Feast of the Founder celebrated at the Visoki Decani Monastery: A place of gathering and consolation

The Visoki Decani Monastery today marked its founder’s feast day—the feast of Saint King Stefan Decanski—with a liturgy and the ceremonial cutting of the festal bread. The Divine Liturgy was served by Metropolitan Teodosije and Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, together with clergy and monks of the Raska–Prizren Diocese.

Several hundred faithful attended the celebration today at Visoki Decani.

Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo addressed the faithful, stressing that the Visoki Decani Monastery is a church that “radiates beauty.”

“His holy relics—those of Saint Stefan Decanski—are the foundation of this Holy Church, for this holy place radiates beauty and shines, as though strengthened through the abundance of trials it has endured. The more the storms and temptations strike this holy place, the brighter it shines, the further it is heard, the more beautifully it smells,” the Bishop said.

He added that Visoki Decani is a place of gathering and consolation.

“May God grant, through the prayers of the Holy Great-Martyr King Stefan Decanski, and of our Patriarch Porfirije, who was tonsured in this very monastery and whose blessings and greetings I bring to you—with the hope that we shall soon meet with him again in Kosovo and Metohija—may God grant through his prayers, and through the prayers of our father and host Metropolitan Teodosije, who also grew up in this holy brotherhood and dedicated himself to serving God even in his youth, contemplating Decani, where God’s providence led him and where it now brings him back—just as it brings all of us, thanks be to God.

May his prayers, and the prayers of the Decani brotherhood, with Father Sava, make this place a place of assembly, a place of consolation—a fearful place, brothers and sisters, and yet a place where we have learned to stand firm and endure; to exist in a fearful place—this is briefly the martyred testimony, as the poet said: ‘to exist in a dreadful place.’ May God give strength to all of you who strive to remain and endure in this fearful place. And may we be gathered through the prayers of the Holy King and all the saints for good, to the glory of the Holy Trinity,” Bishop Ilarion said.

Metropolitan Teodosije stated in his homily that the Visoki Decani Monastery withstands trials, dangers, and enemies, and stands firm to this day.

“This is the greatest holy site for us who live in Kosovo and Metohija, and indeed everywhere. Here lie the miracle-working relics of the Holy King. The Holy King never wished to leave his home—this church. Some attempted to remove him, but without success, to this very day, and so it shall remain, God willing. And the monks, the abbot, the brotherhood—they faithfully serve their King and this holy family. They left everything to dedicate their lives to him—the Holy King—and through him to God Himself, our Father and Savior. Is there anything more beautiful, anything more precious for all of us?

Just as the Holy King is faithful to this holy place, to his endowment, refusing ever to abandon it, so too are the monks faithful to their King. And all of you here today, brothers and sisters, celebrate this fidelity to our saintly King, the most glorified of all rulers in our lineage. That is why God blessed him to remain here, to be our pillar and foundation of life and survival in the hardest times,” Metropolitan Teodosije said.

Milena Parlic, Assistant Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija responsible for matters concerning the Serbian Orthodox Church and the preservation of cultural heritage, attended the liturgy and emphasized that today both the heavenly and earthly defender—proven through centuries—was welcomed with great joy.

“King Saint Stefan Decanski and this endowment are living proof of our survival and endurance. In these difficult times—full of trials and long-suffering—this holy place remains the guardian of the Serbian people’s existence, a keeper of hope for a better future. A great number of faithful have gathered here today to pray to their Holy King for a better future and for the much-needed peace,” Parlic said.

Parlic extended her congratulations on the feast in her own name and on behalf of Petar Petkovic, Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

“May the Holy King help us to celebrate him in all the days to come, through the ages, and may the holy Decani uplift us as a living testimony of preservation and endurance,” Parlic said.
Faithful gathered at the Visoki Decani Monastery said it was a special honor and joy to attend today’s celebration.

“It is always beautiful to be here on this day. It is a great honor and privilege to be in Decani today—thanks be to God,” said Nenad Filipovic from Strpce.

Kristina Markovic from Trstenik shared the same sentiment.

“It is a wonderful feeling to stand on holy Serbian land and before a magnificent witness of Serbian history and Orthodoxy,” Kristina said.

“It is an extraordinary feeling—this is our first time here. A friend who has been here many times brought us. One must experience this. Anyone who has the opportunity should visit Decani, especially on this day,” said Marko Drobnik from Belgrade.

The Visoki Decani Monastery is one of four monasteries in Kosovo included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The construction of the monastery was completed in 1335, and the frescoes in 1350. The monastery, currently protected by KFOR troops, is the resting place of Saint King Stefan Decanski.