Fruska Gora's oldest monastery dates back to 12th century: There are 2 legends about its name, Privina Glava

Photo: Ivan Strahinic

Five kilometers away from the town of Sid, in the western part of Mt. Fruska Gora, is the Serbian Orthodox Monastery Privina Glava, dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel.

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Two legends are still alive regarding the origin of the name of this shrine ("Priva's Head" in Serbian).

According to one, the monastery was named after a nobleman called Priva who built the shrine at the end of the 12th century. Hence, this monastery is the oldest on Fruska Gora.

According to another legend, the shrine is called Priva's Head because of the cruelty of Despot Vuk Brankovic shown towards the builders who dared to cross him.

Namely, Brankovic gave the workers money to build the monastery, but they ran away without completing the job. Angry that they deceived him in this way, the despot hired people to find and capture the workers and judge them according to the laws of the era, which said that anyone who made a promise and did not keep it should be treated as a thief and punished by getting beaten to death.

At the beginning of this century, new churches were added to the the Privina Glava monastery complex, while the art of carving used to decorate the iconostasis is reputed to be the most beautiful in all of Serbia.

Photo: Ivan Strahinic

(Ona.rs)