Piva Monastery
Encyclopedia
Piva Monastery is located in Piva, Montenegro
near the source of the Piva River in northern Montenegro
. Built between 1573 and 1586, it was rebuilt in another location in 1982. It is the largest Serbian Orthodox church constructed during the Ottoman
occupation in the 16th and 17th centuries. Noted for its fresco
es, the monastery's treasures also include ritual objects, rare liturgical
books, art, objects of precious metals and a psalm from the Crnojevići printing press
(1493–96), which was the first in the Balkans
. These are displayed in the monastery's museum.
of Zahumlje and Herzegovina
Savatije Sokolović, who later became the Serbian Orthodox patriarch, the monastery is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos
.
Piva Monastery is included within the Eparchy of Budimlja-Nikšić. In 1982, a new reservoir, created by the Piva Hydro Electric Project, required moving the monastery. Stone by stone it was moved to the village of Goransko
near Lake Mratinje
.
, just south of Goransko
in northern Montenegro.
It is accessible along the E-762 road, on the way to Srbinje. It lies approximately 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) from Nikšić
and is 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of Plužine
.
The monastery was originally located at the source of the Piva River, approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away from and 100 metres (328.1 ft) below the junction of the proposed Mratinje Dam
, a hydroelectric plant. Begun in 1969 and completed in 1982, the monastery was moved to its current position, which included the removal and replacement of over 1000 fresco fragments, covering 1260 square metres (1,506.9 sq yd).
books, art and objects of precious metals. Also featured is a psalm from the Crnojevići printing press
(1493–1496), which was the first printing press in the Balkans
. It is dated to 1494 and was discovered by chance among other papers in the library of the monastery.
Much of the church was decorated by Greek painters between 1604 and 1606 and contains many frescoes. However, the upper porch area was painted by a local priest Strahinja from Budimlje; this included Akathist to the Mother of God. Other parts of the church, dating from 1626, were painted by Kozma
who also painted many of the icons on the iconostasis
. The icons of St. George and the Dormition of the Virgin are dated to about 1638–1639. The artist Longin painted the throne icons of the Mother of God, Christ and Assumption of the Mother of God. Piva, Moraca
and Mileseva
monasteries have been described as "breathtaking medieval masterpieces that store ancient writings and works of art".
provided $22,200 for the reconstruction of the drainage system.
Piva, Montenegro
Piva and Pivljani are the names of the geographical region and Montenegrin tribe of Old Herzegovina, situated in the southwestern highlands of Montenegro, bordering the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia & Herzegovina. The Piva lake flows through the region. The Serbian president Boris Tadić is a...
near the source of the Piva River in northern Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. Built between 1573 and 1586, it was rebuilt in another location in 1982. It is the largest Serbian Orthodox church constructed during the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
occupation in the 16th and 17th centuries. Noted for its fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es, the monastery's treasures also include ritual objects, rare liturgical
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
books, art, objects of precious metals and a psalm from the Crnojevići printing press
Printing House of Crnojevici
Printing House of Crnojevići is the first Balkan printing house; the facility operated between 1493 and 1496 in Cetinje, Montenegro.It was founded by Đurađ IV Crnojević, the ruler of the Principality of Zeta between 1490 and 1496. The printing press was operated by orthodox monks led by hieromonk...
(1493–96), which was the first in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. These are displayed in the monastery's museum.
History
Founded in 1573, or 1575, and completed in 1586 through the expenditures of the Metropolitan bishopMetropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Zahumlje and Herzegovina
Eparchy of Zahumlje and Herzegovina
The Eparchy of Zahumlje and Herzegovina is an eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church with its seat in Mostar, temporarily transferred to the Tvrdoš monastery near Trebinje, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Early:The region was under the Metropolitanate of Durazzo, which in turn was under...
Savatije Sokolović, who later became the Serbian Orthodox patriarch, the monastery is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos
Dormition of the Theotokos
The Dormition of the Theotokos is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches which commemorates the "falling asleep" or death of the Theotokos , and her bodily resurrection before being taken up into heaven. It is celebrated on August 15 The Dormition...
.
