 Krušedol Monastery | |
 Interactive map of Krušedol Monastery Манастир Крушедол | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Serbian Orthodox |
| Established | 1509-1514 |
| Dedicated to | Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| People | |
| Founders | MetropolitanMaksim Branković andSaint Angelina of Serbia |
| Site | |
| Location | Krušedol Prnjavor,Vojvodina.Serbia |
| Coordinates | 45°07′09″N19°56′24″E / 45.11917°N 19.94000°E /45.11917; 19.94000 |
TheKrušedol Monastery (Serbian Cyrillic:Манастир Крушедол,romanized: Manastir Krušedol,pronounced[kruʃɛ̌dɔl]) is aSerbian Orthodoxmonastery on theFruška Gora mountain in theSyrmia region, northernSerbia, in the province ofVojvodina. The monastery is the legacy of the lastSerbiandespot family of Syrmia -Branković. Dedicated to theAnnunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, it has been described as the "spiritual beacon" of Fruška Gora and "SecondStudenica".[1]
It was founded between 1509 and 1514 by SaintMaksim Branković, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Srem, and his motherSaint Angelina of Serbia. Original idea to be turned into the mausoleum of the Branković family.[1] Initially, the monastery enjoyed the financial support ofNeagoe Basarab (who was married to Serbian princessMilica Despina of Wallachia), and Grand PrinceVasili III of Russia. In 1708, it became the seat of theMetropolitanate of Krušedol.
In 1670, it had the largest brotherhood of all monasteries on Fruška Gora: 90 monks and 12 elders. In 1690, during theGreat Serbian Migration, the monks fled the monastery and moved toSzentendre taking valuables, relics and artifacts with them. They returned to Krušedol in 1697. When theOttomans were retreating in front ofPrince Eugene of Savoy during theAustro-Turkish War of 1716-1718, they ransacked the monastery and burned it, but it was rebuilt later.[1]
DuringWorld War II, the monastery wasn't burned, but was looted and damaged, nevertheless.[1]
The church was originally built in theMorava architectural school style. However, after the 18th century reconstruction, seven church windows were reworked in theBaroque style. Above one of the windows on the east side, there is asundial. It tells time from 6:00 to 17:00.[1]
The monastery has its own flower garden, loans and a park. It is gated, and the entry park gate is made in the shape of the church.[1]
Today's icons and paintings have been symbolically adapted from the original, Medieval period, to the Baroque era.[1] The iconostasis contains icons from different periods, from the 16th century to the 19th century. The original frescoes of the interior were painted in 1545, but they were overpainted in oil technique between 1745 and 1757. The 18th-century paintings are the works byJov Vasiljevich andStefan Tenecki.
The rich monastery vault has been looted several times. Part of the artifacts was returned later. The valuable either belongs originally to the Branković family, or to the other Serbian noble families. There is also a voluminous library. Old church books were brought by thehegumen Amfilohije fromRussia in 1651. In 1662, the "Service andakathist to the Saints" was written in Krušedol, so as a richannals.[1]
The whole Branković family, as well as twopatriarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, are buried in Krušedol. The Patriarchs buried in the monastery areArsenije III Čarnojević andArsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta. Graves of other historical figures include PrincessLjubica Obrenović, the wife of the Serbian PrinceMiloš Obrenović, Serbian kingMilan Obrenović, countĐorđe Branković (no connection to the Branković family),voivodeStevan Šupljikac, metropolitans and bishopsIsaija Đaković,Vikentije Popović-Hadžilavić and Nikanor Melentijević.[1]
It has been described that "what Studenica was for theMedieval Serbia, Krušedol Monastery was for the Serbs inPodunavlje". Many artifacts from the monastery vault are today kept in the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church.[1]
Because of the large library, many scholars used to visit and stay in the monastery, including the poetLaza Kostić. AuthorDejan Medaković wrote about Krušedol, especially of the paintings.[1]
Krušedol Monastery was declared aMonument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990 and it is protected by theSerbian state. It is shown on the 5Dinar coin.
The monastery is a recipient of theOrder of St. Sava 1st grade and held a status of Imperiallavra.[1]
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