One mountain, not very tall but sacred. Across its diverse, picturesque landscape, it has scattered 22 pearls. Spiritual, cultural, artistic. Of varied structure, beauty, and wealth, yet sharing the same fate—mostly one of suffering. Churches were demolished, treasuries looted, and archives burned. For most, neither their birth nor consecration, nor their benefactor, is reliably known. And where history had no answers, the people added their own legends, beliefs, and sometimes even fantasies. But who could bear better witness than those who, under centuries of force and coercion from both East and West, almost always knew how to make the sign of the cross?
JAZAK MONASTERY
It is the eternal resting place of the last ruler of the Nemanjić dynasty, Emperor Uroš, known as Uroš the Feeble. When his relics were brought during the Great Migration of the Serbs in 1705, the old church from the late 15th century became too small for all the people who began to gather, prompting the construction of a new edifice, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, in Baroque style—New Jazak. Today, the afflicted of various faiths visit it, seeking salvation through the healing power of prayer beside Uroš’s reliquary.
Near the fragrant garden, adorned with carefully nurtured colourful flowers and tall trees, lies the source of the water bearing the same name. Nestled within the protected ecosystem of the Fruška Gora National Park, Jazak water flows through an endless glacier, purified as it has travelled through the Earth’s rocks for millions of years. Enriched with a wealth of minerals and vitamins, it is pure and invigorating—a priceless gift of nature, the strength of God’s temple, and the breath of the Nemanjić lineage. All of this is contained in a single drop of Jazak water.
VRDNIK MONASTERY – SREMSKA RAVANICA
In 1697, the relics of Emperor Lazar were brought from Szentendre to the church on a small hill near Vrdnik by the monks of Ravanica. There they remained until 1942. Thus, the monastery came to be known as Sremska Ravanica. The Ravanica monks also restored the church and dedicated it to the Ascension of the Lord. The present single-nave structure, adorned with a magnificent iconostasis and wall compositions, along with its tall Baroque bell tower, dates back to the early 19th century. Although the relics were returned to Lazar’s monastery, Ravanica, his Srem sanctuary still holds a fragment of his clavicle, placed in a reliquary before the iconostasis. In the monastery courtyard rests the poet Milica Stojadinović Srpkinja, also known as the Fairy of Vrdnik.
BEŠENOVO MONASTERY
It rose from the ashes where the Ustashas and Nazis left it. Built in the style of the Nemanjić temples, it follows the model of the church erected by King Dragutin in the late 13th century and dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The resurrected structure, set in a vibrant, fairytale – like garden, remains unpainted—there is still work to be done—but it already shines with defiant beauty. And once again, the spirit of the sacred royal lineage drifts through Fruška Gora.
MALA REMETA MONASTERY
King Dragutin is considered the patron of the nearby Mala Remeta Monastery, also known as Remetsko or Remetica, nestled within a forest of acacia trees. It is dedicated to the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos. The present church, built from hewn stone in the Serbian-Byzantine architectural style, was constructed in 1739. It is one of the most harmonious sacred structures of the Fruška Gora mountain.
PETKOVICA MONASTERY
The solitary little church in the valley by the Remeta stream, beneath the plains and vast fields of bright yellow sunflowers, was built in the first half of the 16th century by Jelena, the widow of the last Serbian despot, Stefan Štiljanović. It is dedicated to Saint Petka, who, as believed, protected it from greater harm and destruction. Thus, the frescoes on its stone walls — painted by the monks of Žiča in the 1580s—have survived as rare witnesses of late medieval Serbian church art at Fruška Gora area. It is a modest, tiny, yet immensely precious structure. The surrounding estate is vast, yet everything gleams with care. The nuns—tireless, smiling, and warm-hearted. And in the view of the landscape, all the beauties of Fruška Gora fit perfectly.
ŠIŠATOVAC MONASTERY
The founding of today’s impressive stone edifice on the hill, nestled among towering conifers, is linked to the arrival of the Žiča monks in 1520. On the site of an old chapel, they built a monastery dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Virgin Mary. Its present appearance dates back to the second half of the 18th century. The church has been restored, but its interior remains rather bare—white walls with only a few icons. In the lush courtyard, a unique pine tree grows, whose cone produces resin – “ink” and was once used as a writing tool. At the foot of the monastery lies the spring of Saint Anastasia, whose miraculous waters once healed young Nikola Tesla when he was brought there to visit his relatives.
KUVEŽDIN MONASTERY
The Hymn to Saint Sava (“Let us exclaim with love to Saint Sava“), is believed to have been composed in 1735 at the monastery nestled in the valley of the Jaroš creek. According to legend, the original church dedicated to Saint Sava was founded more than a century earlier by Despot Stefan Štiljanović.
The new Baroque-style church, featuring façade decorations in the spirit of Classicism, was built in the first half of the 19th century. Today, it has been fully restored. The walls are adorned based on 20 preserved icons, while the marble floor and the magnificent gilded wood-carved iconostasis have been recreated following old photographs.
