At the meeting in Souzhu, China, on July 7, 2004, none of the 21 member countries of the Committee contested the renewed nomination of “the largest of all medieval Balkan churches, exceptionally rich in well-preserved Byzantine fresco painting and Romanesque sculpture”. The explanation for the decision to list the Visoki Dečani Monastery on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 reads that “this monastery represents the last important phase of the development of Serbian Slavic architecture – the construction represents an exceptional synthesis of Byzantine and Western medieval traditions”.
he Visoki Dečani Monastery was built by Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski (of
Dečani), and his son Emperor Dušan. Stefan Dečanski, son of King Milutin, decided
“to build the temple dedicated to the Ascension of Our Lord in gratitude for all
the goods the Lord has given, and especially after the victory against the Bulgarians”.
The temple dedicated to the Assumption of the Lord was built under the supervision
of Archbishop Danilo II, Friar Vito of Kotor, between 1327 and 1335. Master Đorđe
with brothers Dobrosav and Nikola built the monastery, while the king himself supervised
the works.
The grandiose paintings that were completed in 1350 with over 1000 figures and scenes in some 20 cycles represent “the largest preserved source of data on Byzantine icon painting”. This was the work of anonymous masters from the Serbian littoral, of whom only the name of Sinful Srđa was found written on one of the capitals. The content of the paintings represents a gallery of Orthodox fresco painting, including the cycle Seven Ecumenical Councils, the Family of the Nemanjić’s with 22 dynasty members from Stefan Nemanja to Stefan Uroš V. The Visoki Dečani Monastery has preserved the lower stone iconostasis from the time of the temple’s construction, whereas the upper one was depicted in 1594.
The treasury of Dečani is considered the richest in Serbia. It preserves the endowment charters of Stefan Dečanski and Emperor Dušan, as well as over 150 old manuscripts. Especially valuable is the collection of icons from the 14th-16th centuries, which includes icons from the old iconostasis, works of Monk Longin, as well as a monumental icon of Saint King Stefan Dečanski. The middle of the temple is still adorned by the chandelier that Duchess Milica restored in 1397. The preserved church furniture includes the prior’s throne from 1335, the king’s marble throne and original marble baptistery, the crucifixes of founders King Stefan Dečanski and Emperor Dušan. Due to security problems in Kosovo-Metohija, part of the Visoki Dečani treasury has been moved to central Serbia.
THE HOUSE OF
A SAINTLY KING
