Friday, December 23, 2011

Drača


     Draca is Serbian Orthodox monastery. It was founded probably in the second half of the 16th century, although the tradition links it with despot Stefan Lazarevic. The identity of monastery founder is lost, and the first monastery location is uncertain, but it is not its present day location.

     During the short period of so-called First Habsburg Serbia, in 1734, Stanisa Markovic Mlatisuma reestablished the monastery and erected the Church of Saint Nicholas on the foundation of an older church. Stanisa Markovic Mlatisuma was born in Montenegro, near Niksic. He joined Austrian army, and after the Austro-Turkish War and the signing of Treaty of Pozarevac, in 1718, he was promoted for his courage in battles, to the rank of obercaptain and he become the commander the south front of the Serbian police. After another war with Austria and the Belgrade Treaty, signed in 1739, Ottoman Empire regained power over Serbia. Stanisa Markovic Mlatisuma was accused for being unsuccessful in this war, and he died imprisoned in Osijek, two years later, in 1741. The site of his grave is not known, his name is not widely known as well, but his generous deed preserved his name from oblivion.

     In the late 18th century Turks set fire to the monastery and intentionally damaged the frescoes in the church. The reason for that brutal act was the refuge Koca Andjelkovic, the leader of Serb rebellion, had found in the monastery.

     The 19th century and the liberation of Serbia had brought the period of prosperity to the monastery. In the 4th decade of the 19th century Toma Vucic Perisic, hero from the First and the Second Serbian Uprising, financed the building of the bell tower, the new monastery inn and a fence.

     Nowadays Draca monastery is beautiful, maintained place, settled in the very nice green valley. Inside the fence there are Crkva Svetog Nikole – Church of Saint Nicholas, and two monastery inns. All of the monastery buildings have been restored in the second half of the 20th century.

     Draca Monastery is 9 km from Kragujevac, slightly off the road to Gornji Milanovac. It is easy to reach it by car, just by turning left when traveling from Kragujevac (there is brown sign with symbol), and then, simply, following the road.

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