Banja Monastery

Risan, Montenegro

On the way from Risan towards Perast, along the shore of the sea is located Banja monastery. The foundation of monastery is related to Stefan Nemanja who lived in the 12th century. It is thought that the monastery got its name by the Roman bathrooms, which in one of the severe earthquakes fell into the see together with the antique Risan.

At the beginning of 17th century Petar Kordic from Risan raised a church an altar on the remains of the medieval monastery and dedicated it to St. George. Stanasije Hilandarac erected the present church in 1720. In the monastery treasury of the present church there are a great number of precious items such as icons from Boka, Greece, Russia, works of various craftsmen, silver embroidery etc. an example of artistic church embroidery – stole and bracelets especially stand out. The embroidery has been made with silver and golden threads, and the faces of saints have been presented on them, while in the bottom one can see patrons. Monastery also has a great library with church books, which are mostly of Russian origin.

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Address

E65, Risan, Montenegro
See all sites in Risan

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Religious sites in Montenegro

More Information

www.visit-montenegro.com

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Altuğ K (5 months ago)
soothing place, nice view.
Özgür Ozan Kaymak (6 months ago)
It is a small monastery, there is not much to see. When we went, no one greeted us.
Marta Sz (16 months ago)
The nuns sell herbs and herbal drops made by themselves for various types of health problems. Herbs are collected in the mountains, so their products are organic. I recommend!
Dim Dimych (19 months ago)
It is believed that the monastery of Banya got its name from the Roman baths, which during a strong earthquake in the VI century AD. went to the seabed together with the ancient Risan (Rizon). The foundation of the monastery in the XII century is associated with Stefan I Nemanya (1113-1199), who more than once escaped on the banks of the Boka from the persecution of his three elder brothers, during a long and bloody struggle for the throne of Raska. Having finally achieved absolute power and the title of Veliky Zhupan, Nemanya did not forget the lands that sheltered him in a difficult time, and laid a church in honor of St. George the Victorious on a small cape between Perast and Risan. The monastery was first mentioned in the document "Studenichki Tipik", compiled in the Studenica monastery by St. Sava of Serbia in 1208. The son of Stephen I, Stefan the First Crowned (Stefan II Nemanich. 1166-1228), also had to fight with his elder brother Vukashinin in the struggle for the crown. After the final victory, Stephen II founded the majestic monastery of St. Archangel Michael on Prevlaka Miholska, under which the Banya monastery was subordinated. In 1654, during an attempt to conquer Perast, the Turks burned down the monastery. Before the Turkish invasion, the monks with the monastery treasures took refuge first in the Herzegovina monastery of Kosierevo (near Niksic), and then in the Tvrdos monastery and, finally, in the Savina monastery in Herceg Novi. At the beginning of the 18th century, Petar Kordić (Petar Kordić) from Risan erected a small church with an altar in honor of St. George on the ruins of a medieval monastery. Archimandrite Stanisha/Anastasius Khilandarats (Athanasije Khilandarats), relying on the help of the inhabitants of Risan, in 1720 built the current monastery church and the lower wing of the residential building. Monastic buildings were erected in the 19th century. Basically, the construction was carried out at the expense of wealthy families of sailors from Risan. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, the monastery was renovated by Archimandrite Dionisy Miković (Dionysius J. Miković. 1861-1942), a native of Pashtrovichi. Archimandrite Dionysius served in the Banya Monastery for more than half a century. He organized a monastery school, where he himself taught. During the First World War, the Austrians placed a garrison and a hospital in the monastery and removed the church bells. After the war, hegumen Dnonisiy Mikovich restored the monastery again with the help of huge material assistance provided by Vaso Chukovich (Vaso Luković). The monastery church, dedicated to St. George, is located on a small platform in the upper part of the monastery next to the churchyard. The current church is single-nave, with a semicircular altar apse on the east side and characteristic shallow choir stalls (kliros) on the north and south sides. The temple was built of hewn stone blocks laid in regular horizontal rows. On the facade of the western wall, above the entrance, there is a bell tower with one bell, a deep glazed niche with the icon of St. George and an eight-star rosette. The new iconostasis was created in 1902 by Czech Frank Ziegler. Most of the icons, the royal gates and details of the iconostasis were painted by Pyotr Rafailovich in the 1760s. Separately from the temple, a high bell tower with three bells was built. Because the monastery is located on a slope that steeply descends to the bay, then its entire territory is cascaded: the church of St. George is located at the very top, on the site below the church there is a monastery necropolis, even lower is a residential building (konak), office and utility rooms, a garden, apiary and poultry house. Currently, Bath is an active women's monastery. The main shrine of the monastery is a particle of the relics of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. The monastic treasury of the current church contains many valuable items, such as icons from Boka, Greece, Russia, works by various masters, ceremonial robes with silver and gold embroidery. The monastery has a large library with church books, which are mostly of Russian origin.
Natalya Penkova (2 years ago)
The sisters are very kind. Beautiful view of the Bay of Kotor. Handpicked honey and herbs, excellent quality medicines and teas
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