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Divljana Monastery

Манастир Дивљана Manastir Divljana
Divljana
Monastery information
Other names	Demetrius of Thessaloniki Monastery
Order	Serbian Orthodox
Established	394
Diocese	Eparchy of Niš
Architecture
Style	Serbo-Byzantine style
Site
Location	Village of Divljana, 5 km (3.1 mi) south from Bela Palanka, Srbija
Public access	yes

Divljana Monastery, also as known as Monastery of St. Demetrius is an orthodox monastery which belongs to Eparchy of Niš, which is a part Serbian Orthodox Eparchy. The monastery are located near village Divljana village and Divljana Lake, 5 km south from Bela Palanka, in foothill of Suva Planina on 450 m above sea level. It's dedicated to St. Demetrius, which is celebrated on the 8th of November. The orthodox monastery was first built in 394. on this location which later becomes the foundation of Mrnjavčević brothers, on the end of the XIII century, after previous destruction of monastery. In the monastery complex was recorded a high number of ancient monuments from the IV century, some of which can be seen two capitals. Around 880. when was the new Christianization started, also was started creation of a new eparchies. Based on physical evidence and the Charter of the Byzantine emperor Basil II we believe that on the same place was an early Christian building from the IX century where was been the center of a renewed church life in the Middle Ponišavlje.

Location and characteristics of the monastery complex

Monastery of St. Demetrius in Divljana, territorial belongs to the Eparchy of Niš and administrative municipality of Bela Palanka. It's located 5 km south of Bela Palanka, not far from the ancient road to Skopje and Thessaloniki. Situated at 450 meters above sea level at the foothill of the sout-eastern part of Suva Planina, whose wooded slops down to the monastery and offers a unique view to the Svrljig mountains and Šljivovica top.

Characteristics of an earlier church

The first monastery church was an ancient early Christian three-nave basilica. This can be documented by the time of formation, by the found archeological material and by the neighboring and other churches of the same type from that time. Early Christian churches in Remesiana, from that era, were generally oriented east-west with the altar on the east side, where the cathedral dimensions was the 16*30m. Above the main entrance stood a porch which would have carried by two carriers in the form of massive pillars, which were have bases and capitals. On the capitals were usually engraved early Christian sign of cross and omega. The floors and wall paneling were made of marble. Church of St. Demetrius in Divljana had dimensions 19*12m. Former church in Divljana was very similar to the present-day church which was almost the same size, the same basis and on the same location, except that church had a larger western portal. The present church was built in Romanesque and Renaissance style. Church had two-story roof in combination with west fronts and thus created the impression of three-nave church. Here we dont have a presence of the dome, strips with 124 blind arcades, pilaster strips, trefoil, ect.

History

Through the ages, on the place of Divljana Monastery, there were many variety of temples that were demolished and after that rebuilt until the time when was built monastery what today looks like. According to some data, the first Christian church was built in 394. AD. The church was built on the foundation of a pagan temple dedicated to a sun god Mitras. This place was cult and holy over the centuries and therefore later here were built a whole monastery complex. This is bound to happen because of the religion of the former state was Christianity and the church must to adjust to that. That event leads to the formation of the Christian church. Temple dedicated to sun god Mitras was not the first building built here. Before it, there was many pagan temples.

Prehistoric and ancient sites - a sacred place "DIVIANA"

Based on various records and sources of data we make a conclusion that the site of the present village Divljana always been settled and was one of the holy places of Tribals(Thracians) tribe in ancient times, which was the local population on that place. Only a one [[Kilometre|kilometer// (0,62 miles) from the current location of the monastery, was prehistoric settlement Igrište from the Bronze Age, around 1200 BC, and only 600 meters(0,37 miles)from location of the monastery were found burial pits with the ashes of the deseased in various ceramic containers. Practicly, in the radious of less then one kilometer around the monastery were several settlements at the Roman times (Stasovac, Bils, Villa Rustica, Teberna). Based on this we can conclude that this location was a place where gathered considerable number of people at that time. Also, 5 km(3,11 miles) from location of the monastery was ancient settlement Remeziana, or todays socalled Bela Palanka. However, because ravages of time in the village Divljana wasn't saved any clear tradition of the pagan temple and the other temples before todays monastery, that were nearby. The only thing that can indicate to that were the legends about fairies, which were in the close relationship with an ancient nymphs. This ancient shrine was closed in 392. AD, just before the founding of the first version of christian monastery dedicated to St. Demetrius, in whose interior were transferred the reliquiae from the old church:

• marble icon of nymph
• marble icon of Thracian horseman.

