VISOKI DEČANI INCLUDED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST 21 YEARS AGO

BIJELJINA, JULY 1 /SRNA/ – The Serbian monastery Visoki Dečani, dating from the 14th century, was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 2, 2004.

This holy site was started by King Stefan Dečanski and completed by his son, Emperor Dušan.

The monastery is one of the oldest, best-preserved, and largest endowments of the Nemanjić dynasty, alongside the Gračanica Monastery, the Patriarchate of Peć, and the Church of the Virgin of Ljeviš.

In his charter, King Stefan Dečanski clearly stated that the location for building the church of God in Dečani was chosen by Saint Sava, but death overtook him before its construction.

Construction took place from 1326 to 1327 and from 1334 to 1335, while the frescoes were completed around 1348.

The monastery is dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord – Spasovdan /the fresco of the feast is also depicted in the dome under the title "Christ Pantocrator, Ruler of All"/.

The chief builder was Master Vito of Kotor, and several other master craftsmen are also recorded.

The monastery church is a five-nave structure and belongs to the Raška architectural style. In the Dečani layout, the old experiences of Raška architecture were developed and brought to an entirely new expression, incorporating the most complex solutions of the contemporary Romanesque-Gothic architecture of Serbian coastal regions.

The monastery belongs to the Raška-Prizren Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church and is designated as an immovable cultural asset and a monument of exceptional importance.