Ravanica Monastery
A few years after ascending to power, Prince Lazar began the construction of the Ravanica Cathedral and Monastery, which would become closely associated with him and where he would be buried, following the tradition of Serbian kings. The Ravanica Monastery is among the most beautiful and fascinating in Serbia, as it fully embodies the Moravian style. This style merges Western architectural elements, such as rosette windows, with the Raška style that preceded it. The monastery features numerous windows, elaborate decorations, and seamless transitions between stone and brick, as well as ceramics and plaster.
Ravanica also incorporates an architectural element from Mount Athos—the three-leaf clover shape, visible on its northern and southern walls. During Lazar’s era, Mount Athos was the spiritual hub for Serbian and Orthodox Christianity, renowned as a center where mystical concepts such as Theosis (the transformation of man into God) and practices of Hesychasm (a form of Christian meditation) were cultivated and developed.
During Lazar’s reign, monks from Mount Athos and other centers of Hesychasm, such as the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, migrated to Serbia due to geopolitical shifts. These monks introduced diverse Christian concepts, which influenced the new architectural and painting styles of Serbian churches. For instance, windows designed to let in coloured light at sunset were added, embodying the mysticism of the spiritual light referred to as “the light of Mount Tabor.”
The involvement of mystical monks, referred to in Serbia as monks from Sinai, in the decoration of the church is evident in the predominance of frescoes dedicated to the cycle of miracles performed by Jesus, particularly focusing on the 40 days from His resurrection to His ascension to heaven—a theme rarely emphasized in Christian churches. For example, on the left side of Ravanica’s central hall, there is a depiction of Jesus voluntarily ascending the cross by a ladder. This portrayal of Jesus’ death is seen not just as a narrative of sacrifice but as a voluntary choice—an allegory for the need to metaphorically ‘kill’ our egos, the old self, to achieve rebirth into the spiritual worlds.
The monastery is situated a few kilometers off the main road in a picturesque side valley, enclosed by a wall, forming a small, fortified community. In addition to the church, the compound includes two large monastic buildings, a souvenir shop, and remnants of old structures. Within the church lies the tomb of Prince Lazar, who was killed during the Battle of Kosovo and is revered as a Serbian national hero and saint. The tomb is believed to possess healing properties, making it a frequent destination for Serbian pilgrims.
ravanica monastery Serbia
