Velika Remeta Monastery
The Velika Remeta Monastery is one of the 16 living medieval Monasteries on Fruska Gora Mountain area. The Velika Remeta Monastery is located in the river valley, in the east part of the Fruska Gora Mountain, northwest of the village bearing the same name that in the past belonged to the Prnjavor of Velika Remeta village. The Velika Remeta Monastery is set on the southern slope of the Fruska Gora Mountain, deep in the mountainous greenery, at the elevation of 270 meters, only few kilometers from the road connecting Belgrade and Novi Sad. In regard with spatial and administrative organization, the Velika Remeta Monastery belongs to the Irig Municipality and can be easily reached by faithful people and visitors. The church of Velika Remeta Monastery is dedicated to the Holy Martyr Saint Demetrius, and the monastic complex contains two chapels – one dedicated to Saint John the Baptist from the 18th century, and another one dedicated to the Ascension of the Holy Virgin, built in 1970.
The tradition has it that the Velika Remeta Monastery has been built by the Serbian Kind Dragutin in the first half of the 14th century. In historical records the Velika Remeta Monastery is first time mentioned in 1562. There is the written record from 1509 on the visit of the envoy – monk of the despina Angelina Brankovic to the shrine dedicated to the Holy Martyr Demetrius. The Turkish archives – defter records that the monastery estate contains 4 vineyards, 4 meadows, fields and a tiny settlement of Hasanja.
The present day church of the Velika Remeta Monastery has been built originally of bricks and stone, in the Raska style of architecture, and features the cruciform, with 2 side and one altar apse, but the comprehensive reconstructions and additional constructions carried out during several centuries turned it into the Baroque structure. From all sides the Monastery is encircled with dormitories, constructed in the first half of th 18th century, and features the tallest belfry in Srem district, added in 1735 which is 38 meters high. The church was probably fresco painted in 1568 right after construction, when the iconostasis had been built, but original frescoes are in bad condition. The unique outer fresco decoration of the Velika Remeta Monastery today features hardly visible and pretty destroyed depiction of the Holy Virgin on the throne, holding the Christ child, and blessing it with the right hand. Above are the holy archangels Michael – on the left side, and th Gabriel, on the righ hand side.
Likewise the other monasteries of Fruska Gora area, the Velika Remeta Monastery experienced destruction in 1716, when the Turks burnt it, after which monks escaped. However, already in 1720 the Monastery of Velika Remeta is again active, and at the beginning of the 18th century, the monk Jerotej Racanin of the Raca Monastery wrote about his journey to Jerusalem, which is regarded the first travel record in the Serbian literature. The royal visitation to the Velika Remeta Monastery in 1753 testifies that there live 17 monks, 5 disciples, 5 servants and 13 local villagers. The iconostasis was restored in 1850, when it contained 50 icons in four rows, of the three rows and those in the lunette with the cross. Until the middle of the 19th century the Velika Remeta Monastery was in pitiful conditions, but in 1901 the comprehensive reconstruction was carried out. Soon, the monastery became very poor, when it possessed only some 320 hectares of land, and before the First World War even less – only 250 hectares.
At the beginning of the Second World War in 1941, ustashas entered the Velika Remeta Monastery and stayed there until spring of 1943. The Velika Remeta Monastery was badly damaged, and its possessions were recorded on the 10th September 1941 by the Commission of the Museum of arts and economy from Zagreb. To Zagreb were taken all leftovers after bad demolition and plundering. Then the dome and the roof were destroyed, and the iconostasis with rich woodcarving and over 40 icons from the 17th and the 18th century were burnt, and the frescoes were whitewashed, as well as the west wing of the Dormitories that were thorn to the ground, while the other parts were considerably demolished.
The Velika Remeta Monastery was restored twice. In 1982 the new dome and the roof construction was completed. Today the church of the Velika Remeta Monastery features very attractive and beautiful appearance of restored walls of bricks and stone, and the outer frescoes, with one entrance and five windows. At the entrance to the Velika Remeta Monastery park, the brand new Dormitory welcomes visitors where visitors can stay overnight, regardless where they come from. The Monastery Abbott, Father Stefan is great spiritual and devoted monk. Father Stefan is highly devoted to the spiritual renewal and particularly takes care about the monastery estates, with support of the monastic brethren and nuns. There they have constructed the replica of the Cave of Bethlehem, and the Eden garden, the traditional settlement next to the Monastery, the Ubavac spring which is widely renowned by its healing and ivigorating waters that clears the vision… There at the Velika Remeta Monastery are held the summer painting school and icon-painting education for youth. Father Stefan greets visitors with natural honey and fresh water, provides relaxation and spiritual enlightment and invigoration, serves good apple brandy, and a book to read, and is always ready for a holy and God-loving conversation…..
