On Saturday, August 4th, I had the opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks to our friend, Chaplain Wikstrom, I was allowed to tour the amazing Visoki Decani Serbian Orthodox Monastery 12 km south of Pec, Kosovo. The monastery is an amazing architectural feat which was built between 1327 and 1335, but the most amazing thing about it is that it has not been destroyed throughout history.

At a time when other Monasteries were being destroyed, the Decani Monastery survived. It survived the Ottoman invasion, World War II when the Nazis stole all of the gold from the chapel frescoes, and the most recent wars when other Monasteries were burned to the ground.

The Monastery was built by Holy King Stefan Dečanski, who died before its completion. King Stefan's remains, to this day, are housed in the Monastery. On certain days, believers can actually kiss the hand of of the Holy King.

When you approach the monastery, the thing that strikes you is that it is a combination of different architectural styles. The outside of the building is covered with gargoyles and different stone-carved faces, to include a woman's face on the back wall making a funny face.

The building itself is created from red-purple, light-yellow and onyx marble and was constructed by master-builders under the Franciscan monk Vitus of Kotor. It is a beautiful masterpiece of building architecture.



Most amazing, however, are the Byzantine frescos which cover every square inch of wall and ceiling inside the chapel. These 14th Century frescoes were completed in 1350 and have survived mostly intact until this day. During the Ottoman occupation, the eyes were gauged out of several of the frescoes by the invading Turks, but the frescoes still stand much as they were in the 14th Century.

Several of the frescoes are famous around the world from postcards, books and churches. The fresco of the Virgin Mary which graces the bema, or area around the alter. The giant fresco of Christ Pantokrator takes up an entire wall in the same area.

We were guided by one of the Monks who specializes in wood carving for the Monastery, creating wood products which will be used in Orthdox churches everywhere. The craftsmanship used on these pieces is second to none.

The Monks also create the icons which are used in Orthodox churches around the world. Beautiful gold, hand-painted pieces which are made by the Monks, right down to carving the wood for the pieces.

Being with Father Michael, we were invited back soon and I fully intend on taking them up on the offer. The Monastery is not just a Kosovo or Serbian treasure, it is a treasure of the world, being listed in 2004 on the UNESCO World Heritage list.



This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see what I consider to be one of the surviving wonders of the world. And yes, I would defend this and other historical buildings like it with my life because I consider it to be that important. I only hope that someday the situation will be present in Kosovo wherein people can travel to the Decani Monastery in order to see it themselves. Before that can happen, there needs to be a large mind-set change on the parts of the Albanians and the Serbians. I don't care if you don't appreciate the other's religious beliefs, there is room for ALL beliefs in this world without violence from either side.

Sites like this are too important.