Medieval Monuments in Kosovo *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country	Serbia
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iii, iv
Reference	724
Region **	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	2004 (28th Session)
Extensions	2006
Endangered	2006-
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

Visoki Dečani (Serbian Cyrillic: Високи Дечани) is a major Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery located in Metohia (Kosovo),^[a] 12 km (7 mi) south of the town of Peć. The monastic katholikon is the largest medieval church in the Balkans containing the most extensive preserved fresco decoration.^{[citation needed]}

History[link]

The monastery was established in a chestnut grove by Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski in 1327. Its original founding charter is dated to 1330. The following year the king died and was buried at the monastery, which henceforth became his popular shrine. Indeed, the epithet Dečanski refers to the king's foundation of the monastery. The construction was continued by his son Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan until 1335, but the wall-painting was not completed until 1350.

The monastic church, dedicated to Christ Pantocrator and built from blocks of red-purple, light-yellow and onyx marble, was constructed by builders working under a Franciscan friar, Vitus of Kotor. The church is distinguished by its imposing size and Romanesque and early Gothic structure and design. Apart from the extensive and well preserved fresco cycles the interior features the original 14th-century stone templon, the throne of the hegumen and the carved wooden sarcophagus of the founder King Stefan.

On the "The Crucifixion" fresco, painted in 1350, objects similar to UFOs can be found. They represent two comets that look like space ships, with two men inside of them, and are often quoted by Ufologists.^[1][2][3]

Visoki Dečani was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia. In 2004, UNESCO listed the monastery on the World Heritage List, citing its frescoes as "one of the most valued examples of the so-called Palaeologan renaissance in Byzantine painting" and "a valuable record of the life in the 14th century". In 2006, it was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the potential for attacks by ethnic-Albanians; it is protected by the United Nations' KFOR.

Architectural features[link]

The church has five-nave naos, a three-part iconostasis, and a three-nave parvis. With a dome, it is 30 m high^{[citation needed]}. Its outer walls are done in alternate layers of white and pink marble. The portals, windows, consoles, and capitals are richly decorated. Christ the Judge is shown surrounded by angels in the western part of the Church. Its twenty major cycles of fresco murals represent the largest preserved gallery of Serbian medieval art, featuring over 1000 compositions and several thousand portraits.

Attack[link]

On 30 March 2007 an explosion was heard near the monastery. The explosion was confirmed by Serbian and international sources in Kosovo. Bishop Teodosije, the prior of the Visoki Dečani monastery, stated that the incident was a grenade attack on the monastery by Albanians seeking revenge, with the intention of sending a threatening message to the monks and the KFOR. [2]^{[citation needed]}

Burials[link]

• Stefan Uroš III Dečanski of Serbia

Gallery[link]

• 

  Christ Carrying the Cross, a fresco from Dečani.

• The Marriage at Cana - Decani.jpg

  The Marriage at Cana, fresco from Dečani.

• 

  The House of Nemanjić, fresco from Visoki Dečani monastery

• 

  Relic of the True Cross

• 

  Crucifixion of Christ.

See also[link]

• Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
• Tourism in Serbia
• List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries
• Serbian Orthodox Church
• Medieval Monuments in Kosovo
• Serbs in Kosovo

Notes and references[link]

Notes:

References:

• Bratislav Pantelić, The Architecture of Dečani and the Role of Archbishop Danilo II, Reichert Verlag, 2002.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Visoki Dečani

• Evaluation by the World Heritage Committee
• Dečani Monastery on www.kosovo.net

v t e Cultural Heritage of Serbia Archaeological sites Archaeological Sites of Exceptional Importance • Archaeological Sites of Great Importance • Protected Archaeological Sites Monuments of Culture Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance • Monuments of Culture of Great Importance • Protected Monuments of Culture Historic Landmarks Historic Landmarks of Exceptional Importance • Historic Landmarks of Great Importance • Protected Historic Landmarks Spatial Cultural-Historical Units Spatial Cultural-Historical Units of Exceptional Importance • Spatial Cultural-Historical Units of Great Importance • Protected Spatial Cultural-Historical Units

v t e Seven Wonders of Serbia Belgrade Fortress · Šargan Eight · Studenica monastery · Gamzigrad · Visoki Dečani · Cathedral of Saint Sava · Subotica Town Hall