ĐIPŠA MONASTERY
Another solitary structure lies in a hollow where, alongside nature, the chirping of birds and Byzantine chants reign. According to tradition, Despot Jovan Branković established the Đipša Monastery in the late 15th century, and the church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, was, most likely, built in the 16th century. The interior has been freshly painted, and a new iconostasis has been crafted. Today, it lives in peace, in a true haven of tranquillity and floral beauty.
BEOČIN MONASTERY
It is one of the most visited monasteries. Before the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Beočin, believed to be 500 years old, both believers and non-believers pray. The church is dedicated to the Ascension of Christ. The spacious courtyard is floral and well kept, with many young, warm-hearted, and hospitable nuns. Behind it lies an expansive park, planted by French gardeners 150 years ago, modelled after Versailles. Unfortunately, access for visitors is not permitted.
THE MONASTERY OF ST. ARCHANGELS IN GRABOVO
It is a contemporary of Novi Sad. That is proudly emphasized by the residents of the village of Grabovo. The church, built in the mid-18th century, was originally dedicated to Archangel Michael. However, since the village has celebrated the summer holiday of Archangel Gabriel for nearly a century, it is now named after both archangels. It was fully restored and painted after it was declared a monastery eight years ago. Today, it is the pride of a village where the first Serbian school in the present-day region of Vojvodina was established, nearly 400 years ago.
RAKOVAC MONASTERY
It was not only the nobility that used to build places of worship on Fruška Gora, but also the “pious Christian.” This occurred at the end of the 15th century, at the site where Raka Milošević killed a deer. The monastery dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian was an important centre for transcription and literature, and it was here that the transcription of Dušan’s Code was completed. The wall paintings of the church have survived only in fragments. Today, it is fully restored. Particularly significant is the chapel of Saint Basil, which houses the restored iconostasis of the old cemetery church from the 17th century and the relics of Saint Petka (St. Paraskeva).
SAVINAC MONASTERY
Hidden among the houses and courtyards of the village of Stari Ledinci is the only, for the time being not renovated sanctuary of Fruška Gora. The remains of the church dedicated to the Transfer of the Relics of Saint Sava, commemorated on May 19, are quite ancient—dating back to the late 12th or early 13th century. However, with the arrival of Mother Teodora, the site has come to life. The property is enclosed and well kept; within the roofless church with missing walls, crosses and icons have been placed, and the wooden church and the bell tower have been erected. It is a special place, offering extraordinary hospitality and the wise words of Mother Teodora that are unforgettable.
KRUŠEDOL MONASTERY
Here lies King Milan Obrenović and Princess Ljubica Obrenović, as well as Patriarch Arsenije III Čarnojević and the Branković family. One of them, Đorđe, along with his mother Angelina, built a church dedicated to the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God near Irig in the early 16th century. The architecture follows the tradition of the Morava school but has incorporated elements of the Baroque style during renovations, reflected in the bell tower, stone portal, and stone decorations around the windows. The interior is rich and artistic, featuring a marble floor, various relics, icons, portraits, frescoes, and the famous iconostasis. It is considered one of the most significant monasteries of Fruška Gora.
VELIKA REMETA MONASTERY
The great benefactor was the king of Serbia, Dragutin, also called the “King of Srem”. At the spot where he had fallen from his horse during a hunt and remained lame, he erected the Velika Remeta Monastery. The church, originally built in Raška architectural style and dedicated to Saint Dimitrius, was transformed into a Baroque structure during renovations in the 18th century. At that time, the imposing Baroque bell tower, known as the “Tower of Srem”, was added, adorned with numerous decorative elements and the chapel of Saint John the Baptist. After numerous destructions, including those caused by the communists, it was completely restored in the 1980s. Today, it sits serenely on its fairy tale estate, full of flowers and beehives. The monks produce honey as well as brandy.
MONASTERY OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
The beauty of the romantic Sremski Karlovci is enhanced by the monastery in its Upper Town (Gornji Grad) – the Annunciation of the Holy Mother of God. Archaeological research indicates that it dates back to the early decades of the 16th century, while the current structure is from the mid-17th century. It features an iconostasis painted by the renowned iconographer from Karlovci, Dimitrije Bačević, and its treasury contains liturgical items printed during the reign of Prince Miloš Obrenović, as well as the relics of Saint Nectarios of Aegina. The church was proclaimed a monastery in 2016.
PRIVINA GLAVA MONASTERY
The church dedicated to Saints Archangels Michael and Gabriel, most likely founded in the 12th century, is renowned for being the home of one of the most significant and lavish Serbian medieval books for a long time. This was until the Great Turkish (Viennese) War in the second half of the 17th century, when a Bavarian officer took the precious Serbian Psalter. The book, comprising over 200 pages with numerous illustrations and miniatures, was created in the late 14th century, possibly for Tsar Lazar or his son, Despot Stefan Lazarević. Since it is housed in the Bavarian State Library in Munich, it has become known as the “Munich Psalter.” Today, the Privina Glava Monastery diligently preserves its remaining treasures— the carved iconostasis in the Rococo style and a copy of the icon of the Mother of God Trojeručica (Mother of God Three of Hands). It lives peacefully in its flower garden, sharing kindness and tranquillity with all well-intentioned visitors.
