The Vozuća Monastery () is a

Serbian Orthodox The Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Српска православна црква, Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodox Christian churches. The majority of the populat ...

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

dedicated to the

Holy Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three ...

and located around from the village of

Vozuća Vozuća is a settlement in Zavidovići municipality, Zenica-Doboj Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located on the river of Krivaja. The settlement is known for the Battle for Vozuća of the Bosnian War. Battle for Vozuća The Battle for Vozuć ...

in the Municipality of

Zavidovići Zavidovići ( sr-cyrl, Завидовићи) is a city and municipality located in Zenica-Doboj Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, located be ...

, central

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

. Its foundation dates back to 16th century, most likely after 1557, and was first mentioned in 1617. After it was abandoned in 1690, during the

Great Turkish War The Great Turkish War () or The Last Crusade, also called in Ottoman sources The Disaster Years (), was a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League (1684), Holy League consisting of the Holy Roman Empire, Polish–Lith ...

, it remained empty for more than a century. It was renovated two times during the 19th century, between 1856 and 1859, and in 1884. An elementary school was constructed at the monastery in 1858, but it was closed in 1894. That year, a wooden

bell tower A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell to ...

was built beside the monastery's church. The monastery was badly damaged during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In 1941, it was looted by forces of the

Independent State of Croatia The Independent State of Croatia (, NDH) was a World War II–era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist Italy. It was established in parts of Axis occupation of Yugoslavia, occupied Yugoslavia on 10 April 1941, ...

, and in 1942, the elementary school and the bell tower were burned down by the Muslim Militia. After the war, the monastery was repaired, and a new bell tower was erected in 1989. Severe damage was inflicted on the monastery at the end of the

Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incid ...

(1992–1995), and it was further vandalised after the war. The church remained roofless for five years. , the monastery was still in the process of renovation. The Vozuća Monastery was designated by KONS as a

National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina The National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina include: *sites, places, immovable and movable heritage of historical and cultural importance, as designated by the Commission to preserve national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis o ...

in 2004. The monastery was robbed in November 2020.

References

Christian monasteries established in the 16th century Serbian Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia and Herzegovina National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina 17th-century Serbian Orthodox church buildings Zavidovići Destroyed churches in Bosnia and Herzegovina Attacks on religious buildings and structures during the Bosnian War 17th-century establishments in Bosnia and Herzegovina Attacks on churches in Europe Rebuilt churches in Bosnia and Herzegovina Attacks on religious buildings and structures during World War II Anti-Christian sentiment in Europe {{Orthodox-monastery-stub