Monastery of the Holy Mother of God, Ston in Kuršumlija, Serbia
The Monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God (Manastir Presvete Bogorodice), also known as Petkovača, was constructed between 1159 and 1168 by the Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja.
During the 17th-century, the monastery was destroyed by the Ottoman Empire. Today all that remains are the ruins of the once magnificent monastery. However, it’s still a sanctuary and an important cultural monument.
In 1979, the monastery was declared an object of Immovable Cultural Heritage of Exceptional Importance. Many Christians still gather at the ruins every Good Friday. It’s believed that the structure was built on the remains of a 5th-century Byzantine temple. Many also believe it was designed after a meeting between the Byzantine Emperor Manuel Komnenos and Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja.
