Bodjani Monastery
The Bodjani Monastery with the church dedicated to the Entrance of the Holy Virgin in the Temple is located in Backa district, Vojvodina, in Bac Municipality, between the villages of Vajska and Bodjani. The Bodjani Monastery was establish in 1478, and its turbulent history of later centuries marked its existence. The three earlier reconstructions of the Bodjani Monastery were carried out after destruction of the Turkish conquest in 1526 and at the end of the 17th century, and in the beginning of the 18th century, after a flood by the Danube River course, which flows in the vicinity of the monastery. The thorough renovation was carried out in 2007 which brought back the former glory and appearance of the Bodjani Monastery.
The church of the Bodjani Monastery is one nave structure with semicircle altar apse, and shallow side spaces, above which rises the semi rounded vault with the massive dome which sits on four pillars. The high Baroque belfry of the Bodjani Monastery was added in 1755-1756, when the gabled walls were also added. The present day church of the Bodjani Monastery was painted by painter Hristofor Žefarovič from 1735 till 1737. This Medieval artist is renown for his engraving works of the Serbian rulers and kings, but the church of Bodjani Monastery was the only one he painted. The fresco decoration of the Bodjani Monastery is mostly well preserved. The work of Žefarović introduced the new ideas of the western civilization into the traditionalism of the Byzantine arts, which greatly influenced the Serbian painting of the 18th century with the Baroque elements. The special rarity in regard with frescoes of the Bodjani Monastery come from the fact that painting was done with oil paints on the already dried wall, to the contrary of the previous technique of fresco painting on the fresh and moisture mortar, which is known as the Serbian fresco painting technique.
The miraculous icon of the Holy Virgin of Bodjani Monastery – Bođanska Bogorodica gains the very distinguished place in the church iconostasis. This icon most likely arrived here from Russia in the 16th or the 17th century, and was put on the throne constructed in 1780. The healing power of this holy icon attracts numerous visitors to the Bodjani Monastery.
The spacious park of the Bodjani Monastery is the real botanical garden, which comprises nearly 153 plants from all over the world. It was established by the Bishop Lukijan of Osijek and Baranja, who was head of the monastery for a while. In the park of the Bodjani Monastery there are cedars originating from Egypt, the decorative spruce from the Pyrenees, while the Gingko biloba trees came from the Far East…… The Bodjani Monastery complex also comprises the chapel dedicated to Saint Paraskeva, built above the healing spring. The fresco decoration of the chapel has been restored in 1896 by efforts and funds of the monk Rafailo Momcilovic, from Kovilj Monastery.