Devič

Devič Monastery
Monastery information
Devič Monastery reconstruction after it was burned down in 2004
Full name	Манастир Девич
Order	Serbian Orthodox
Established	1434
Dedicated to	St. Joanikije of Devič
Diocese	Eparchy of Raška and Prizren
People
Founder(s)	Despot Đurađ Branković
Important associated figures	Đurađ Branković Patriarch Makarije Euphemia the Nun
Site
Location	Srbica, Drenica, Kosovo^[a]
Public access	Limited

Devič (Serbian Cyrillic: Девич) is a Serbian Orthodox abbey in Kosovo^[a]. It was built in 1434 and is dedicated to St Joanikije of Devič. Devič was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it is protected by the Republic of Serbia.

YouTube Encyclopedic

1/5
Views:
3 802
7 790
5 100
7 261
3 069

History

The founder of the monastery is thought to be Despot Đurađ Branković, who had it built in memory of his daughter. In the Ottoman census from 1455, the monastery is mentioned as the church of the Theotokos (dedicated to The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple). During Turkish occupation the monastery was pulled down, but the church and the site with the grave of St. Joanikije was reconstructed, and was painted in 1578.

Serbs leaving monastery after 2004 unrest

The monastery was destroyed and burnt down during World War II in 1941 by forces of the Albanian Fascist Party, the prior Damaskin Bošković was killed, and Italian troops disassembled the two big bells and took them away in 1942. It was rebuilt in 1947.

Devič was a target of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in 1999. The monastery was vandalized and all food and two cars were stolen. The marble tomb of the patron saint St. Joannicius of Devič was desecrated by local Albanian extremists in June 1999. Since then it has been under the constant protection of French KFOR troops.^[1]^[2]

It was the target of new attacks by Albanians in the most serious unrest in Kosovo on 18 March 2004 when the nuns were evacuated for safety reasons by Danish KFOR troops. Following that the monastery was pillaged and torched. The Serbian Orthodox Church received confirmation of the monastery's plight the following day from the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Gallery

Burned and desecrated interior of the Devič. Note UÇK graffiti in the church apse.
Burned monastery lodgings covered in snow
Burned monastery lodgings covered in snow

Notes

^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has been recognized as an independent state by 112 out of 193 United Nations member states. 10 states have recognized Kosovo only to later withdraw their recognition.

References

^ "CNN - KLA rebels accused of vandalizing Serb monastery - June 17, 1999". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
^ "DESTRUCTION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA SINCE ARRIVAL OF NATO" (PDF). Sv-luka.org. Retrieved 2016-11-11.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Devič.

External links

Video of the burned, destroyed and desecrated Devič monastery complex
"Манастир Девич у близини Србице". Споменици културе у Србији.
Official page on Devic Monastery
WashPost: Serbian Nun Stands Her Ground Against Albanians 5-25-1999
Photo story on destruction of Devič, ERP KIM, March 2004

