Medieval Monuments in Kosovo
Encyclopedia
Medieval Monuments in Kosovo is a World Heritage Site
consisting of four Serbian Orthodox Christian churches and monasteries
which represent the fusion of the eastern Orthodox Byzantine
and the western Romanesque
ecclesiastical architecture to form the Palaiologian Renaissance style. The sites are located in the disputed region of Kosovo
, which Serbia
considers to be its southern province, although it unilaterally declared its independence
on 17 February 2008.
In 2004, UNESCO
recognized the Dečani Monastery
for its outstanding universal value. Two years later, the site of patrimony was extended as a serial nomination, to include three other religious monuments.
Hence, the properly Medieval Monuments in Kosovo now consists of:
In 2006 the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to difficulties in its management and conservation stemming from the region's political instability.
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
consisting of four Serbian Orthodox Christian churches and monasteries
Serbian monasteries
Serb Orthodox monasteries are found throughout Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Canada and the United States. This foundation of monasteries followed the forming of the first semi-independent Serbian states starting in the 10th century...
which represent the fusion of the eastern Orthodox Byzantine
Byzantine architecture
Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. The empire gradually emerged as a distinct artistic and cultural entity from what is today referred to as the Roman Empire after AD 330, when the Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire east from Rome to...
and the western Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
ecclesiastical architecture to form the Palaiologian Renaissance style. The sites are located in the disputed region of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, which Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
considers to be its southern province, although it unilaterally declared its independence
2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 by individual members of the Assembly of Kosovo acting in personal capacity and not binding to the Assembly itself...
on 17 February 2008.
In 2004, UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
recognized the Dečani Monastery
Visoki Decani monastery
Visoki Dečani is a major Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery located in Kosovo, south of the town of Peć. The monastic katholikon is the largest medieval church in the Balkans containing the most extensive preserved fresco decoration.- History :The monastery was established in a chestnut grove...
for its outstanding universal value. Two years later, the site of patrimony was extended as a serial nomination, to include three other religious monuments.
Hence, the properly Medieval Monuments in Kosovo now consists of:
- Dečani MonasteryVisoki Decani monasteryVisoki Dečani is a major Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery located in Kosovo, south of the town of Peć. The monastic katholikon is the largest medieval church in the Balkans containing the most extensive preserved fresco decoration.- History :The monastery was established in a chestnut grove...
- Patriarchate of Peć MonasteryPatriarchate of PecThe Patriarchate of Peć is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located near Peć. The complex of churches is the spiritual seat and mausoleum of the Serbian archbishops and patriarchs....
- Our Lady of LjevišOur Lady of LjevišOur Lady of Ljeviš is a 12th-century Serbian Orthodox Church in the town of Prizren, located in southern Serbia - Kosovo and Metohija. It was converted to a mosque during the Ottoman Empire and then back into an Orthodox Church in the early 20th century....
- Gračanica MonasteryGracanica monasteryGračanica is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in Kosovo. It was founded by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321. Gračanica Monastery was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia, and on 13 July 2006 it was placed on UNESCO's...
In 2006 the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to difficulties in its management and conservation stemming from the region's political instability.