Description of the attraction
Durmitor National Park is famous not only for its unique nature, but also for the fact that there are several holy monasteries on its territory. In the eastern part of the reserve, you can find one of the oldest local Orthodox monasteries, consecrated in honor of St. George. It is often referred to as the Dobrilovin Monastery after the name of the nearest settlement - Nizhnyaya Dobrilovina.
The exact date of the foundation of the monastery is unknown. The first mention of the monastery in written sources occurs in 1593. Then the Turks, who ruled the region, allowed the repair of the main monastery church to begin. The Church of St. George was in a dilapidated state. Based on this, historians have concluded that the monastery was built earlier. Residents of the surrounding villages are sure that the temple and living quarters for monks at it were founded by one of the Serbian kings from the Nemanjic family in the 12th or 13th century.
Further information about the monastery, dating from the 17th century, is already more varied. It is known that in 1609 the temple on its territory was re-decorated with frescoes, and in 1699 the relics of Archbishop Arseny were placed here for safekeeping. In 1799, the monastery of St. George was captured and destroyed by Turkish troops. To protect the main shrines of the monastery from abuse by the infidels, they were placed in a secret cave. These values were never returned to the monastery roof. During the 19th century, the monastery was raided by the Ottomans several times, but each time it was restored. The years of the Second World War brought new troubles to the inhabitants of the monastery of St. George. Church records kept in the Belgrade library have been lost.
Serious reconstruction of the Dobrilovin monastery began in 1989 and continues even in our time. Now the monastery is given to nuns.
