Mileseva

The Mileseva monastery is a glorious endowment of King Vladislav, the second-born son of Stefan the First-Crowned and grandson of Stefan Nemanja. He built it in 1218-1219 in a mild valley, five kilometers upstream from the confluence of Milesevka and Lim. It had been painted in the third decade of the 13^th century, before the founder acquired the crown in 1234. Mileseva was the second ranked among all Serbian monasteries, right after Studenica. In 1377 Stefan Tvrtko Kotromanic was coronated there as King of Serbs and Bosnians, while in 1466 Stefan Vukcic Kosaca got the title ‘the Duke of Saint Sava’. Great popularity among the people monastery acquired in 1236, when the relics of St. Sava were transferred there from Trnovo in Bulgaria. Mileseva was pillaged and burned down several times by the Turks, but was restored relatively quickly thanks to its reputation, and help from people, Romanian, Walachia and Moldavian princes, emperors of Russia and other dignitaries. In 1782 in the fire the monastery cells and all the icons were burnt down. Mileseva had two great restorations: the first one during Patriarch Makarije Sokolovic and the other in 1863, when the church got its present appearance.

The greatest wealth of Mileseva is represented in partly preserved frescoes, which are rated as the top of Byzantine art of the 13^th century. The most famous fresco is White Angel. Europe presented itself by broadcasting The White Angel (Beli Andjeo) via satellite to America in the mid of 20^th century. 

Beside the White Angel, there is an authentic fresco painting of St. Sava, Annunciation of the Mother of God… The monastery is located 5km from the main road in Prijepolje. The Mileseva monastery has had some changes recently, so visitors are provided with lodging modern library and treasury.