UDRIM MONASTERY GAINS ROOF AFTER THREE CENTURIES

DOBOJ, JANUARY 23 /SRNA/ – The medieval Udrim Monastery in Gostović near Zavidovići, believed to be an endowment of King Dragutin Nemanjić, has been roofed for the first time in three centuries, administrator of the Udrim Monastery, Archpriest-Stavrophor Zoran Živković, told SRNA.

Archpriest Živković said that the monastery building has been covered, though without sheet metal roofing, which will be installed once the dome is constructed. "The roof is of great importance for any house, let alone for the Orthodox Church and for our people as a witness of identity, given that this is an endowment and a part of historical heritage, a cultural monument. The joy is even greater because the building stood for a long time in ruins, without a roof or walls," Archpriest Živković emphasized. He announced that restoration works will continue and expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to what he described as a monumental moment - that after more than three centuries, Udrim Monastery is once again under a roof. Archpriest Živković noted that achieving this required a great deal of goodwill, effort, dedication, knowledge, courage, respect, determination, and perseverance. The first religious procession at the ruins of the medieval Udrim Monastery after three centuries was held in 2019. Restoration of the monastery, with the blessing of Metropolitan Hrizostom, began on October 23, 2018, with the excavation of the monastery walls that had been buried under layers of sand. According to oral tradition, Udrim Monastery dates back to the 14th century and is dedicated to Saint Panteleimon the Great Martyr. The monastery is located 13 kilometers upstream from Zavidovići along the Gostović River and was most likely destroyed during the Austro-Turkish War, in the major campaign led by Eugene of Savoy in this region. Its destruction also resulted in the loss of all archival material that could testify to its history. However, it is known that in the 17th century Udrim Monastery owned extensive land, including ten vineyards, and was home to a large number of monks. This is corroborated by the 1604 census of the Bosnian Sanjak, which records that the land of the Gostović church, used by its monks, along with ten vineyards and meadows, belonged to Maglaj and was listed outside the official tax register. After its destruction, Udrim Monastery was never rebuilt. In 1970, it was declared a cultural monument of BiH and is currently listed on the provisional list of cultural monuments of BiH.