Mileševa

On the other side of the mountain Zlatar there is the monastery of Mileseva known in the world by its wall fresco of the “White Angel”. You will come here through the town of Prijepolje, 27 km away from Nova Varos, thereafter following the road signs. The monastery is situated at the road end on a charming prairie surrounded by little forested hills.

The church is obedient to the rules of the Raska School. On a rectangular basis and with to belfries of the Byzantine style at the top. In the East it is surrounded by a triple apsida and at each side by two square towers. The monastery of Mileseva had been founded in 1235 by King Vladislav to take the earthen remnant of St. Sava, the organizer of the orthodox church and a member of the royal family of Nemanjic under its roof. Turks have brought the remnants of St. Sava to Belgrade where they burnt them. The monastery had been burnt many times by Ottomans in such a way that it was still in ruins nearly a century ago. Today, after many restorations, the residence of King Vladislav and St. Sava one can understand why Mileseva is so dear to the hearts of Serbs.

The great richness of Mileseva is in its noticeable wall pictures made between 1235 and 1240 preserved in a perfect state. The School of Mileseva had developed a naturalistic style based on utilisation of brilliant white and blue colours. After the place where the relics of St. Sava had been, you enter the narthex once covered by the wall pictures on your left on a middle height there are represented the first kings of the dynasty of Nemanjic. On encounters the founder of the dynasty, Vladislav, his brother Radoslav, Stevan Prvovencani and St. Sava, Stevan’s brother, and finally Stevan Nemanja, their father and the founder of the dynasty. Finally on the right, just after the entrance, a representation of the founder of the church, Vladislav holding the model of the holy object. Especially the White Angel on the Christ’s tomb, splendid in his irreproachable gown and in the position of perfect serenity!