v t e Serbian Orthodox Church v t e Serbian Orthodox Church overview topics Overview topics Patriarchs (current) Holy Synod Serbian saints Serbian monasteries (list) See also Đurđevdan Vidovdan v t e Subdivisions of the Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitanates Belgrade and Karlovci Dabar and Bosnia Montenegro and the Littoral New Gracanica - Midwestern America Zagreb and Ljubljana Traditional dioceses Bačka Banat Banja Luka Bihać and Petrovac Braničevo Buda Budimlja and Nikšić Dalmatia Upper Karlovac Mileševa Niš Osječko polje and Baranja Raška and Prizren Šabac Valjevo Slavonia Srem Šumadija Timişoara Timok Vranje Zahumlje and Herzegovina Žiča Zvornik and Tuzla Diaspora dioceses Australia and New Zealand Britain and Scandinavia Canada Central Europe Eastern America Western America Western Europe Ohrid Archbishopric Metropolitanates Skopje Dioceses Prespa and Pelagonija Bregalnica Debar and Kičevo Polog and Kumanovo Veles and Povardarie Strumica Defunct Cetinje Belgrade Metropolitanate Hum Trebinje Lim Metropolitanate Onogošt-East Herzegovina Budimlja Valjevo Užice Marča v t e Spiritual leaders of the Serbian Orthodox Church   Archbishops (1219–1337) St. Sava St. Arsenije I Sremac St. Sava II Danilo I Joanikije I St. Jevstatije I St. Jakov St. Jevstatije II St. Sava III St. Nikodim I St. Danilo II   Patriarchs (since 1346) 1346–1463 St. Joanikije II Sava IV St. Jefrem St. Spiridon Danilo III Sava V Danilo IV St. Kirilo St. Nikon Teofan Nikodim II Arsenije II 1557–1766 St. Makarije Sokolović Antonije Sokolović Gerasim Sokolović Savatije Sokolović Nikanor Jerotej Filip Jovan Pajsije I Janjevac St. Gavrilo I Rajić Maksim Skopljanac Arsenije III Čarnojević Kalinik I Skopljanac Atanasije I Mojsije Rajović Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta Joanikije III Karadža-Grk Atanasije II Gavrilović Gavrilo II Sarajevac Gavrilo III Vikentije Stefanović Pajsije II Grk Gavrilo IV Grk Kirilo II Vasilije Jovanović-Brkić Kalinik II Grk since 1920 Dimitrije Varnava Gavrilo Vikentije German Pavle Irinej   Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Karlovci (1690–1920) Arsenije III Čarnojević Isaija Đaković Sofronije Podgoričanin Vikentije Popović Mojsije Petrović Vićentije Jovanović Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta Isaija Antonović Pavle Nenadović Jovan Đorđević Vićentije Jovanović Vidak Mojisije Putnik Stefan Stratimirović Stefan Stanković Josif Rajačić Samuilo Maširević Prokopije Ivačković German Anđelić Georgije Branković Lukijan Bogdanović   Metropolitans of Belgrade (1801–1920) Leontije Lambrović Agatanel Antim Melentije Pavlović Petar Jovanović Mihailo Jovanović Teodosije Mraović Inokentije Pavlović Dimitrije Pavlović   Metropolitans of Montenegro (1484–1920) Visarion Vavila Roman German Romu Vasilije Makarije Dionisije Romil Pahomije Đerasim Venijamin Stefan Rufim I Mardarije Pajsije Rufim II Visarion Borilović-Bajica Sava Očinić Danilo Sava Vasilije Arsenije Plamenac Petar I Petar II Danilo II Nikanor Ivanović Ilarion Roganović Visarion Ljubiša Mitrofan Ban v t e Serbian Orthodox monasteries Serbia Kosovo Banjska Devič Gračanica Peć Saint Archangels Visoki Dečani Zočište Central Serbia Bukovo Ćelije Crna Reka Đurđevi stupovi Gornjak Gradac Kalenić Kastaljan Koporin Ljubostinja Manasija Mileševa Nimnik Pokajnica Prohor Pčinjski Pustinja Rača Rajinovac Ravanica Rukumija St. Nicholas Sopoćani Studenica Suvodol Tronoša Tuman Vitovnica Zemun Žiča Vojvodina Fruška Gora: Beočin Bešenovo Divša Grgeteg Jazak Krušedol Kuveždin Mala Remeta Novo Hopovo Privina Glava Petkovica Rakovac Staro Hopovo Šišatovac Velika Remeta Vrdnik-Ravanica; Bavanište Bođani Fenek Hajdučica Kovilj Mesić Holy Trinity St. Melanija Sombor Središte Vojlovica Montenegro Bijela Cetinje Dajbabe Dobrilovina Donje Brčele Duljevo Đurđevi Stupovi Gradište Kom Kosijerevo Miholjska Prevlaka Morača Moračnik Ostrog Piva Podmaine Podmalinsko Praskvica Reževići Savina Stanjevići Starčeva Gorica Svetog Nikole–Obod Vranjina Bosnia & Herzegovina Republika Srpska Bišnja Dobrićevo Dobrun Duži Glogovac Gomionica Hercegovačka Gračanica Klisina Knežina Krupa Liplje Lomnica Lovnica Moštanica Ozren Papraća Petropavlov Sase Stuplje Svetog Arhangela Gavrila Svetog Nikole Svetog Vasilija Ostroškog Tavna Tvrdoš Uspenja Bogorodičinog Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Rmanj Veselinje Vozuća Zavala Žitomislić Croatia Dragović Gomirje Komogovina Krka Krupa Lepavina Sv. Lazarica Orahovica Sv. Nedjelje Sv. Petke Sv. Vasilija Ostroškog Others Hilandar (Mount Athos) New Gračanica Monastery (USA) List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries v t e Serbian Orthodox churches Belgrade Temple of Saint Sava · St. Michael's Cathedral · Ružica · St. Mark's Church · St. Basil of Ostrog Central Serbia Saint Achillius Church · Church of Peter · Pećinska church · Štava church · Odžaklija · Kađenica · Lazarica (church) · Lukovo church Vojvodina Saint George's Cathedral · Uspenska church Kosovo Our Lady of Ljeviš · Church of Virgin Hodegetria · Saint Elijah Church · Church of St. Nicholas, Prizren · Mala Gospojina Church Montenegro Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ · Church of Our Lady of Remedy Bosnia and Herzegovina Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos · Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel · Church of the Holy Transfiguration Croatia Zagreb Orthodox Cathedral · St. Petka's Church, Banovci · Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Trpinja · Church of St Nicholas, Vukovar · Church of Assumption of Blessed Virgin, Negoslavci · Church of Pentecost, Markušica · Church of St. George, Bobota · Church of St. Stephen, Borovo · Holy Annunciation Orthodox church, Dubrovnik · Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, Srijemske Laze · San Spirodine Church, Peroj United States Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church · St Lazar's Church, Bournville Slovenia Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church Romania Serbian Church (Arad) France St. Sava Church, Paris v t e Serbian saints St. Angelina St. Basil of Ostrog St. Danilo II St. Hélène d'Anjou St. Jovan Vladimir St. Prince Lazar / St. Princess Milica St. Nikodim I St. Nikolaj Velimirović St. Peter of Cetinje St. Sava St. Sava II St. Simeon the Monk St. Simeon the Myrrh-flowing St. Stefan Lazarević St. Stefan Štiljanović St. Stefan Uroš St. Stephen of Dečani St. Stefan the Blind St. Stephen of Piperi St. Vladislav St. Vukašin