v t e Cultural Heritage of Exceptional Importance
Archaeological Sites	Vinča-Belo Brdo Viminacium Gamzigrad Justiniana Prima Mediana Trajan's Bridge Diana Fortress Kraku Lu Jordan Rudna Glava Velika humka Židovar Starčevo site Bassianae Gomolava Sirmium Titel plateau Čelarevo site Ulpiana
Cultural Monuments	St. Achillius Church Mramorje Belgrade Fortress Princess Ljubica's Residence Dositej's Lyceum Captain Miša's Mansion Belgrade Cathedral Museum of 4 July Illegal Partisan Printing Houses Prince Miloš's Residence Prohor Pčinjski Pokajnica Golubac Fortress Takovo Museum Manasija Tabula Traiana and Trajan's Bridge Old Parliament and Court House of Svetozar Marković Sobrašice Žiča Studenica monastery Maglič Stolice Lazarica with Kruševac Fortress St. Nicholas Monastery Holy Mother of God Church, Kuršumlija Lazarevac Memorial Ossuary Cer Memorial Ossuary Vuk Karadžić's birth house Ljubovija Memorial Ossuary Lepenski Vir Stefan Lazarević Memorial Hajduk Veljko's Powder Magazine Early Byzantine Tomb with Frescoes Skull Tower Niš concentration camp Đurđevi stupovi St. Peter's Church, Ras Sopoćani Stari Ras Old House, Pirot Banja Monastery Mileševa Partisan Hospital, Prijepolje Gornja Dobrinja Gradac monastery Kalenić monastery Smederevo fortress Museum of 1941 Upraising Partisan printing house "Borba" Headquarters of the Main People's Liberation Comity of Serbia Plant nursery, Užice Kadinjača Stari Han Karađorđe's Topola with Oplenac Ljubostinja Ravanica House of Dimitrije Tucović Wine cellar, Atenica Memorial chapel with the crypt, Prnjavor Wooden Church, Dub Sirogojno Old Village Partisan Hospital, Krčagovo Monument to the Unknown Hero Memorial Rooms in Prohor Pčinjski Bođani monastery Franciscan Church, Bač Dunđerski Palace Neštin House Bački Petrovac House Beočin monastery Rakovac monastery Šlajz Bishop's palace, Vršac Mesić monastery Vojinović Bridge Medieval palace of Vučitrn Monastery of Saint Barbara Wooden house of Lođani Hadum mosque Serbian Orthodox Church in Čurug Church of St. Nicholas, Stari Slankamen Velika Remeta monastery Vrdnik-Ravanica Grgeteg monastery Jazak monastery Krušedol monastery Mala Remeta monastery Novo Hopovo monastery Staro Hopovo monastery Presentation of Jesus Church, Krušedol Selo Gorioč monastery Bogorodica Hvostanska Church of St. John, Crkolez Church of St. Nicholas, Đurakovac Church of St. Nicholas, Kikinda Suvača Serbian Orthodox Church in Mokrin Churches in White Drin valley Romanian Orthodox Church in Uzdin Holy Thetokos Church, Vaganeš Ubožac Monastery Presentation of Mary Church, Lipljan Arača Almaška Church Dormition Church, Novi Sad Novo Brdo Fortress Church of St. Nicholas and St. John, Velika Hoča Vojlovica monastery Transfiguration Church, Pančevo Transfiguration Church, Budisavci Bajrakli Mosque Church of St. Jeremiah, Goraždevac Warehouses of Karlovčić Church of St. Luke, Kupinovo Ogar House Orthodox Church in Sibač Kaljaja Fortress Monastery and Hermitage of St. Peter of Koriša Church of the Holy Saviour, Prizren Church of St. Nicholas, Prizren Churches of Sredačka Župa Sinan Pasha Mosque Hammam of Prizren Imperial Mosque Church of St. John, Sombor Devič Divša monastery Kuveždin monastery Petkovica monastery Šišatovac monastery Old Church of St. Stephen, Šišatovac Patriarchate of Karlovci Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, Sremski Karlovci Warehouses of Golubinci Subotica Synagogue Subotica City Hall Svrčin Church of the Virgin Hodegetria, Mušutište St. George Church, Rečani Roman Catholic Church in Čoka Orthodox Church in Vilovo Zvečan Fortress The Protection of the Mother of God Church in Boljetin Monuments of Nerodimlje Churches of Sirinićka Župa Privina Glava monastery Orthodox Church in Molovin Monastery of the Holy Archangels Gračanica monastery Visoki Dečani Bogorodica Ljeviška Patriarchate of Peć Banjska monastery Terzijski Bridge Miloš Obrenović's House
Historic Landmarks	Marićevića jaruga Radovanje Grove Bela Crkva Šumarice Memorial Park Bubanj Memorial Park Čegar Ljubić Memorial Complex Kraljevo Memorial Park Memorial Complex "Boško Buha" in Jabuka Site of the Battle of Slankamen Idvor Memorial Complex Site of the Battle of Petrovaradin Site of the Battle of Senta Chapel of Peace Site of the breaking of Syrmian Front Takovski grm
Spatial Cultural-Historical Units	Knez Mihailova Street Tešnjar Stara Čaršija, Novi Pazar Negotin Wine Cellars Topčider Stari Ras with Sopoćani Gazimestan Bač Fortress Sremski Karlovci Fruška Gora Dositej's Lyceum area

Serbian Orthodox Church

v t e Serbian Orthodox Church overview topics
Overview topics	Patriarchs (current) Holy Synod Serbian saints Serbian Orthodox monasteries (list)
See also	Đurđevdan Vidovdan

v t e Subdivisions of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Metropolitanates	Belgrade and Karlovci Dabar-Bosna 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 Temišvar Timok Valjevo Vranje Zahumlje and Herzegovina Žiča Zvornik and Tuzla
Diaspora dioceses	Austria and Switzerland Britain and Scandinavia Buenos Aires and South America Canada Frankfurt and all of Germany Eastern America New Gračanica and 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
Historical	Belgrade Metropolitanate Karlovci Metropolitanate Karlovci Patriarchate Hvosno Lipljan Toplica Banjska Marča Samokov Kyustendil Arad (1695-1865) Kostajnica (1713-1771) Šabac and Valjevo (1831-2006) Kotor and Dubrovnik (1870-1931) Zahumlje and Raška (1878-1931) Ohrid (1920-1931) Bitola (1920-1931) Ohrid and Bitola (1931-1967) Zletovo and Strumica (1920-1967) Mukačevo and Prešov (1931-1945) (For others see: History of Serbian Orthodox Church)

Spiritual leaders of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Archbishops

1219–1346	Sava (St.) Arsenije Sremac (St.) Sava II (St.) Danilo I (St.) Joanikije I (St.) Jevstatije I (St.) Jakov (St.) Jevstatije II (St.) Sava III (St.) Nikodim I (St.) Danilo II (St.) Joanikije II (St.)