Piva Monastery is included within the Eparchy of Budimlja-Nikšić. In 1982, a new reservoir, created by the Piva Hydro Electric Project, required moving the monastery. Stone by stone it was moved to the village of Goransko
Goransko
Goransko is a small town in northern Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 334 people. Piva Monastery was rebuilt here in 1982....
near Lake Mratinje
Mratinje Dam
The Mratinje Dam is a concrete arch dam in the canyon of the Piva River in Montenegro.The dam was completed in 1975 with designs by Energoprojekt. Its construction resulted in the flooding of the Piva canyon and the creation of Lake Piva, which, with its 12.5 km², is the second largest lake in...
.
Geography
Piva Monastery is located in the village of PivaPiva, Montenegro
Piva and Pivljani are the names of the geographical region and Montenegrin tribe of Old Herzegovina, situated in the southwestern highlands of Montenegro, bordering the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia & Herzegovina. The Piva lake flows through the region. The Serbian president Boris Tadić is a...
, just south of Goransko
Goransko
Goransko is a small town in northern Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 334 people. Piva Monastery was rebuilt here in 1982....
in northern Montenegro.
It is accessible along the E-762 road, on the way to Srbinje. It lies approximately 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) from Nikšić
Nikšić
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
and is 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of Plužine
Plužine
Plužine is a town in northwesten Montenegro. It has a population of 1,494 .Plužine is the centre of the municipality and unofficial centre of Piva region, named after Piva River.-History:...
.
The monastery was originally located at the source of the Piva River, approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away from and 100 metres (328.1 ft) below the junction of the proposed Mratinje Dam
Mratinje Dam
The Mratinje Dam is a concrete arch dam in the canyon of the Piva River in Montenegro.The dam was completed in 1975 with designs by Energoprojekt. Its construction resulted in the flooding of the Piva canyon and the creation of Lake Piva, which, with its 12.5 km², is the second largest lake in...
, a hydroelectric plant. Begun in 1969 and completed in 1982, the monastery was moved to its current position, which included the removal and replacement of over 1000 fresco fragments, covering 1260 square metres (1,506.9 sq yd).
Architecture and fittings
Piva is a small stone structure. Its construction includes three naves with a taller middle nave. There is no cupola. The monastery contains archives, a library, and a treasury with 183 books and nearly 280 other items reported in 1991, including ritual objects, rare liturgicalLiturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
books, art and objects of precious metals. Also featured is a psalm from the Crnojevići printing press
Printing House of Crnojevici
Printing House of Crnojevići is the first Balkan printing house; the facility operated between 1493 and 1496 in Cetinje, Montenegro.It was founded by Đurađ IV Crnojević, the ruler of the Principality of Zeta between 1490 and 1496. The printing press was operated by orthodox monks led by hieromonk...
(1493–1496), which was the first printing press in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. It is dated to 1494 and was discovered by chance among other papers in the library of the monastery.
Much of the church was decorated by Greek painters between 1604 and 1606 and contains many frescoes. However, the upper porch area was painted by a local priest Strahinja from Budimlje; this included Akathist to the Mother of God. Other parts of the church, dating from 1626, were painted by Kozma
Kozma
Kozma can refer to:* István Kozma , Hungarian footballer* Mihály Kozma , Hungarian footballer* Miklós Kozma , Hungarian politician* Robert Kozma, American mathematician...
who also painted many of the icons on the iconostasis
Iconostasis
In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church...
. The icons of St. George and the Dormition of the Virgin are dated to about 1638–1639. The artist Longin painted the throne icons of the Mother of God, Christ and Assumption of the Mother of God. Piva, Moraca
Moraca monastery
Morača is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in the valley of the Morača River in central Montenegro. It is one of the best known medieval monuments of Montenegro. It was founded in 1252 by Stefan, son of Vukan Nemanjić, the Grand Prince of Zeta, the grandson of Stefan Nemanja...
and Mileseva
Mileševa monastery
Mileševa is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located near Prijepolje, in southwest Serbia. It was founded by King Vladislav, in the years between 1234 and 1236...
monasteries have been described as "breathtaking medieval masterpieces that store ancient writings and works of art".
Conservation
The church has been provided with drainage arrangements to prevent seepage of water inside the church so that the frescoes are protected from effects of humidity. In 2008, the U.S. Embassy at PodgoricaPodgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
provided $22,200 for the reconstruction of the drainage system.