Show on mapThe monastery of Visoki Decani is one of the most significant sites of the Serbian Orthodox church and is beautifully situated at the foot of the Decan canyon. The monastery was begun to be built under King Stefan Uros III in the fourteenth century. It was completed under Uros’s son, King Dusan, who had rebelled against his father and had him imprisoned, then murdered. Uros was subsequently venerated as a Serbian saint, Stefan Decanski, and is buried in the church.
Decani Monastary
To get to the monastery is a 30 minute walk from Decan town along a quiet road. The way is lined with orchards and vineyards which used to belong to the monastery. During the walk I see more stray dogs than people. A couple of KFOR vehicles go past and several concrete barriers lie at the roadside – like other Orthodox sites Decani is heavily protected against the threat of extremists.
The monastery lies behind high walls. The church is immense, and almost seems to be too large for the complex. Inside are vivid statues of lions with lambs trampled underfoot, and every inch of the walls is covered in murals.
Click on the images below for larger photos of the site.
Monastary Walls
Decani Monastary
The Church
The Church
Church detail
Church detail
