Manasija Monastery

After Prince Lazar came to power, his son Lazarević built another magnificent cathedral monastery called Manasija, located half an hour’s drive north of the Ravanica Monastery. Lazarević was a Renaissance man and knight, married to an Italian woman. He spent some time in Constantinople, knew several languages, and wrote books and poems on various topics, some of them in the spirit of courtly love.

Manasija Monastery looks somewhat like a Disneyland castle because it is surrounded by a wall with 11 high towers. Prince Lazarević built the monastery in the early 15th century as a cultural center for the Serbian people. It served as a school for writing, translation, and literature, and is a prime example of Moravian architecture. But beyond that, it was also a knight’s castle, as Lazarević promoted knightly competitions and was a member of the Order of the Dragon. The walls and towers are somewhat reminiscent of the walls of Constantinople, and it is possible that the monastery within the walls reminded Lazarević of the legends of the Holy Grail, which he was likely familiar with.

The dome of the monastery, constructed in the Moravian style, features 12 windows—an unusually high number for churches of that period, which typically had eight, and nine at Ravanica. This specific number likely holds some symbolic significance. The interior is adorned with spectacular frescoes. In addition to the church, the complex includes an ancient monks’ dining room (refectory) and other auxiliary buildings. Lazarević, who died at a relatively young age, is buried within the church. The site was abandoned during the Ottoman period but has since been restored and now serves both as a pilgrimage destination and an active monastery.