All the temples, that were dedicated to the sun god Mithras, were placed close to the main roads and any kind of source of water. This was characteristic for the time during the 2.nd and 3.rd centuries AD, and especialy in Ponišavlje district, and we may say that based on two bequeath altars, one in village Divljane and another in village Osmakovo, and two relief icons, one in village Ragodeš and another in village Rasnica, and all that in 20 km (12,42 miles) radius. Temples of Mithras were built in smaller sizes, usually 5*10m generally oriented east-west as apposed to the later churches, the altar on the west side and entrance on the East. The ancient material on this location are very rich and this is one of the richer in south-eastern Serbia. In addition to the above-mentioned here below are the more of them:

• One large stone impost capital, 64 cm in height, bottom diameter is 53 cm but on the top that diameter is 72 cm. On it was engraved Old Christian cross within the circle on the front side, and sign omega on all vertical edges.
• Two circular stone sided base, part of the capitals
• Three carcass of the ancient stone pillars, 2m in debt
• Two ancient stone pillars, square based with 20 cm base line and 60 cm long
• An ancient stone pillar for fountain
• Fragment of ancient stone monument and on it was preserved the Latin word: "dici"

• Holy throne made of stone (column of reddish sandstone, 95 cm height above the floor holding the stone plate with dimensions 150*105 cm)

The origin of the name of the monastery Divljana

The name "Divljana" comes from the Latin word "Divus", which when its translated to the Serbian language means god. Also, by the professors S. Petrović, we have toponyms with the base and root words: giant (ser. div), wild (ser. Divji). We all know that the Giants were a part of Serbian religion before Christianity. To make things even more convincing, Serbian word div itself was derived from the word Dievo, and that word was used by Hindu-Europeans for naming their gods: Indian Deva, Old-Persian Daeva or Divus, and Latin Deus. However, it is obvious that the present name Divljana comes from the Latin word Divian, which on Serbian mean land of gods (ser. Bogovina).

The early Christian church

Bishop St. Niketa

The founder of the monastery was famous Bishop St. Niketa (338-420) from Bela Palanka, and the first church was built in the late 4th century, somewhere between 392-395th AD. Bishop Niketa was been well known by his achivements throughout Roman Empire, where were the most important achivements fertile missionary and literary activity. He held the position of Bishop of full 54 years in Bela Palanka (366-420), and after his death remain many churches and monasteries and they belongs to the oldest in that area. How much he was known and important at that time, tells us the fact that at that time for the first time open the monasteries in Milano by the Bishop Ambrose (374-379), in Tugasta 398. by the St. Augustine, in Marseilles 415. by the John Cassian.

However, in the time when Divljana Monastery was created, the Roman Empire suffers frequent incursions of Goths across the Danube, and monastery was been destroyed often because of that. In these turbulent times, Bishop Niketa, without the pause and tirelessly works on multiple sides and he do all that with purpose to protect the established Orthodoxy on this region. He was in touch with senior officials of that time, such as:

• Emperor Theodosius
• Pope Damas
• Siricije and Inoćentije
• Patriarch St. John Chrysostom
• Bishops and writers St. Paulin, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, Sulpicius Sever and others.

The choice of location of the monastery

Based on the research of M. Kostić, it is not a coincidence that the monastery was located exactly where it is now. Choosing a place to build a monastery dedicated to St. Demetrios was not only due to extraordinary natural environment, but also because it is very close to Divljana hot springs. Like any hot springs, this one also was knownfor its medicinal composition and it is a kind of holy place, but due to time it changes the composition of water (demineralization). In the middle Ages, the function of the holy place takes the Divljana monastery. The role of the place "DIVIANA" becomes clearer when Thracian Tribals tribe, people who was been inhabited in Ponišavlje, begins to worship hot springs and rivers, especialy spas and other sources of healing waters. They have developed a cult of the gods, gods of Health and vitality. All this was the reason why was built Christian monastery here, main reason was good location with a lot of natural resources.

After the closing of the pagan temple in 392. the monastery was built on the same place between 392. and 395. AD, when in the Roman Empire was already established Christianity as the official religion. Based on archeological research remains to be proven whether the original church of the Divljana monastery was on the same place as the medieval church.

Selection of patronage

Selection of Thessaloniki miracle worker St. Demetrius for the patrnon of the monastery was by the Bishop Niketa which directly points to the rapid development and expansion of the worship this of this saint in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki was been the capital of the prefecture of Illyria, where belonged Remeziana (Bela Palanka) at the end of the 4th century. It is not known exactly when the first church, dedicated to St Demetrius, was been built, but prefect Leontius was been builded a large basilica in Thessaloniki and later in 412. he was been builded another one in the Sirmium. Niketa had multiple connections with Thessaloniki and some of these connections was with his master chief of the church which whom he talk and consult about everything, and another connection was that he traveled with boat from Thessaloniki to east and west, and also to meet with the Emperor Theodosius. All this is much more clear if we mention the fact that Thessaloniki for Niketa was the same as for St. Sava 800 years later.