v t e World Heritage Sites of Serbia  · Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius ·  · Stari Ras (Đurđevi stupovi  · Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul) and Sopoćani ·  · Studenica Monastery ·  · Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Visoki Dečani  · Patriarchate of Peć  · Our Lady of Ljeviš  · Gračanica Monastery)

Coordinates: 42°32′48″N 20°16′18″E / 42.54667°N 20.27167°E / 42.54667; 20.27167

Dečani
—  Municipality  —
Dečani/Дечани Deçan
Dečani Location in Kosovo
Coordinates: 42°32′N 20°17′E / 42.533°N 20.283°E / 42.533; 20.283Coordinates: 42°32′N 20°17′E / 42.533°N 20.283°E / 42.533; 20.283
Country	Kosovo[a]
District	District of Peć
Municipalities	Municipality of Dečani
Government
• Mayor	Rasim Selmanaj
Area
• Total	180 km2 (70 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	38,984 (municipality)
• Density	132.6/km2 (343/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	51000
Area code(s)	0381 390
Car plates	03
Website	Municipality of Dečani

Dečani or Deçan (Albanian: Deçan; Serbian: Дечани, Dečani, pronounced [dɛ̌t͡ʃani]) is a town and municipality in the Peć district of western Kosovo.^[a] It is a mountainous area which borders Montenegro and Albania. There is a total of 36 villages within the municipality. The territory of the municipality is 371 km2.

During the 1998–1999 conflict, Dečani was one of the strongholds of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and subsequently suffered a large amount of infrastructure destruction by the Serbian military and paramilitary forces. Much reconstruction has taken place with the assistance of the international agencies and support from the Kosovo Albanian diaspora.^{[citation needed]} It is widely known for the Visoki Dečani monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Demographics[link]

In 2011, the population of the municipality numbered 38,984. "Others" includes Bosniaks, Kosovo Ashkalia, Egyptians and Roma. The non-Albanian communities mainly reside in the villages of Babaloc, Dubovik, Gramocelj, Irznic, Požar, Rastavica, Šaptelj, Papracane. There are Serbian Orthodox clergy in the Visoki Dečani monastery.