BERKASOVO MONASTERY
The most revered Serbian protector, Saint Petka (Paraskeva), performed yet another miracle. During a great drought, she gifted water to a young deaf-mute shepherdess so that her beloved flock could survive, and she also restored her sight and hearing. Thus, a wooden church was established. The current structure was built on the site of a church from 1867, above a healing and miraculous spring. Nestled in the tranquillity of a picturesque hollow, it is surrounded by forests and vineyards.
VRANJAŠ MONASTERY
It is the youngest monastery on the Fruška Gora. The foundation of the church dedicated to Saint Basil of Ostrog was laid in 2011. Made of Norwegian white pine and fir, the interior is freshly painted, bright, and cheerful. The church was built at the spring of Vranjaš creek, and it is dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian. The spring never runs dry, and the water is always cold, making it a gathering place for the faithful since ancient times.
NOVO HOPOVO MONASTERY
Here once lived, though only for a few years, the renowned Serbian writer and educator Dimitrije Obradović in the mid-18th century. He took monastic vows and received the name Dositej, which he retained even after leaving the walls of Novo Hopovo. Near Irig, on the edge of the forest, the foundations of a church dedicated to the Transfer of the Relics of Saint Nicholas were laid by Despot Đorđe Branković at the end of the 15th century. Its present appearance dates back to the mid-17th century when a thorough renovation was carried out. The gilded iconostasis was painted in 1776 by one of the most significant Baroque painters, Teodor Kračun. The most valuable relic it preserves is the remains of Saint Theodore Tyron, the great martyr who perished during the persecutions of the Roman emperors Maximian and Maximinus in 306 AD in the area of present-day Turkey. They were transferred to the Irig monastery in the 16th century.
STARO HOPOVO MONASTERY
The same benefactor built another place of worship just two kilometres away, at the end of the 15th or the beginning of the 16th century, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. However, being made of wood and covered with tiles, it suffered in an earthquake in the mid-18th century, and a new church dedicated to Saint Panteleimon soon arose in its place. The current small, single-nave structure made of hewn stone was completely restored at the beginning of this century. A bell tower was constructed, and the interior of the church was painted in somewhat unusual bright colours and unique patterns.
GRGETEG MONASTERY
The monastery is the endowment of Zmaj Ognjeni Vuk Branković from the 15th century and proudly boasts an inscription in the courtyard. Besides its founder and centuries of history, it has much more to be proud of. The church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Majestic, bright, and large, it showcases art in every corner. The lavish frescoes with gilding and playful stained glass windows enhance its beauty. It carefully protects its holiest relic—the icon of the Mother of God “Trojeručica” (Three-handed), a copy that, according to the monastery, is identical in appearance, craftsmanship, and dimensions to the original from Hilandar, and on its reverse side it features Saint Nicholas. The iconostasis is magnificent, made of Istrian marble and gilded wrought iron. The icons were painted with a perfect realistic brush by the famous maestro Uroš Predić at the beginning of the 20th century. Grgeteg, with its unusual name, is a place of wondrous beauty.
SVETI MARKO MONASTERY
On the site where a blind boy regained his sight on Markovdan (Marko’s Day) in the early decades of the 19th century after drinking from a spring that suddenly burst forth from the ground, a chapel was built in 1883. However, dark times soon followed, and the church fell into disrepair and became overgrown with weeds. The restoration of this modest structure, located between the cities of Novi Karlovci and Inđija, began in the middle of the first decade of this century and it was soon declared the Monastery of Saint Mark. Work is ongoing to expand the church, and a fountain has already been constructed, from which water flows from Marko’s spring, allowing the people to wash and be refreshed.
Although they do not geographically belong to the foothills of the Fruška Gora, two more Srem churches are worth mentioning due to their uniqueness and strong historical ties to the Serbian Holy Mountain.
OBED MONASTERY
Within the horseshoe of Obedska Bara, a small church found its home. According to popular belief, it was built in 1486 by Angelina Branković with her sons Đorđe and Jovan. They brought the materials by boat to the then despotic capital of Kupinovo, carrying the relics of her husband. Over time, the wooden church deteriorated, and a new chapel made of durable materials was constructed in 1930. It was completely restored in the first decade of this century. The sanctuary, known to the locals as the Church of Saint Angelina, does not have a monastic community, so it cannot be accessed by car; it can only be reached on foot through the woods.
FENEK MONASTERY
In the middle of the Srem plain, near the Serbian capital, another tormented sanctuary rises. It was founded in the second half of the 15th century by Stefan and Angelina Branković and dedicated to Saint Petka (Paraskeva). The current structure was built around 1800 on the site of the old church, above a well associated with stories of miraculous water. It was here that Karađorđe sought refuge after the collapse of the First Serbian Uprising, on his way to Russia. A comprehensive restoration began in 2006 with the arrival of the brotherhood. A winery was also built, and the Fenek wine is described as “a blend of tradition, prayer, and monastic obedience.”
