On the Serbian Holy Mountain, in the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge on the left bank of the Morava River, lies the great sanctuary of Jovanje Monastery. It is unknown who exactly built this monastery, but it is believed to have existed even before the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.
The old church, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, was submerged in 1954 during the construction of the hydroelectric power plant and the Međuvršje Lake. The present-day Jovanje Monastery was built in 1957, after the lake was created, during the tenure of Bishop German. Architecturally, Jovanje Church is considered one of the most beautiful in the Serbian Holy Mountain. What makes this monastery particularly special is the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear,” which was brought by Archimandrite Seraphim of Russia in 1939.
“It is believed that this icon is a copy of the famous icon from Dochiariou Monastery on Mount Athos. It is known that Seraphim of Russia brought it to Serbia in 1923 when he himself arrived and that he never parted with it. When the old monastery was submerged, all the belongings and icons were taken to Nikolje Monastery. When Abbess Katarina returned to the new Jovanje Monastery, she took only this icon, a cow, and a sewing machine. The nuns had nothing else, but the Mother of God helped in the monastery’s reconstruction and protected them from everything,” said a longtime resident of Ovčar Banja, who heard stories about Jovanje Monastery from his ancestors.
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Today, Jovanje Monastery is a women’s monastery, and thanks to the dedicated, hardworking, and selfless nuns, it is one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in Serbia. It exudes peace, beauty, and spirituality, attracting a large number of believers who come to pray for health, happiness, and even for wishes that have not yet been fulfilled.
“It is believed that the Mother of God helps in all troubles, especially women who wish to have children but cannot. People also pray to her for finding lost things and for guidance in emotional dilemmas. Many people visit Jovanje Monastery, and it truly is one of the greatest sanctuaries in our region. Inside the monastery, next to the icon, there is a book with a prayer that believers read when they come to seek the help of the great saint,” our source said.
The feast day of the miraculous icon “Quick to Hear” is celebrated on November 22 according to the new calendar, or November 9 according to the old calendar.
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Source: RINA, Foto: RINA