- Address: Budva, Crna Gora
- Foundation date: the middle of the 14th century
- First written mention: 1677
Dul'evo is an Orthodox monastery belonging to the Montenegrin-Primorsky Metropolis of the Autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church. It stands at an altitude of 470 m near the village of Kulyach (Kulyacha), near Budva and the city-hotel Sveti Stefan . The monastery was founded in the XIV century, during the reign of Stephen Dushan, the creator of the Serbian kingdom. In addition, it is famous as the place of the tonsure of Bishop Arseniy III Karnoyevich.
The history of the monastery
During its existence the monastery was repeatedly subjected to destruction and looting. In 1785, he was burned by Turkish troops under the leadership of Mahmud Bushutli, and the following year he was rebuilt with the help of a novice from a nearby monastery, Yegor Strogov. At the same time, the monastery acquired a road that was cobbled with stones, which led to Cetinje .
During the First World War, the monastery of Dulyevo was plundered by the Austrians. The main loss was a large bell with a unique sound, taken to Austria. This time the monastery was restored only in 1924. In 1942, it ceased to function at all: its headquarters housed the headquarters of one of the Serbian partisan detachments.
In 1979 the monastery suffered very badly from the earthquake. However, thanks to the destruction, two ancient medieval images depicting two monarchs contributed to the founding of the monastery - King Stephen Uros III Dechansky and his son Stefan Dushan.
In 1992, Dulievo resumed his work as a monastery, and in 2002 the monastery became a monastery.
Monastery today
The complex of the monastery consists of:
- church, part of which has been preserved since the XIV century;
- the old cemetery;
- monastic cells;
- the source of Saint Sava.
The church bears the name of St. Stephen. Part of it is authentic, it has been preserved since the foundation of the monastery; the other part was added much later. Two of these parts are easy to distinguish: the old one has a Gothic arch, the new one has a semi-circular one. The one-nave rectangular structure is made of ashlar, the eastern side is completed with a semicircular apse. The western facade is decorated with a bell tower with a bell. Above the gates of the western facade is a rosette with a cross inscribed in it.
The old part of the church outside is plastered. Its floor is made of stone slabs; under them are located graves, including Egor Stroganov and Archimandrite Dionysius Mikovich. The decoration of the church is the frescoes of the XIV century, executed according to the Byzantine canons, but with a noticeable influence of the Gothic style.
On the frescoes you can see the faces of St. Stephen Dechansky, Stefan Dusan, St. Stephen the First Martyr, St. Peter and Paul, St. Procopius. The northern wall depicts the Holy Host. These frescoes have survived well, but others due to severe damage will not work.
The area of the vault is decorated with compositions depicting such evangelical events as Christmas, Baptism, Fulfillment, Crucifixion and others. In the vault there are six medallions on which Jesus Christ is depicted, but they are in very bad condition, and the images are barely discernible. The image of Our Lady of Oranta in the apse, as well as the images of Saints Demetrius and George, is poorly seen.
Monastic cells are small buildings with low ceilings and thick walls. In addition to these, there is also a two-story building of more modern construction, which at one time was used as a school.
The source of Saint Sava is famous for its medicinal properties. According to the legend, the soldiers of Stefan Dushan, who thanked and ordered the construction of a monastery near the spring, were healed from the typhus by this water. Today, the healing properties of water are officially confirmed, it helps with stomach diseases.
Not far from the monastery are a few objects that are the objects of worship of believers: the old oak, under which, according to legend, Saint Sava loved to rest, and two cells, in one of which he lived, before heading to Mount Athos.
How to get to the monastery Dulyevo?
Getting to the monastery will most likely come from Budva - a distance of less than 11 km can be overcome in about 20-25 minutes. To go follows on the road number 2, and then on E65 / E80.