Devič (Serbian Cyrillic : Девич ) is a Serbian Orthodox abbey in Kosovo[a]
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
See also
Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
Tourism in Kosovo
List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries
Notes
References
Further reading
External links
Archaeological Sites 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 Residence of Prince Miloš 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 Monastery Partisan Hospital, Prijepolje Gornja Dobrinja Gradac Monastery Kalenić Monastery Smederevo Fortress Museum of 1941 Uprising 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 Our Lady of Hvosno 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 St. George Cathedral Name of Mary Church Novi Sad Synagogue Petrovaradin Fortress Matica srpska Gymnasium Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Kovilj Monastery 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 Karlovci Gymnasium 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 Our Lady of Ljeviš Patriarchate of Peć Banjska Monastery Terzijski Bridge Miloš Obrenović's House Tronoša Monastery Šterić villa Memorial fountain dedicated to king Alexander Karađorđević House of Press building The Calvinist Church in Debeljača
Petronijević family house Historic Landmarks Spatial Cultural-Historical Units
Patriarchs (since 1346)
1346–1463 1557–1766 since 1920
Heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Habsburg Monarchy (1690–1920)
Serbia
Church of Saint Sava St. Michael's Cathedral St. George, Banovo Brdo Ružica St. Mark's Church, Belgrade St. Basil of Ostrog Church of the Ascension, Belgrade St. Achillius, Arilje Peter's Church, Ras St. Mark's Church, Užice 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 *Cathedral of Saint George, Prizren Church of the Virgin Hodegetria *Church of St. Elijah, Podujevo *Church of St. Nicholas, Prizren *Mala Gospojina Church *Church of Christ the Saviour, Pristina *Rakovica Monastery
Montenegro Bosnia and
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 Dormition of the Theotokos, Negoslavci Church of Pentecost, Markušica Church of St. George, Bobota Church of St. Stephen, Borovo Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, 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 Theotokos, Gaboš Church of St. Nicholas, Jagodnjak Church of St. Demetrius, Dalj Church of St. George, Tovarnik Church of St. Nicholas, Pačetin Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Zagreb Church of St. George, Grubišno Polje Church of St. Nicholas, Karlovac Church of Saint Parascheva, Slabinja Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, 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 Kingdom
United States
Canada
Other
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church , SloveniaSerbian Church in Arad , RomaniaSt. Sava Church, Paris , FranceSaint Spyridon Church, Trieste , ItalyAnnunciation Church, Szentendre , HungaryTransfiguration Church, Szentendre , HungarySaint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Stockholm , Sweden Notes * indicate churches in Kosovo , which is the subject of a territorial dispute between Serbia and Kosovo.
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
