Prohor Pčinjski Monastery

The Monastery of Venerable Prohor of Pčinja, commonly known as Prohor Pčinjski Monastery, is a significant 11th-century Serbian Orthodox religious site located in the southernmost part of Serbia, near the North Macedonian border. Situated in the village of Klenike, amidst the slopes of Mount Kozjak and beside the Pčinja River, it stands as the second-largest Serbian Orthodox monastery complex, surpassed only by Hilandar on Mount Athos.

History and Significance

Tradition holds that the monastery was founded between 1067 and 1071 by Byzantine Emperor Romanus IV, who was inspired by Saint Prohor of Pčinja's prophecy of his ascension to the throne. The relics of Saint Prohor are preserved within the monastery. The monastery has a rich and often tumultuous history, marked by periods of destruction and reconstruction. A significant renovation in the early 14th century saw the painting of new frescoes under King Milutin of Serbia. Following the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, the monastery was destroyed by the Ottomans but subsequently rebuilt. It faced further hardship in the 17th and 18th centuries, including being plundered and abandoned in 1817. A fire in 1841 destroyed the monastery and a relic of St. Prohor's hand. Despite these challenges, new buildings were erected in the mid-19th century, with further reworking of murals and expansion occurring in the late 19th century. King Peter I of Serbia financed a new residential building in 1913. The monastery has also been the site of important historical events, most notably hosting the first session of the Anti-fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) on August 2, 1944, where a Macedonian state was declared within Yugoslavia.

Modern Era and Features

Recent renovations have included the addition of residential buildings, a watermill, and a mini hydro power plant, with the King's residence undergoing renovation starting in 2013. An underground room from the Early Middle Ages was discovered in 2010, though further archaeological examination is pending due to funding limitations. For most of its history, Prohor Pčinjski operated as a male monastery, with a brief period as a female monastery from 1987 to 1992. In 1979, it was designated a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance and is protected by the state. The monastery currently houses a theological school and offers training in iconography. Despite a partial roof fire in 2014, efforts were made by the state and community to fund its reconstruction. A part of the roof was completely burnt down in 2014, with reconstruction efforts initiated in 2015.