Fruska Gora: The Serbian Mount Athos

Abstract

Fruska Gora (= Frankish Mountain) mountain range is located in the province of Vojvodina in northern Serbia. After the Schism between the Western and Eastern Church in the 11th century, both Churches had their communities in this area. A group of Serbian medieval monasteries were created then on this mountain. These Holy Monasteries have been founded between the end of the 12 th and the middle of 15 th century according to the local tradition. Modern researchers found 35 Monasteries in the region of Srem = Syrmion during the period of the Ottoman domination. Only 16 Monasteries are preserved today. The fate of these Monasteries was tragic. All the Monasteries were occasionally raided and looted by the Ottoman conquerors. Unfortunately, their condition did not change in modern time and especially during the World War II. The Monasteries that have survived the Ottoman era and the Germans' fury who had bombed and destroyed many of them, were destroyed by the partisans after the liberation of Yugoslavia. It is only in 1953 that the restoration of these Monasteries slowly began, and it continues until today with very good results. The architecture of these monasteries is distinguished in two periods. The first period includes buildings at the end of the 15 th and the beginning of the 16 th century, which are characterized by the traditional Byzantine style incorporated into the School of Morava. The second period includes buildings of the 18 th century, which are characterized by the Baroque style On the walls of the Monasteries, we can find Byzantine frescoes and icons from the 15th century until the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century and oil paintings on walls and icons. During the transitional for the Serbian painting period of the 18 th century begins the Russian and Ukrainian Baroque, which also influenced the later Serbian style. The 16 Orthodox Monasteries of Fruska Gora are: Beocin, Besenovo, Divsa or Djipsa, Grgeteg, Jazak, Krusedol, Kuvezdin, Mala Remeta, Novo Hopovo, Privina Glava, Petkovica, Rakovac, Staro Hopovo, Sisatovac, Velika Remeta and Verdnik-Ravanica. The Monasteries of Fruska Gora were recognized as Monuments of Culture of Extraordinary Importance in 1990 and are protected by the state. Due to the large number of monasteries in the same area, Fruska Gora is commonly called the Serbian Mount Athos.