In Nikolje monastery, vigil lamp burns for centuries: People believe a special pine tree protects the shrine

Photo: Ivan Strahinic

Serbian Orthodox Monastery Nikolje, one of ten in the wood-covered rocky Ovcar-Kablar Gorge - also known as "the Mt. Athos in Serbia" - is located at the foot of the mountain Kablar near Cacak, on the bank of the Zapadna Morava River.

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It is not known who the founder of the monastery's church was, but it is known that at one time as many as 300 monks lived in this shrine and that it was here that Prince Milos Obrenovic and his family hid from the Turks.

During his stay in Nikolje, Milos the Great built lodgings that still bear his name.

The Obrenovic dynasty had unbreakable ties with Nikolje for another reason. Namely, the son of Prince Milos, Petar, who was christened by Karadjordje and passed away before the age of six, is buried in the monastery complex.

Despite the fact that it was damaged several times, Nikolje is one of the shrines in the Ovcar-Kablar Gorge which the people persistently rebuilt and in which the vigil lamp was never extinguished.

There has always been a pine near this shrine, which people believe has special powers, and that it was thanks to it that Nikolje managed to survive the Turkish invasion. According to tradition, anyone who prays next to this pine tree and walks around it three times can hope that their prayer will be answered.

Photo: Ivan Strahinic

(Ona.rs)