Cultural site: DOBRILOVINA MONASTERY

History

The construction of monastery buildings began in 1593, so that the entire monastery complex was completed in 1610. The first data about the monastery are very unreliable, but later data are much clearer and more specific. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the monastery suffered several times from Turkish invasions when

the property and valuables of the monastery were destroyed.1 Church of St. George was built in 1609 during the time of Abbot Jovan, thanks to Duke Radic Milosevic and a group of local princes. The church was covered with a klis in 1749, and from that time comes a list of monastic ritual objects, from which we learn that Dobrilovina was well supplied with church objects. Although it had a hidden and inaccessible position, the Turks still ravaged Dobrilovina in 1799. Prior to this attack, monks managed to collect valuables from the monastery and hide them in a cave. These ritual objects were never returned to Dobrilovina. The neglected monastery was restored by the hieromonk Makarije, who arrived from the monastery of Vracesnica in 1833, with the help of Jovan Savic and priest Vid from Saranac. Soon there was a new abandonment of Dobrilovina, as evidenced by the manuscript of the monastery Katastik from 1833. The abbot Mihailo Dozic, with the help of the Saranacs, renovated the monastery in 1866. Dozic also opened a school in the monastery. The Turks last destroyed Dobrilovina in 1877, set fire to the lodgings and devastated the church. The church was renovated in 1905. Unfortunately, the valuables from Dobrilovina have not been preserved. Ten manuscripts kept in the National Library in Belgrade disappeared during the bombing in 1941, while a part of books from Dobrilovina is kept in Nikoljac.

Cultural site details

The Dobrilovina Monastery is located in the village of Donja Dobrilovina in the Tara Valley, on its left bank, right next to the Mojkovac - Zabljak road. The church in the monastery is dedicated to St. George.3 The church was an important factor in the social and political development of Polimlje and Potarje. The activity of the Dobrilovina monastery was especially intensive. Although without much property, it was protected by inaccessible terrain and due to the privileged condition of the neighboring population, the monastery developed its full activity, especially in the most difficult period of slavery to the Turkish rule. The scribes who worked in this monastery were especially respected, whose books were sought after and highly valued by prominent national leaders. Due to the activities

of the Dobrilovin monks, the Turks often attacked the monastery, causing significant damage, but the local population restored it after each such devastation, always giving it a new and more beautiful glow.4 The frescoes in that church were painted in the 17th century and have faded and been somewhat damaged, but they still represent a beautiful example of medieval art. At the end of the 19th century, a wooden bell tower was added next to the church, which today represents the visual feature of this monastery. In the immediate vicinity of the monastery gate are the ruins of an old konak.5 The frescoes are partially preserved.

The monastery church, a single-nave, domed building with a transverse transept forming rectangular, shallow and low choirs, with a semicircular apse on the east and a narthex on the west, is a harmonious architectural solution with a finely fitted and original wooden bell tower above the entrance. In terms of proportions and resolving the relationship between the masses, although smaller in size, it resembles the Moraca Monastery, so it is also known as the “little Moraca”. The construction of the konak in front of the church building, with its position, volume and architecture, significantly endangers the autochthony of the architecture of the existing cultural good and its dominance in space.