Photos

The Zica monastery, with the church of the Ascension, was founded at the beginning of 13th century. Its ktetor (founder) was King Stephen the Firstcrowned. In 1219, after the Serbian Church gained independence, the Zica monastery became the first archbishopric see. The church facades are painted red after Athonite models. At the end of 13th century the monastery was damaged by the Mongol Raid. It was restored by the King Milutin at the beginning of 14th century. In the main monastery church the superb fresco paintings from 1220 and from the beginning of 14th century are preserved. To the east of the main church, the small church of St. Theodore Thyron and St. Theodore Stratilatos was built in 14th century.

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Ugledno duhovno središte srednjovekovne srpske države - manastir Žiču - Dom Spasov, hram Vaznesenja podigao je kralj Stefan Prvovenčani sa svojim bratom Sv. Savom početkom XIII veka. Ovaj manastir po svom značaju izdvaja se od ostalih srpskih crkava i manastira jer je osnovan sa namerom da bude sedište arhiepiskopije, gde će se krunisati kraljevi i postavljati arhiepiskopi srpske crkve. Kao ni jedan drugi srpski manastir, Žiča je doživela tragična razaranja.
Prvo veće razaranje bilo je u poslednjoj deceniji XIII veka od strane Kumana, a zatim pod najezdom Turaka. Podizana i rušena, čuvana i napuštana, nadgrađivana i od prijatelja i od neprijatelja, Žiča danas malo liči na onu iz vremena kralja Stefana Prvovenčanog i arhiepiskopa Save.
Žiča u našem narodu ima veliki ugled. Naziva se "sedmovrata Žiča" zato što je u njoj krunisano sedam srpskih kraljeva (za svako krunisanje otvarana su nova vrata). Crvena fasada manastira je simbol kraljevstva.