- Location: Voyničy village, Budva municipality, Montenegro
Montenegro is famous not only for its comfortable resorts and picturesque nature. Here is a large number of religious sites, the age of which is many centuries. One of the oldest monuments of architecture is the Voynich convent, which locals call the monastery of St. Dimitri.
History of the Voynich Monastery
Until now, not a single historical source has been found in which the exact date of construction of this landmark has been indicated. The legend of the two young men who served as hepherds was connected with the Voynich monastery. It was with them around the XIV-XV centuries that the settlement of two villages - Voinichi and Dabkovichi began.
From other sources it was established that formerly on the site of the Voynich monastery was the church of St. Nicholas of Myra, built around the 10th century.
Architectural style and features of the Voynich Monastery
Initially, this monastery complex consisted of the following objects:
- the main temple of Saint Dimitri;
- the church of St. Nicholas;
- guest house.
The main church of the Voynich Monastery was 6.5x4 m in size. It consisted of a semicircular apse and bell tower. At its construction, hewn stone and huge monoliths were used. The temple was designed in a classical style for the seaside churches with a Gothic facade, slender proportions and a main entrance carved from a large cobblestone. Inside the building there were no windows. The interior walls of the church were painted with frescoes, from which now only fragments remain.
The second temple of the Voynich monastery bore the name of St. Nicholas. It was built on the site of an old church of the 10th century. Its distinguishing features were small size and a nave without apse. The temple was built of stone of a larger size.
Activities of the Voynich Monastery
Until the XVII century the complex was a calm monastic life. In 1677 in this part of Montenegro there was a serious earthquake that destroyed almost all the objects of the Voynich monastery. As a result of these destruction, he completely ceased his activities.
Almost three centuries this important architectural and religious object was in desolation. Reconstruction of the Voynich Monastery began in 2004 at the expense of believers and patrons. Then managed to restore and hospice house, and both the temple. Now the monastery is run by the Montenegrin-Primorsky Metropolis, which belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church. Local nuns are engaged in iconography and needlework. They are still working on the restoration of the Voynich monastery, trying to preserve all the ancient frescoes that once adorned both of its churches.
How to get to the Voynich Monastery?
To see this historical landmark, you need to go to the south-east of Montenegro. The Voynich monastery is located 5 km from Budva and 550 m from the Pastrovski konak hotel. The easiest way to reach it is from the town of Becici , which is only 2 km away from here. For this, you need to move up the road number 2. If the weather is fine, it will take 15 minutes.