GRAND KNEZ STEPHEN VUKANOVIĆ AND THE MORAČ A MONASTERY
GRAND KNEZ STEPHEN VUKANOVIĆ AND THE MORAČ A MONASTERY

Summary/Abstract: The Morača Monastery was built in the mid-13th century by Grand knez (prince)Stephen Vukanović, a member of a cadet branch of the Nemanjić dynasty (1166–1371), as his burialplace. Interpreting the actions its founder reveals interesting details about the relationship of the centerof power with the political periphery, ruling ideology, and the monk’s place in society. The completionof the frescoes and other ornamentation at this monastic church of the Dormition of the Mother ofGod and Stephen’s withdrawal from his political life to take monastic vows partially coincides withthe action of King Uroš I (1243–1276), who consolidated his royal power during this time byeliminating the principalities in the Serbian coastal regions. Prince Stephen’s transition to life as ahermit may have gone through two stages that included tonsuring and then admission into the GreatSchema. These actions were motivated by his personal piety and his age or by a desire to emulate theNemanjić dynasty’s model of sanctity–which was a key feature of the ruling dynasty’s politicalideology–or were possibly the result of political upheaval.

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