Patriarchs (since 1346)

1346–1463	Joanikije II (St.) Sava IV Jefrem (St.) Spiridon (St.) Danilo III Sava V Danilo IV Kirilo I (St.) Nikon I (St.) Teofan I Nikodim II Arsenije II
1557–1766	Makarije Sokolović (St.) Antonije Sokolović Gerasim Sokolović Savatije Sokolović Nikanor Jerotej Filip Sokolović Jovan Pajsije I Gavrilo I (St.) Maksim I Arsenije III Kalinik I Atanasije I Mojsije I Arsenije IV Joanikije III Atanasije II Gavrilo II Gavrilo III Vikentije I Pajsije II Gavrilo IV Kirilo II Vasilije I Kalinik II
since 1920	Dimitrije Varnava Gavrilo Vikentije German Pavle Irinej

Heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Habsburg Monarchy (1690–1920)

Metropolitans of Karlovci 1690–1848	Arsenije III Čarnojević Isaija Đaković Sofronije Podgoričanin Vikentije Popović of Belgrade and Karlovci: 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
Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Karlovci 1848–1920	Josif Rajačić Samuilo Maširević Prokopije Ivačković German Anđelić Georgije Branković Lukijan Bogdanović

Metropolitans of Belgrade

1831–1920	Melentije Pavlović Petar Jovanović Mihailo Jovanović Teodosije Mraović Inokentije Pavlović Dimitrije Pavlović

Metropolitans of Montenegro

1766–1920	Sava Petrović Arsenije Plamenac Petar I Petar II Danilo II Nikanor Ivanović Ilarion Roganović Visarion Ljubiša Mitrofan Ban

v t e Serbian Orthodox monasteries
Serbia	Banjska* Bavanište Bođani Devič* Gračanica* Holy Archangels* Banja Beočin Bukovo Ćelije Crna Reka Đurđevi stupovi Fenek Gorioč* Gornjak Gradac Hajdučica Kalenić Kastaljan Koporin Kovilj Kovilje Ljubostinja Manasija Mesić Mileševa Nimnik Poganovo Pokajnica Pridvorica Prohor Pčinjski Pustinja Rača Rajinovac Ravanica Rukumija St. Nicholas Sopoćani Studenica Suvodol Tronoša Tuman Vitovnica Bešenovo Divša Grgeteg Jazak Krušedol Kuveždin Mala Remeta Novo Hopovo Nova Pavlica Petkovica Patriarchate of Peć* Privina Glava Rakovac Staro Hopovo Stara Pavlica Šišatovac Velika Remeta Vrdnik-Ravanica Holy Trinity St. Melanija Sombor Središte Vojlovica Visoki Dečani* Zemun Žiča Zočište*
Montenegro	Bijela Beška Cetinje Ćelije Dajbabe Dobrilovina Donji Donji Brčeli Dovolja Dubočica Duljevo Đurđevi Stupovi Gradište Kaludra Kom Kosijerevo Majstorovina Miholjska Prevlaka Morača Moračnik Nikoljac Orahovo Ostrog Piva Podmaine Podmalinsko Podostrog Podvrh Praskvica Reževići Savina Stanjevići Starčeva Gorica St. Nicholas, Obod Vranjina
Bosnia & Herzegovina	Bišnja Detlak Dobrićevo Dobrun Donja Bišnja Dragaljevac Dubokovac Duga Njiva Duži Glogovac Gomionica Hercegovačka Gračanica Ilinka Karno Klisina Knežina Krupa Liplje Lomnica Moštanica Ozerkovići Ozren Papraća Petropavlov Pjenovac Rmanj Rožanj Sase Sokolica Stuplje St. Nicholas St. Basil of Ostrog Tavna Treskavac Tvrdoš Veselinje Vozuća Zavala Žitomislić
Croatia	Dragović Gomirje Komogovina Krka Krupa Lazarica Lepavina Oćestovo Orahovica Sv. Nedjelje Sv. Petke St. Basil of Ostrog
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