April 20, 2012

Beocin Monastery in Fruska Gora


Going on with the series about the beautiful monasteries of the Fruska Gora (the only mount of the extended flat Vojvodina region in the National Park of Fruska Gora which is also a well know tourist destination). The links to the first 4 monasteries of the series (Velika Remeta, Novo Hapovo, Krusedol and Jazak) are on the bottom of this post.

The Beocin Monastery (Манастир Беочин).

The Beočin Monastery, whose church is dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ, lies on the northern slope of Mount Fruška Gora, near the road to Beočin. Its history can be traced back to the mid-sixteenth century, when the Monastery was mentioned for the first time in a Turkish defter. 


Under Arsenije III Čarnojević, it was renovated by monks of the Rača Monastery. Construction of today’s church begun in 1732, and it was enabled through donations of Milivoje Milaković from Futog, and his son Petar from Gložane. The church was completed in 1799, when the baroque crown was placed on top of the belfry.


The church (post Byzantine style with Moravian influence) of the Beočin Monastery was designed as a single-nave, elongated building, whose altar apse is seven-sided on the outside, and semi-circular on the inside, and with rectangular choirs.
The high, octagonal dome is supported by four free-standing pillars. Above an open, arcaded and rib-vaulted porch, soars a two-storied belfry. The western façade of the church is dominated by the stone portal with sculptured frame.


The high, lavishly gilded baroque iconostasis is the joint work of Janko Halkozović, Dimitrije Bačević and Teodor Dimitrijević. The fresco painting is, unfortunately, almost completely destroyed, save for the scene of the Dormition of the Virgin on the north wall. The church of the Beočin Monastery is on its southern and western sides enclosed by monks’ dwelling-houses, which were eventually joined together in 1765. Systematic restoration of the Monastery complex was begun in 1986.
(The text,slightly adapted, and the cover picture are from Spomenici kulture u Srbiji



Travel Tips:
Fruska Gora Monasteries Overview 
Velika Remeta Monastery in Fruska Gora
Novo Hapovo Monastery in Fruska Gora
Krusedol Monastery in Fruska Gora 
Jazak Monastery in Fruska Gora

April 16, 2012

Jazak Monastery in Fruska Gora



Now that the travel season is about to start, I want to complete the post-series about the beautiful monasteries of the Fruska Gora (the only mount of the extended flat Vojvodina region in the National Park of Fruska Gora which is also a well known tourist destination). The links to the first 3 monasteries of the series (Velika Remeta, Novo Hapovo and Krusedol) are on the bottom of this post.

Among the 16 monasteries of the Fruska Gora area, there is one that is well-known as an architectural jewel: The Jazak Monastery (Манастир Јазак).

The post Byzantine churche with Moravian school influence, was rebuilt and transformed during the 18th century when baroque elements – bigger windows, baroque bell towers and dome caps – were added. The post Byzantine basic matrix remained.




Тhe monastery church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The monastery was founded in 1736, by a group of donors citizens of Novi Sad, Baja, Osijek, Sid and Sasinci. The construction of the church traditionally designed, lasted from 1736 to 1758. but, as early as 1741, it was ready to receive the brethren. А Baroque bell-tower was added onto the West side and completed in 1803. 


The monks' quarters and dormitories, surrounding the church on three sides, were built between 1736 and 1761 in Baroque style.


The icons on the baroque iconostasis were painted by Dimitrije Bacevic in 1769. 

The remains of St. Tsar Uros, the last ruler of mediaeval dynasty Nemanjić, were buried in Jazak, also as a part of religious and national cult.

The monastery underwent the general reconstruction between 1926 and 1930. During World War II the monks' quarters were damaged, while the church remained intact. The monastery has been partly reconstructed.

Today it's a woman's monastery.

Travel Tips:
Fruska Gora Monasteries Overview 
Velika Remeta Monastery in Fruska Gora
Novo Hapovo Monastery in Fruska Gora
Krusedol Monastery in Fruska Gora

April 9, 2012

Belgrade No Name Architecture

 Usually I write about more or less well-known buildings in Belgrade made by great architects which represents examples of certain buildings style. 
Going through my photo collection of the last few years  I found some interesting pictures of 2004/5 of Architecture around the cit, examples of details that I simply loved but I never found enough interesting information to share on separate posts. 
So I decided to unite them in a post to point what was my first impression of Belgrade: that Belgrade is really full of amazing nice stuff. (small note: back then there were no guides available and Belgrade was definitely not on the "recommended" list!) 


An interesting concrete detail on a rooftop near Trg Republike (Трг Републике)

 A school facade at Akademski Plato near Kneza Mihaila Street (Кнеза Михаила)
 The roof of the old part of the airport Nikola tesla (back then it was simply Belgrade-Surcin Airport): love the structure and the "celadon"-color-paint!





The slim high-rise building in Dorcol (the old part of Belgrade) in Dubrovacka Street (Дубровачка): mid-century concrete combined with see-through balconies.
 The building next to Vuk's Heritage Building (дом вукове задужбине) on Terazije (Теразије) shows off an interesting 70's style concrete facade, that looks interesting with the tacky commercials and boutique below!



 Another style of architecture: the old industrial style around the Belgrade hippodrome (Pastroviceva Street, on the South end of Senjak Area.


Block 29 in New Belgrade (Нови Београд) : Again an interesting concrete facade with rounded corners on windows. Love the color composition, a good example of how to freshen up concrete.


For more Belgrade posts:
5 Great Belgrade Panoramas

New Belgrade Block Architecture

Brankov Bridge in Belgrade


Secessionist Architecture in Belgrade


Travel Tips for Belgrade


5 Things to do in Belgrade