DEVIČ MONASTERY

This 15th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery (Manastiri i Deviçit, Манастир Девич/Manastir Devič) is located in the forested Devič Valley, away from the village of Llausha/Lauša (population 2,700, 99% Albanian). Dedicated to the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple, it houses frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries, but has suffered significant damage since 1915. Its history dates back to the late 10th century: a first monastery is said to have been founded here by the Bulgarian hermit and saint Joanikije Devič, a disciple of the monk and patron saint of Bulgaria John of Rila (876-946). Saint Joanikije Devič was buried on the spot and his relics became the object of great devotion. Almost five centuries later, the Serbian prince and vassal of the Ottomans Đurađ Branković (1377-1456) had a new monastery erected here around 1432. He attributed the miraculous healing of his daughter Mara Branković (1416-1487), who was afflicted with "madness" and was later married to Sultan Murad II, to the relics of St. Joanikije Devič. From then on, the monastery enjoyed the protection of the Ottomans and became an important religious center, constantly expanded until the 19th century. After the departure of the Ottomans, the complex was burned five times by Albanian nationalists and looters, the last time during the anti-Serbian riots of March 2004.

Visit. Now almost completely renovated and protected by the Kosovar police, the monastery houses a small community of nuns. They welcome foreign visitors only if they are accompanied by persons they trust. The North City Hotel in Mitrovica can organize the visit. The complex stretches for 100 meters in length at the bottom of the Devič valley. It consists of buildings from different periods, including the original 15th century church. It includes a catholicon (main church) dedicated to the Entrance of the Mother and two parecclesions (side chapels), which are dedicated to St. George and St. Joanikije Devič. This ensemble was decorated by an anonymous painter in the 15th century and by the Serbian grandmaster Longin in 1578. The catholicon still has some 15th-century frescoes, including portraits of St. Joanikije Devič and St. Acace (or Akakios of Melitene, a^5th-century Armenian bishop) and two scenes from a cycle of Christ's miracles, the Wedding at Cana and the Healing of the Paralytic. Some of Longin's frescoes also survive, including a beautiful scene of the Ascension of Christ placed above the tomb of St. Joanikije Devič.