždin Mala Remeta Novo Hopovo Privina Glava Petkovica Rakovac Staro Hopovo Šišatovac Velika Remeta Vrdnik-Ravanica Bavanište Bođani Fenek Hajdučica Kovilj Mesić Holy Trinity St. Melanija Sombor Središte Vojlovica Montenegro Bijela Beška Cetinje Dajbabe Dobrilovina Donje Brčele Duljevo Đurđevi Stupovi Gradište Kom Kosijerevo Miholjska Prevlaka Morača Moračnik Ostrog Piva Podmaine Podmalinsko Praskvica Reževići Savina Stanjevići Starčeva Gorica St. Nicholas, Obod Vranjina Bosnia & Herzegovina Bišnja Dobrićevo Dobrun Duži Glogovac Gomionica Hercegovačka Gračanica Klisina Knežina Krupa Liplje Lomnica Lovnica Moštanica Ozren Papraća Petropavlov Rmanj Sase Stuplje Svetog Arhangela Gavrila St. Nicholas Sv. Vasilija Ostroškog Tavna Tvrdoš Uspenja Bogorodičinog Veselinje Vozuća Zavala Žitomislić Croatia Dragović Gomirje Komogovina Krka Krupa Lepavina Sv. Lazarica Orahovica Sv. Nedjelje Sv. Petke Sv. Vasilija Ostroškog Others Hilandar (Mount Athos) New Gračanica Monastery (USA) Notes * indicate monasteries in Kosovo, which is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo. List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries Serbian Orthodox churches Serbia Church of Saint Sava St. Michael's Cathedral St. George, Banovo Brdo Ružica St. Mark's Church St. Basil of Ostrog St. Achillius, Arilje Peter's Church, Ras Cave Church, Lukovo Štava Church Odžaklija Kađenica Lazarica Church Church of St. George, Lukovo Church of Holy Ascension, Krupanj Saint George's Cathedral (Novi Sad) the Assumption, Zrenjanin Our Lady of Ljeviš* Church of the Virgin Hodegetria* Church of St. Elijah, Podujevo* Church of St. Nicholas, Prizren* Mala Gospojina Church* Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Pristina* Montenegro Cathedral of Podgorica Vlah Church Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Sarajevo Old Orthodox Church in Sarajevo Church of the Holy Transfiguration, Sarajevo Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Banja Luka Church of St. George, Sopotnica Old Church of St. Nicholas, Javorani Croatia Church of the Holy Venerable Mother Parascheva Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Trpinja Church of St. Nicholas, Vukovar Church of Pentecost, Vinkovci Church of St. George, Kneževo Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Negoslavci Church of Pentecost, Markušica Church of St. George, Bobota Church of St. Stephen, Borovo Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, Srijemske Laze Church of St. Peter and Paul, Bolman Church of St. Stefan Štiljanović, Karanac Church of St. Nicholas, Mirkovci Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Gaboš Church of St. Nicholas, Jagodnjak Church of St. Demetrius, Dalj Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Zagreb Church of St. George, Grubišno Polje Church of St. Nicholas, Karlovac Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, Drežnica Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Štikada Church of St. George, Varaždin Church of the Holy Annunciation, Dubrovnik Orthodox Church in Knin Church of St. Peter and Paul, Tepljuh St. Spyridon Church, Peroj Church of St. Nicholas, Rijeka Church of St. Nicholas, Vrlika Orthodox church of Holy Salvation, Cetina United States Sts. Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church, USA Trinity Chapel Complex, USA Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Jackson, California), USA Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Merrillville, Indiana), USA St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), USA Other countries St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church (Toronto), Canada Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, Slovenia Serbian Church in Arad, Romania St. Sava Church, Paris, France Church of the Holy Prince Lazar, United Kingdom Serbian Orthodox Church, Halifax, United Kingdom St. Nicholas, West Wycombe, United Kingdom Saint Spyridon Church, Trieste, Italy Annunciation Church, Szentendre, Hungary Transfiguration Church, Szentendre, Hungary Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Stockholm, Sweden Notes * indicate churches in Kosovo, which is the subject of a territorial dispute between Serbia and Kosovo. Serbian saints St. Angelina St. Basil of Ostrog St. Danilo II St. Helen of Anjou St. Jovan Vladimir St. Prince Lazar / St. Princess Milica St. Makarije Sokolović St. Nikodim I St. Nikolaj Velimirović St. Peter of Cetinje St. Sava St. Sava II St. Simeon the Monk St. Simeon the Myrrh-flowing St. Stefan Lazarević St. Stefan Štiljanović St. Stefan Uroš St. Stefan of Dečani St. Stefan the Blind St. Stefan of Piperi Teodor Komogovinski St. Vladislav St. Vukašin