Visoki Dečani monastery[link]

Visoki Dečani monastery

The Serbian Orthodox monastery Visoki Dečani near the town is 36 meters by 24 meters with a tower 29 meters high. It was built between 1327 and 1335 by the Serbian medieval king, St. Stephen of Dečani, and was dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord. The monastery is situated in the valley of the Dečanska Bistrica river surrounded by the mountains and forests of the Prokletije mountain range. It is regarded as the largest and best preserved medieval monastery in Kosovo. The founding charter of the monastery is dated 1330. The following year the Stefan Uroš III died and was buried at the monastery, which henceforth became his popular shrine. Indeed, the epithet Dečanski refers to geographical location of the king's foundation of the monastery. Construction was continued by his son Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan until 1335, but the wall-painting was not completed until 1350.

The monastic church, dedicated to Christ Pantocrator and built from blocks of red-purple, light-yellow and onyx marble, was constructed by builders working under a Franciscan monk, Vitus of Kotor. The church is distinguished by its imposing size and Romanesque and Early Gothic structure and design. Apart from the extensive and well preserved fresco cycles the interior features the original 14th-century stone templon, the throne of the hegumen and the carved wooden sarcophagus of the founder King Stefan.

On the "The Crucifixion" fresco, painted in 1350, objects similar to UFOs can be found. They represent two comets and in recent times have been taken to bear a resemblance to generic space ships, with two men inside of them, and they are often quoted by Ufologists.

Visoki Dečani was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and was protected by the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 2004, UNESCO listed the monastery on the World Heritage List, citing its frescoes as "one of the most valued examples of the so-called Palaeologan renaissance in Byzantine painting" and "a valuable record of the life in the 14th century" and was protected by UNMIK/KFOR.

During its turbulent history the monastery was an important spiritual center renowned for its artistic and intellectual activities. Although the monastery buildings suffered damage during the Ottoman period, the church has been completely preserved complete with its 14th century fresco paintings. Today a young brotherhood of 30 brethren lives in the monastery maintaining the traditions of the past: religious services, icon painting, wood carving, book publishing and is also active in the missionary work. The beautiful monastic services are served according to the typicon of Mount Athos.

In 2004, UNESCO listed the monastery on the World Heritage List, citing its frescoes as "one of the most valued examples of the so-called Palaeologan renaissance in Byzantine painting" and "a valuable record of the life in the 14th century".

Villages of the Municipality of Dečani[link]

List of settlements:^[1]

• Rastavica (Rastavica)
• Babaloć (Baballoq)
• Gornji Crnobreg (Carrabreg i Epërm)
• Donji Crnobreg (Carrabreg i Poshtem)
• Donji Streoc (Strellc i Poshtem)
• Gornji Streoc (Strellc i Epërm)
• Drenovce (Drenoc)
• Dubovik (Dubovik)
• Gramočelj (Gramaçel)
• Huljaj (Hulaj)
• Jasić (Jasiq)
• Junik (Junik)
• Kodralija (Kodrali)
• Ljubuša (Lëbushë)
• Locan (Lloqan)
• Bistrica (Lumbardh)
• Maznik (Maznik)
• Papić (Papiq)
• Pepša (Pepsh)
• Požar (Posar)
• Prilep (Prilep)
• Gornji Ratiš (Ratish i Epërm)
• Rznić (Rrzniq)
• Šaptej (Shaptej)
• Slup (Sllup)
• Vokša (Voksh)
• Mali Vranovac (Vranoc i Vogël)

Mountains[link]

• Beleg Mountain

See also[link]

• Dečani monastery
• UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visoki Dečani monastery
• District of Đakovica

Notes[link]

Notes:

External links[link]

• Municipality of Dečani – official site
• OSCE Municipal Profile of Deçan / Dečani
• Visoki Dečani Monastery, Serbian Orthodox Church
• BBC World radio documentary – heritage: the balkans

References[link]

• OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe: mik/2005/02/1181_en.pdf
• PTK – Post and Telecommunictions of Kosovo, J.S.C:KodePostare.pdf
• ENKEO Electronic Network of Kosovar Environmental Organization: decani.pdf
• IFLA – International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions: kosorepo.htm#_Toc480784381

v t e Municipalities of Kosovo Dečani Dragaš Đakovica Đeneral Janković Glogovac Gnjilane Gračanica Istok Junik Kačanik Klina Klokot-Vrbovac Kosovo Polje Kosovska Kamenica Kosovska Mitrovica Leposavić Lipljan Mališevo Mamuša Novo Brdo Obilić Orahovac Parteš Peć Podujevo Pristina Prizren Ranilug Štimlje Srbica Štrpce Suva Reka Uroševac Vitina Vučitrn Zubin Potok Zvečan Planned Municipality: North Kosovska Mitrovica

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dečani