![]() The Monastery of Kovilje | |
Monastery information | |
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Full name | Манастир Ковиљe |
Order | Serbian Orthodox |
Established | 12th century Renovated 1644 |
Dedicated to | Archangel Gabriel |
Diocese | Žiča Diocese |
Controlled churches |
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People | |
Founder(s) | Saint Sava |
Important associated figures | Archbishop Gavrilo Rašković |
Site | |
Location | Kovilje, Ivanjica, Serbia |
The Kovilje Monastery (Serbian: Манастир Ковиљe, romanized: Manastir Kovilje) dedicated to the archangel Gabriel, is a monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church, located in the village of Kovilje, in the municipality of Ivanjica, in south-west Serbia belonging to the Žiča Diocese. It is sited between Golija and Javor mountains, in the Nošnica river valley. The monastery has two churches, one built partly in a cave and dedicated to the archangel Gabriel, the other, added later, dedicated to St. Nicholas.
The monastery was founded in the 12th century. The first written reference to it is in 1606, in the "Kruševačkom Pomeniku". It was rebuilt in 1644 by Archbishop Gavrilo (Rašković). Records from 1733 mention it as an educational establishment.[1]
The hegumen of the monastery is the young Serbian Orthodox Hieromonk Amvrosije. He lives there by himself with his tamed animals of two wolves, a fox, an eagle, a snake, raven, rabbit and an owl. The Serb-American community of Libertyville have donated a motorcycle and 4-wheel-drive to the monastery. The life of the monastery has been documented in the Serbian documentary "Monah i vuk".