Monastery Kovilje

This temple is in Smiljevac village, 25km southwest from Ivanjica. The temple was built inside a cliff by the river. The origin of the name of the church is the name of a village on Javor mountain. Monastery complex is made of two churches. The first one is dedicated to St Archangels Michael and Gabriel while the second one is dedicated to St Nicola. The first one, St Archangels church is in the cave part of the cliff. It is nave building with altar apse. The church is very old and built in XII century. It was mentioned for the first time in 1606., in the memorial book of Krusevac. Metropolitan of Raska, Mr Gavrilo, has restored the monastery in 1644. and stayed in this monastery until he became Patriarch of Serbian Ortodox Church. The second temple, with greater dimenzions than the Church of St Archangels, dedicated to St Nicola, was built during that period.

This temple was built on rectangle shaped foundations with blind dome. In the frescos from XII century, that are preserved in fragments only, the portraits of saints are preserved in complete. This monastery used to be an important centre of cultural and spiritual life in this region. One of the oldest schools in Serbia was established here in 1867. Theological school for new priests was a part of the monastery as well. Since 1813. this monastery is in active function as a regular priest church.