Rakovac Monastery

Time of construction: according to testimony, 1498.

Founder: Raka, comronic of despot Jovan Branković.

The church is dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian (July 1/14)

Years of destruction: the Turks destroy the lodgings; In 1678, the Turks set fire to the church and lodgings again. In 1771, the eastern wing of the inn was demolished, and a wall was built in its place. The northern lodge was destroyed by fire, but was repaired in 1878. The Austrian army in 1914 removed the bells and melted them down for war purposes. At the beginning of the Second World War, the Rakovac monastery was looted, and in 1943 the church and bell tower were demolished.

Years of restoration: From the records it is known about the restoration of not neglected but destroyed lodgings in 1656-1657. After the Turkish firman, in 1692–1693, the renovation of the monastery buildings began. Extensive construction work began after the departure of the Turks in 1715. In 1735, a bell tower was added, which housed a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas, which marked the beginning of the baroqueization of the monastery. 1736–1742. the north, south and west wings of the hostel are being built. In 1736, the marble floor of the church was laid, and in 1751, a small cemetery chapel was built. The roof covering on the church was changed in 1821, and the dome cap was changed in 1849. A more thorough renovation of the complex was carried out in 1913. Before the First World War, the old frescoes were covered with new wall decoration. In 1953, the first post-war reconstruction, in the 1970s, the reconstruction of the northern wing of the inn and in 1986–1989. conservation of the church. Under the patronage of His Grace the Bishop of Srem, Mr. Vasilije, the construction and furnishing of a completely new, one-story, western inn has been completed so far. Its foundations were poured in 2000. In the meantime, the old northern wing burned down in a fire that broke out on March 17, 2005, and thanks to the self-sacrificing zeal of the Bishop of Srem and a small monastic family, the building, repaired and equipped with furniture, in which central heating was installed, was ceremonially consecrated on November 26, 2005. years.

Architecture: the Rakovica church belongs to buildings modeled after the Moravian architectural group.

Iconostasis: was made in 1763. The icons for it were made by Vasilije Ostojić, the small iconostasis in the chapel at the cemetery was painted by Vasilije Ostojić and Janko Halkozović. It is destroyed in the Second World War. It was extremely ornate, baroque, with very beautiful carvings.

Painting/frescoes: Only fragments have been preserved that bear witness to the frequent and severe suffering of Rakovac. They have not been sufficiently studied, but it is believed that they originate from the 16th century.

Treasury: looted and then burned in World War II.

Today: the monastery complex consists of a church and a completely renovated northern dormitory. It can be examined in detail immediately by visiting the virtual tour of the Fruška Gora monasteries.

Patron’s Day: Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian

Superior: Hieromonk Evgenije Pilipović