The Lomnica Monastery, also known as the Lovnica Monastery, is a Serbian Orthodox monastery dedicated to Saint George and located near Šekovići in the region of Donji Birač in eastern Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lomnica was founded around 1570, after the Ottoman Empire sanctioned the restoration of the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć. It was first mentioned in 1578 in an inscription in a liturgical book. Its founders and ktetors were monks Genadije and Akakije, who were probably merchants, craftsmen, or landowners before embracing monastic life. The iconostasis in the church was painted by Longin, who also painted icons in other Serbian monasteries of that time. The frescoes on the church's walls were finished in 1608, and one of the painters recorded that event on a wall. This inscription also relates that the painters were much harassed by Turks and softas, Islamic theological students known for their religious fanaticism and violence against Christians. Metropolitan of Dabar-Bosna Visarion visited Lovnica in 1693, which was also recorded on a wall.

The final stages and aftermath of the Great Turkish War (1683–1699) were detrimental to many monasteries in Bosnia, but Lomnica came out of it without significant damages. However, its monastic community left it and never returned. In 1705, it was repurposed as a parish church serving surrounding villages. During the 18th century it was often visited by monks, priests, and other people from Bosnia, Herzegovina, central Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. Many of the visitors wrote inscriptions on the walls and other surfaces inside the church, recording their names and dates of visits.

The region of Donji Birač had a committee consisting of priests and prominent villagers, whose duties included the care about the Lomnica church. It was guarded by an armed man, paid by the committee; nevertheless, it was robbed in 1880. In the mid-19th century, a landslide half-covered its northern wall. Wet soil remained there for years, and the moisture caused significant damage to the frescoes on that wall. Supporting walls were built east and south of the church to prevent its sliding toward the stream. The church was re-roofed in 1823 and 1884. In World War II, Yugoslav Partisans created a large field hospital next to the church. It came out of the war without significant damages. The conservation-restoration of the frescoes and the iconostasis began in 1952. The dormitory was rebuilt, and a monastic community was re-established at Lomnica in 1979. The monastery was designated as a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2005.

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Founded: 1570
Category: Religious sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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en.wikipedia.org

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User Reviews

marinko perovic (2 years ago)
God place
Veselin “Trakila” (3 years ago)
Beautiful monastery
Detelin Dimitrov (5 years ago)
Lovnica monastery is a very special place, located close to the Sekovici village in Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you go on the road Tuzla - Zvornik, on Lopare turn right and straight down to Sekovici, which is surrounded by not very high, but rocky mountains with forests. The monastery is just in front of the memorial of glory, built for the about 60 partisans, assassinated in severe action during the WWII. The main spiritual object is behind the monastery: a magic spring, that helps women to become pregnant. Few steps from the spring is rised an untypical orthodox cross. If you have sacred wish, tell on mind, take a pabble stone from the spring and put it on the cross. After a couple of months or years, your deepest wish will became true!
Nemanja Milovanovic (5 years ago)
Near monastety is the best restaurant called "anin dvor"
Jelena Gavrilovic (5 years ago)
Surrounded by glorious nature - mountains, river that begin where a natural spring releases water from underground as watterfall, and restaurant with beautiful garden with mere of bull trout fish. Recommendations!
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