The Krupa Monastery in Dalmatia marks 700 years of existence: The most western Orthodox temple in this region (PHOTO)

The Krupa Monastery in Dalmatia, built at the time of King Milutin in 1317, marks 700 years of existence.

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The monastery dedicated to the Ascension of the Most Holy Mother of God, whose holiday was celebrated yesterday, is the most Western Orthodox monastery in this region which has been the backbone of the survival of the Serbian people for centuries.

The foundations of the Krupa Monastery were built by monks from the Krupa Monastery on Vrbas with the help of King Milutin. During his long history, this monastery often suffered in various invasions, but it was always renewed.

- The material testimonies of the history of the Serbian Orthodox people of that region, I'm talking about Bukovica, which are concentrated in the treasury of the monastery, speak of an incredible concentration of the material of applied art. These are religious objects that can be seen in a museum in one of the branches of the quarters, in a monastery where icons, triptychs, diptych, chalices can be seen - said Director of the Serbian Orthodox Church Archives Radovan Pilipovic.

He adds that the monastery has a rich old collection of printed books and rich collections of manuscripts.

The inscription on the arch of the monastery church testifies that it was rebuilt during the time of Emperor Dusan, and the kings of Milutin, Stefan Decanski, and Dusan issued donations to the monastery in the form of land, which is seen in Turkish Fermans.

Foto: Telegraf

Mother Angelina, a Serbian despot donated to the monastery in 1494.

The monastery was heavily damaged during the Venetian-Turkish wars, while Archimandrite Gerasim Zelic gathered many religious books and other valuables in the 19th century. The monastery suffered great destructions in 1941 and 1995.

Foto: Telegraf

- The presence of Krupa monastery speaks about the roots of Serbian people and that Monastery Krupa is not a coincidence of Serbian people in the west, but a backbone - said Pilipovic.

Around a thousand Serbs live in Obrovac today, and that area has been abandoned after the "Storm", said Dragan Komazec, who has property in Zegar near Obrovac.

Foto: Telegraf

- The places where we lived were predominantly Serb areas inhabited by Orthodox inhabitants and the surnames Komazec, Milic, Zelic, Jovancevic are from that region - said Komazec.

The renovation of Krupa began in 2000, so the monks are living in the gorgeous monastery, and Archimandrite Gavrilo and Bishop Fotije are welcoming the Serbs that come.

Young people who fled from the Republika Srpska to Serbia in 1995, started their organized trip from Belgrade two nights ago towards the monastery. "Krajiska youth" attended the liturgy at 9 am, as well as the cultural and artistic program.

Iguman gave thanks to all who donated money for the construction and restoration of the monastery.

(Telegraf.co.uk / K.Bezbradica-k.bezbradica@telegraf.rs/RTS)