Visoki Dečani
The Visoki Dečani Monastery (Serbian: Манастир Високи Дечани, romanized: Manastir Visoki Dečani, Albanian: Manastiri i Deçanit) is a medieval Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery located near Deçan, Kosovo. It was founded in the first half of the 14th century by Stefan Dečanski, King of Serbia. It is often considered to be one of the most endangered European cultural heritage sites and with a designation of Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance.
Visoki Dečani Church | |
Location of Visoki Dečani within Kosovo | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Serbian Orthodox |
| Established | 1327–35 |
| Diocese | Eparchy of Raška and Prizren |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | King Stefan Dečanski |
| Abbot | Sava Janjić |
| Important associated figures | Stefan Dečanski, Stefan Dušan |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Serbo-Byzantine style |
| Site | |
| Location | Deçan, Kosovo 661 m (2,168.6 ft) |
| Coordinates | 42°32′48.9984″N 20°15′57.999″E |
| Public access | yes |
| Website | https://www.decani.org |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv |
| Designated | 2004 (28th session) |
| Part of | Medieval Monuments in Kosovo |
| Reference no. | 724 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Official name | Manastir Dečani |
| Type | Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance |
| Designated | 1947 |
| Reference no. | SК 1368 |
The Visoki Dečani monastery is located by the Deçan's Lumbardh river gorge at the foot of the Accursed Mountains, in the region of Metohija. It is located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town of Deçan. The monastery is managed by the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Raška and Prizren. The monastery has been under the legal protection of Serbia since 1947. The monastery is part of the World Heritage list named "Medieval Monuments in Kosovo" and is by far the biggest medieval monument in Balkan. Being officially within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Kosovo, the monument is protected under its law as part of the List of Cultural Heritage under Permanent Protection.