The main temple of midle Ponišavlje

Divljana monastery survived the fall of Roman Empire and around it permanently settled pagan Slavs in Ponišavlje district about 614. AD. But soon after that, Christian life on that location dies again for next two centuries which clearly confirms the renewal and reaffirmation of worship in 870. AD. when re-Christianization begins. For re-opening dioceses and parishes were contributed by Greek hierarchy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. All shrines, that were in evidence as a Christian churches, were restored. Since Remeziana was been destroyed, Divljana monastery becomes a center of this region which will be a long time, and that fact can be seen in charter by Emperor Basil II from 1019. AD. The temple has survived a lot of reconstructions and in one of reconstructions took elements of the Byzantine style. This regeion was the center of Christianity in Ponišavlje region until the Turks came when it was been destroyed and soon after deserted. Before the devastation, the monastery owned 1200 hectares of land, and in it's part was also Prnjavor (earlier name for village Divljana) which have another 800 hectares of land.

One of final demolition was happened in 1386. AD during the great military campaign of the Turks at Niš, when was destroyed and burned the whole Ponišavlje district, including towns, villages and monasteries. In that military campaign, Turks were moving from Sofia to Niš, led by Sultan Murad who later was killed in Kosovo. Another demolition took place in 1389. AD, when was the battle for Kosovo, where were been heavy battles in Pirot region. The church was restored in 1395. and after that will stand until 1902 when it was destroyed by the last time, and from that period is present church. Based on travel writer Stephan Gerlach notes in 1578. in the monastery has lived five monks who held a school. From Turkish cadastral census of 1595. we see that Divljana monastery is not new and that means that monastery already on the list of Turkish authority from 1574. and it must pay taxe amount of 300 groat to the Turkish authority. Also, from the stone monument from 1670. we learn that there was stayed Stojan Vuja from Suračevo. One oktoih was repaired in 1714. and from the same sources of data we knows that in 1723. was held fair in the name of Mary (mother of Jesus). In 1719. was recorded by the Austrian diplomat K. Drish thatmonks live in the monastery by the rules of St. Basil, which was the most prominent among clergy.

Later, the monks Arsenius and Maksimus was recorded Kardzhali pogrom in 1796. on the teritory of Ponišavlje district and two years later, in 1798, was dug well for the monastery. Before battle on Čegar, monastery was burned during the First serbian uprising in 1809. and after that monastery library and whole church interior were reconstructed, and the sposnor of this work, Thracian guild from Pirot was donate icon of St. Spyridon in 1820. In the year of 1873. was demolished narthex and in 1876.-77. was burned monastery quarters but in that action fire takes a small part of monastery library where are destroyed two parchment manuscripts. After the liberation from the Turks in 1878. borned an idea of building new church which construction begins in 1902 and ends in 1908. In 1902 was demolished the nave and after that was built the church as standing today. The author of a new temple was the architect Milorad Rudivić. During the Bulgarian occupation between 1915. and 1916., Bulgarians were looted and vandalizes the monastery and then was last seen an old record which tell us about how St. Sava was staying a while in the monsatery in his time.

After the liberation and the October Revolution, Russian nuns, doctors and officers escaped in large numbers from Russia and came to Divljana monastery. They painted and arranged the new temple, and in 1933, they built a winter church dedicated to Sarov miracle worker St. Seraphim. They lived in the monastery until the beginning of World War II, when the remains a sorority of Serbian nuns moved into the monastery. After the war, all property was revoked from the monastery, and a church dedicated to St Demetrius was restored, the monastery quarters were demolished and on its foundation a new one was built in 2005.

Architects D. Milutinović and M. Valtrović made color illustrations and measured drawings of the church, immediately after liberation of the Turks in 1878. After that, the monastery was visited by M. Milicević between 1878 and 1882. F. Kanic in 1889., Stevan Sremac in 1892., Vulić and Premeštajn in 1900., A Belić in 1901. and others.

Not far from the monastery is an oak more then 1000 years old, which is an attraction for tourists.

