Monastery Žiča Different from the most of our monasteries that were built in difficultly accessible regions, Žiča is placed in fertile plain, only 6 km from Kraljevo towards Mataruška Banja. It is a foundation of king Stefan the First-Crowned (1195–1223) and one of the most important holy objects of the Serbian people. The construction of the main monastery church of Holy Ascension began around 1206, and had been finished before 1217, when its founder got the king’s crown from Rome.
Built out of the town, in monastery circle, it was constructed to be a holy place and the place where church dignitaries would be consecrated and where archbishops would hold court. Here, the first Serbian archbishop Sava crowned his older brother as the first Serbian king (1217) and consecrated bishops of newly-founded bishoprics. Two more Serbian kings from the Nemanjić dynasty (1169–1371) were crowned in Žiča – Stefan’s sons: Radoslav and Vladislav.
One nice old legend about “seven-doored” Žiči tells that seven kings were crowned there and that, on the occasion of each crowning, new door – through which only the crowned ruler would pass – were opened and then immediately walled up.
The monastic complexIn monastery complex, from the Middle Ages left only the Church of Holy Salvation and small Church of SS Peter and Paul. All other buildings are from later period.
By its architecture Žiča belongs to Raška architectural school. The building has a nave, semicircular altar apse to the east, external parvis with a tower to the west and rectangular choirs to the south and north side. Above middle part of the naos rises the dome with octagon tambour.
Žiča was built from bricks and stone and some deposit of crystalline calcium carbonate. By selection of building material, you can see that the church was mented to be plastered. It is recognizable for the red color of its facade.
Interior decoration is made of poorly preserved frescos, work of Constantinople’s masters (from 1219), less talented provincial masters (1228-1233), and the most important frescos are the youngest one (1309-1316) and they are placed in the main part of the church (great holydays, scenes from Jesus’ life, standing figures of saints and their busts. Frescos on the walls in the passage beneath the bell tower make a valuable ensemble. Beside the illustration of Christmas’ hymn and the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, there are SS Peter and Paul, as well as the portraits of Stefan the Firs-Crowned and his son Radoslav with the endowment charter. The authors of these frescos are masters from famous painting school of king Milutin.
From sometimes rich treasury of Via Monastery, preserved are only relics of right hand of St. John Precursor, covered with silver, which was brought to the monastery by St. Save, and today it is in the St. Maria Cathedral in Sienna, and the part of silver covered Holy Cross from the 13th century, which is now in Cathedral in Pienzza, also in Italy.
Church of st. Petar and Pavle
The Church of SS Peter and Paul is placed to the east from the main church. It comes from the 14th century, and it has simple architecture with one nave and semicircle apse to the east side. It was built with stone and bricks. The Church is renovated in the 18th century.
More detailed information you can find at the official web-site of Žiča Monastery :
http://www.zica.org.rs/
wikipedia
http://www.kraljevo.com/
phone:+381 36 816-817, 816-863 (from 10:30 – 13:00)
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