UNESCO

The Church of St. Premta (Levisha Church), located in the Historic District of Prizren, was rebuilt in 1306-07. It is assumed that the foundations of the early Paleo-Christian church (V-VIth century) and later the Byzantine basilica (IXth century) were built on the foundations of a Pagan temple (before our era) dedicated to Prema or Premta, the Illyrian goddess of fertility and childbirth. After the conquest of Prizren by the Ottoman Empire in 1455-59, it was converted into a mosque and named Friday Mosque, a name that is still used by locals today. With the First Balkan War in 1912, the mosque was again converted into a church. The minaret was demolished in 1923. In 1948, it was placed under protection by Law No. 352. Based on its historical, artistic, social and spiritual values, the Church of St. Premta (Levisha Church), a cultural heritage property, was declared under eternal protection by the Kosovo Cultural Heritage Council in 2016.

It is located in the center of Gracanica. The present monastery is a reconstruction of a fourteenth-century church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, built on the foundations of an early Christian basilica from the VI century. The greatest restoration of the monastery took place towards the end of the 16th century, when all the openings in the outer narthex were walled up and new frescoes were painted. The famous Thessaloniki painters Mihajli and Evtihije completed the frescoes in the main church in 1321, the best known of which are The Great Cycle of Celebrations and The Difficulties and Miracles of Christ. The interior of the monastery is rich in frescoes. The Gracanica Monastery is part of the world cultural heritage protected by UNESCO. Based on its historical, artistic, social and spiritual values, the Monastery of Graçanica, a cultural heritage property, was declared under eternal protection by the Kosovo Cultural Heritage Council in 2016.

The Patriarchate of Peja is located at the entrance to the Rugova gorge near Peja. The Holy Temple of the Apostles was built by Archbishop Arsenije in the third decade of the XIII century. In the XIV century minor changes were made to the Church of the Holy Apostles, so some parts were decorated later. Serbian patriarchs and archbishops were buried in the churches of the Patriarchate from the XIIIth to the XVIIth century. In the XIX century a watermill, a guesthouse and new stone walls were added outside this complex. In July 2006, UNESCO declared the Patriarchate of Peja a part of the world cultural heritage, giving it the 13th place. In turn, on July 13, 2003, the Patriarchate of Peja was included in UNESCO’s list of world protected properties. Based on its historical, artistic, social and spiritual values, the Patriarchate of Peja, a cultural heritage property, was declared under eternal protection by the Kosovo Cultural Heritage Council in 2016.

The Dechan Monastery was built in the first half of the XIV century. According to the inscription carved on the architrave of the south portico in the narthex (entrance) of the church, it was built between 1327-1335. The monastery of Deçan is located in the valley of the Lumbardhë river in the municipality of Deçan, west of Kosovo. The church, reaching a height of 32 m with its dome, was known as Deçan i Lartë (i lartë = high) during the Middle Ages. The exterior architecture of the church is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles, while the interior is covered with a combination of traditional drawings of Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine style. The monumental monastery is a basilica with a three-nave narthex and five naves covered by a dome, resting on a pulpit. There are also two altars in the church. One is located on the north side of St. Dhimitri Church and the other on the south side of St. Nikolla Church. The chief architect of the Deçan Monastery was the master Fra Vito of Kotor, a Franciscan monk who decorated the monastery with many elements of Romanesque style. The Deçan Monastery is also rich in frescoes dating from the XIV century. The monastery has a rich treasure trove of portable exhibits of high museum value. Among these collections, special mention should be made of icons, manuscripts and different items used in religious ceremonies. The Dechan Monastery is part of the world cultural heritage protected by UNESCO. Based on its historical, artistic, social and spiritual values, the Monastery of Deçan, a cultural heritage property, was declared under eternal protection by the Kosovo Cultural Heritage Council in 2016.

Liturgy of the Eucharist