Mileševa Monastery

Lim Valley and Mileševa Monastery

The Lim River carves a valley parallel to that of the Ibar River, with the Pešter Plateau lying in between. This valley hosts the main road that connects Serbia to Montenegro and the Adriatic Sea. Prijepolje, situated in this valley, serves as its historical hub. Not far from this town is the significant and historic Mileševa Monastery.

At the western end of the Lim Valley, on the border with Montenegro, sits the picturesque Kumanica Monastery, which has been recently restored and is located near the main road. Nestled in the mountains between Kumanica and Mileševa Monastery is the Davidović Monastery, near the village of Grobnica, where a 13th-century church still stands. The entire area is enchanting, dotted with natural sights and charming villages, and the river is popular for rafting activities.

The Mileševa Monastery was built by King Vladislav Nemanjić with the support of Saint Sava in the early 13th century (1230). It is the most important spiritual center for the Serbs after Studenica. The Bosnian King Stephen Tvrtko I was crowned in this monastery, and Saint Sava was buried there after his death. The monastery was burned down by the Ottomans in the 16th century but later rebuilt. It is now an active monastery, a place of pilgrimage and visitation, located not far from the town of Prijepolje. In addition to the large church, the complex includes a monastery building, a refectory, and a tower.

Inside the beautiful cathedral, which is one of the best examples of the Raška style in Serbia, is the painting of the “White Angel,” the most famous and mysterious painting in Serbia. The angel’s enigmatic gaze and smile have captured the imagination of millions of Serbs for generations, reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The White Angel’s presentation is unique in its colours, composition, and the mystery it holds. Without us noticing, the angel points toward the empty tomb of Jesus.

inside mileseva monastery serbia

painting mileseva monastery serbia

The frescoes in the Mileševa Monastery are regarded as some of the finest examples of early Serbian painting, notable for their depiction of human beauty, realism, and individual psychological depth with modest features. This site, along with Sopoćani, showcases an unparalleled collection of beautiful young faces and dignified, handsome elderly figures. Here, Serbian painting reached its zenith, a tradition that, over time, was forgotten and eventually vanished.

The motif of the White Angel at Mileševa Monastery might be connected to the presence of the Bogomils in the region, a mystical Christian sect. They believed in a hierarchy of beings in the spiritual world, at the pinnacle of which was white energy, associated with a hidden light that existed before the creation of the sun and the world. The Bogomils formed a semi-independent state in Bosnia, from where their influence spread to southern France, inspiring the development of the Cathar heresy. Positioned on the border between Serbia and Bosnia, one of the reasons for establishing Mileševa Monastery was to counter the heretical influence of the Bogomils.

Indeed, situated above the Lim River Valley toward Bosnia are several fascinating sites featuring stećak, mysterious giant stone monuments attributed to the Bogomils, including notable ones like the Grčko Groblje site. Insights and artifacts from these sites are displayed in the modest yet significant historical museum in Prijepolje.

bogomil stecak Serbia