References

1. ^ South-east Serbia: Monastery of St. Demetrius and record, Language: Serbian, accessed 17. 2. 2013.
2. ^ Srpska.ru: Monastey of St. Demetrius, 28. 7. 2006., Language: Serbian, accessed 17. 2. 2013.
3. ^ The municipality of Bela Palanka: Monastery of St. Demetrius, Language: Serbian,accessed 17. 2. 2013.
4. ^ Pravoslavlje no. 927: Restoration of the Divljana Monastery, M. Radenković, Language: Serbian, accessed 17. 2. 2013.
5. Đ. Mano-Zisi, Lj. Popović, Bela Palanke (Remeziana) arheološka iskopavanja, Starinar 9-10, Language:Serbian, 1958-1959, Belgrade, page 98-99; S. Gušić, Urbanizam Remeziane od I do IV veka, Saopštenja, Language:Serbian, XIX, 1987, Belgrade, page 21-35
6. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Arhitektura crkve, page 122
7. Ž. Jocić, Niketa iz Rameziane, Language:Serbian, Niš, 1998, page 190, 194-198
8. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Starija izdanja Divljanskog manastira, page 111
9. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, бр. 29-30, УДК 902(497.11), Свето место DIVIANA, страна 111
10. Spasovac on Serbian military headquarters map from 1881.
11. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Sveto mesto DIVIANA, page 112
12. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Trački hram kod vrela, page 114
13. O nalazima sa lit. Opširno, Lj. Zotović, Language:Serbian, page 12,40,60,62
14. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Trački hram kod vrela, page 116, 2. paragraph
15. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, бр. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Trački hram kdo vrela, page 116, 3. paragraph
16. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Arheološki nalazi, page 122, last paragraph
17. Ž. Jocić, Niketa iz Remeziane, Language:Serbian, page 195-196
18. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Arheološki nalazi, page 123, 3. paragraph
19. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Arheološki nalazi, page 123, 4. paragraph
20. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Arheološki nalazi, page 123, 5. paragraph
21. P. Gagulić, Opis manastira Sv. Velikomučenika Dimitrija u Divljani, Language:Serbian, rukopis, Niš, 1957.
22. S. Petrović, Srpska mitologija 1, Language:Serbian, Niš, 1999, page 106
23. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Trački hram kod vrela, page 113, paragraph 3-4
24. Ž. Jocić, Niketa iz Rameziane, Language:Serbian, page.196
25. A. Francen, nav. delo, Language:Serbian, page 88; Ž. Jocić, nav. delo, Language:Serbian, page 190
26. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Ranohrišćanska crkva, page 119, 2. paragraph
27. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Trački hram kod vrela, page 112
28. M. Kostić, Turističku centar Divljana, Language:Serbian, glasnik SGD, LII, 2, Belgrade, 1972., page 137
29. Opširno o Tribalima u Ponišavlju, Language:Serbian, Ž. Jocić, n.d. page 175-186
30. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Trački hram kod vrela, page 113
31. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Izbor mesta i patrona, page 120
32. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Izbor mesta i patrona, page 121
33. Ž. Jocić, nav. delo, Language:Serbian, page 196-197
34. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Glavni hram srednjeg Ponišavlja, page 114
35. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Glavni hram srednjeg Ponišavlja, page 125, 1. paragraph
36. Pirotski zbornik, Language:Serbian, 2004/2005, no. 29-30, UDK 902(497.11), Glavni hram srednjeg Ponišavlja, page 125, 2. paragraph
37. P. Matković, Putovanje po Balkanskom poluotoku, Language:Serbian, page 85-86
38. R. Tričković, Manastiri u okolini Pirota, Language:Serbian, page 85-86
39. K. Kostić, Istorija Pirota, Language:Serbian, Pirot, 1973, page 53
40. Ž. Jocić, Manastirske škole, Language:Serbian, page 131
41. K. Protić, Putovanje kroz Srbiju 1719 i 1720 godine, Language:Serbian, Otadžbina, book 17, Belgrade, 1889, page 63
42. K. Kostić, nav. delo, Language:Serbian, page 54
43. Icon with size 57х70cm with inscription: „Pomeni g(ospo)di esnav trački 1820“, Language:Serbian, now in monastery archives
44. F Kanic, Srbija II, Language:Serbian, Belgrade, 1985, page 225; Ž. Jocić, Biblioteke Divljanskog manastira, Language:Serbian, Pirotski zbornik no.27-28, Pirot, 2002, page 189,197.
45. M. Milićević, Kraljevina Srbija, Language:Serbian, page 180
46. F. Kanic, nav. delo, Language:Serbian, page 225
47. S. Sremac, Zona Zamfirova, Language:Serbian, Belgrade, 1903, II glava; Ž. Jocić, Divljanski manastir kao zdravstveni centar, Language:Serbian, page 181
48. M. and D. Garašanin, Arheološka nalazišta u Srbiji, Language:Serbian, Belgrade, 1951, page 122
49. A. Belić, Dijalekti istočne i južne Srbije, Language:Serbian, Belgrade, 1905, page 91-93 (with a map)

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