Saint Roman Monastery Djunis
Monastery of Saint Roman is located in the valley between Razanj and Djunis, close to the village and river of Morava. Sveti Roman – the Saint Roman Monastery as sacral holy place is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin and granted to Ohrid Arch-Bishopric, first mentioned in the Chrisobyll /founding charter/ of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II. Monastery got its name after the Saint Roman of Sinai, healer and miracle-worker and one of successors of St. Climentus from the 9th century, who is buried here in the monastic yard.
Monastery of Saint Roman was in the past also known by name Konicinik or Konjica. Legend has it that Sveti Roman – Monastery of Saint Roman was reconstructed by the servant of Prince Lazar who noticed the devastated grave of Saint Roman when took care of his sheep. In 1498 there were two monks serving in Monastery of Saint Roman. Sveti Roman – Saint Roman Monastery was mentioned in Turkish recorded documents in 1516. In the 16th century Monastery of Saint Roman experienced severe destruction, to be completely demolished during the Austria-Turkey War in the 18th century. The high stone belfry which reminds of a tower has been built in the southwestern side of the monastic church. The large bell for the belfry was donated by Prince Milos Obrenovic in 1833.
The church of the Monastery of Saint Roman was built from 1793 until 1796 on the foundations of an old temple. It has trefoil base covered by the dome on the pillars with the semi-circled apses. There is the Chapel and the gravel of St. Roman beside the southern wall of the church. The narthex of Saint Roman Monastery has two parts : from the northern part you enter the Church, but from the southern to the Chapel of Saint Roman. Monastery Dormitory was built in 1796 and the second floor was added in 1847. During the Turkish conquest until 1918 in the Monastery of Saint Roman operated the school for poor children and orphans who lived there as well. The Church was fresco-painted in 1796 and 1831. As per a legend, Djordje Pile who was cured in the Saint Roman Monastery, succeeded to get permitting from the Turkish governor for reconstruction of the monastery church and premises. Nikolay Nikolayevich Rayevski is buried in the churchyard of Saint Roman Monastery. He was the brave Russian volunteer who got killed in the Turkish attack in August 1876 and inspired Leo Tolstoy for the personality of Count Vronsky in the famous novel of Anna Karenina.
