Monastery of the Introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Monastery of the Introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sremski Karlovci (virtual tour of Fruška Gora monasteries)
Time of construction: the exact time of construction of the Upper Church in Sremski Karlovci, dedicated to the Introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is not known, although there are serious hints that it existed in pre-Turkish times. Recent archaeological research has proven that the temple most likely originates from the first decades.
The church is dedicated to the Introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Years of destruction: the temple was damaged during the retreat of the Turks in 1716 and it was consecrated again by Metropolitan Vikentije (Popović Hadžilavić) on October 12, 1718.
Years of restoration: The Upper Church was thoroughly renovated after 1739, immediately after the Second Migration of the Serbs, and work on “Dimitrija zvonari” is mentioned in 1742. The plaque on the west side of the tower testifies that the Upper Church was rebuilt from the ruins by Patriarch Arsenije IV (Jovanović Šakabenta) in 1746. Major renovations of the temple were carried out in 1833 and later, under the direction of Patriarch Georgije (Branković), in 1903.
Architecture: Svetovavedenjski temple is a building built under the undoubted influence of traditional architecture, with a dome of circular section on the inside and octagonal on the outside, the usual square plinth, a series of blind arcades, a seven-sided altar apse and leaning columns on the surfaces of the facades.
Iconostasis: painted by Dimitrije Bačević, from 1760 to 1761, while painting and gilding work on the interior of the temple was carried out by Georgije Bakalović in 1824 and 1825, including parts of the altar.
Treasury: The Svetovavedenjska family owns liturgical books from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and particularly interesting are the servants printed during the time of Prince Miloš Obrenović.
Holy Relics: in this temple, a particle of the relics of Saint Nektarios of Aegina is kept.
Today: the overall renovation of this sanctuary has been ongoing since 2012, and work is currently underway on the construction of the monastery accommodation, as well as the remodeling of the lower part of the gate into a suitable park. His Grace the Bishop of Srem Mr. Vasilije, on January 14 (1), 2016, declared the Church of the Introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Upper Town of Sremski Karlovci, a monastery.
Patron’s Day: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 4)
Superior: Archimandrite Dr. Kleopa Stefanović