Donji Brčeli Monastery
Serbian Orthodox monastery near Cetinje, Montenegro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Donji Brčeli Monastery (Serbian: Манастир Доњи Брчели, romanized: Manastir Donji Brčeli), also known as Donje Brčele (Доње Брчеле), or simply Brčeli (Брчели), is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located near the village of Virpazar, Montenegro. It was founded by Jelena Balšić (1365–1443), the daughter of Prince Lazar of Serbia. Šćepan Mali, the impostor pretender of the Russian emperor, was buried here.
| Monastery of St. Nicholas, Brčeli | |
|---|---|
| |
  Location within Montenegro | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Rite | Byzantine Rite |
| 15th century | |
| Status | active |
| Location | |
| Location | Virpazar, Montenegro |
| Territory | Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Jelena Balšić (1365–1443) |
| Funded by | Jelena Balšić |
| Completed | before 1443 |
History
It was founded by Jelena Lazarević (1365–1443),[1] daughter of Prince Lazar of Serbia and wife of Zetan lord Đurađ II. The village of Brčele had earlier been granted by King Stefan Dečanski (r. 1321–31) to the Monastery of St. Nicholas on the Vranjina island.[2]
In 1714, the Ottomans burned down the Bigovo Monastery in the Bay of Kotor, so the hegumen and monks found shelter in the Brčeli Monastery.[3] Šćepan Mali, the impostor pretender of Russian Tsar Peter III, who managed to rule Montenegro from 1767 until his death in 1773, was buried in the monastery.[1] Petar II Petrović-Njegoš sent Bishop Nikifor of Užice to Brčeli upon his arrival at Morača from the Principality of Serbia.[4]
In 1861, the monastery was reconstructed by Prince Nikola I Petrović of Montenegro.[1]
