The Zavala Monastery (Serbian: Манастир Завала, romanizedManastir Zavala) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in the village of Zavala on the southwestern edge of Popovo Polje, in Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina municipality, in the southernmost part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is first mentioned in 1514, which means that the monastery already existed by the early sixteenth century. The monastery was designated National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the KONS in 2003.[1]

Zavala Monastery
Манастир Zavala
The monastery in July 2017
Religion
AffiliationSerbian Orthodox
RiteEastern Orthodox
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusEparchy of Zahumlje and Herzegovina
PatronPresentation of the Virgin
Year consecratedc. 1514
Location
LocationZavala, Ravno
MunicipalityRavno
StateBosnia and Herzegovina
Zavala Monastery is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zavala Monastery
Shown within Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates42°50′59″N 17°58′47″E / 42.8497295110395°N 17.9795980413691°E / 42.8497295110395; 17.9795980413691
Materialsstone
Official name: Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Zavala, the architectural ensemble
TypeCategory I cultural property
CriteriaA, B, C i.ii.iii.iv.v.vi., D iii.iv., E ii.iii.iv.v., F i.iii., G i.ii.iii.iv.v.vi., H i.ii.iii.
Designated5 March 2003 (?th session, decision No. 08.2-6-148/03-2)
Reference no.1820
Website
website
Map

Location and history

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Zavala Monastery

Some 55 kilometres to the east lies the town of Trebinje. The monastery is dedicated to the Presentation of Mary. The northern wall of the monastery's church is situated within a cave. This monastery is also known as a place where Basil of Ostrog entered into monasticism.

Along with Žitomislić and Tvrdoš, Zavala is one of the most important monasteries in East Herzegovina. It was first mentioned in 1514, when the monastery purchased a vineyard in Orahov Do.[2] Two years later, in 1516, the Ottomans ordered the destruction of Catholic churches built before the conquest of Herzegovina. For this reason, many Catholics in the region of Popovo Polje converted to Eastern Orthodoxy. The proximity of the Zavala monastery was the main factor in their conversion.[3]

During World War II, the monastery suffered major damage, and in the Bosnian War it was further damaged and abandoned. In the early 21st century, the frescoes were restored, the church and dormitories were renovated, and the monastery became active again.[2][4]

Zavala and Vjetrenica

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The site of the restored monastery, together with Zavala's village old architecture and stone masonry, and with Vjetrenica cave, constitutes cultural-historic, architectural and natural assemble, protected by KONS as an important national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because of its importance as national heritage, as well as tourist and ambiental attraction, the site is also placed on the UNESCO Tentative list for inscription into UNESCO World Heritage Site list.[5][6]

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Zavala, the architectural ensemble". old.kons.gov.ba. Sarajevo: Commission to preserve national monuments. 5 March 2003. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Манастир Завала | Епархија ЗХиП" (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  3. ^ Vidović 2010, p. 285.
  4. ^ ЗХиП, Епархија (2023-12-04). "Манастир Завала прославио крсну славу- Ваведење Пресвете Богородице". Епархија Захумско-херцеговачка и приморска (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  5. ^ "Zavala graditeljska cjelina". Commission to preserve national monuments. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Pećina Vjetrenica u Zavali". Commission to preserve national monuments. Retrieved 4 March 2013.

References

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Journals

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Further reading

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  Media related to Zavala monastery at Wikimedia Commons