Sisojevac Monastery

Sisojevac Monastery, dedicated to the Holy Christ Transfiguration, is located in the village of Sisevac in East Serbia, beside the spring of Crnica River, at the foot of the Kucaj Mountains. Monastery was probably built in the eight decade of the 14th century, as it was first recorded in 1398 in the charter of Princess Milica to the monk Sisoje, who was attributed the founder of Sisojevac Monastery. Other resources mention that the local lord Crep Vukoslavic erected the monastery, and also some record that it was the joint endowment of despot Stefan Lazarevic and some high church dignitary or the local bishop. Later testimony of the Sisojevac Monastery are recorded in the Austrian military map from 1717-1718 that was produced in Vienna, when it is assumed that monks were still living in the shrine. It is not known when the monastery was deserted and the church left without roof that greatly impacted destruction of fresco paintings.

In terms of architecture, Sisojevac Monastery belongs to the Morava School of architecture, featuring trefoil base, without decorative elements on the facade, usual for the Morava School of Architecture. The naos of the Sisojevac Monastery is divided into three traveys, with the dome above the central part and the square-shaped narthex. Each of three apses are seven-sided on outward and semicircular inward. The facade of Sisojevac Monastery is adorned with blind arcades and the cornice, leaning on the simple consoles.

The Church of Sisojevac Monastery was outwardly plastered and decorated with paintings. Frescoes of the Sisojevac Monastery according to the depicted portrait of Despot Stefan Lazarević date from the period after 1402, and are preserved in fragments. Scenes from the Old Testament are painted in the altar. In the naos of the Sisojevac Monastery Church one can discern the scenes of the Christ Miracles, Parabollas, standing Saint Warriors and Saints, depicted in medallions. In 1952 the conservation works were carried out on the architecture and frescoes, led by Branislav Vulovic. In the eighties of the 20th century, the central part of the Sisojevac Monastery Church was restored, while in 1993 its narthex was reconstructed. From 1985 until 1989 new excavation works were carried out in Sisojevac Monastery when the foundations of the old dormitory and the large wall were discovered, and the new dormitory has been built on the foundations of the old dormitory.