The Hilandar Monastery is one of the twenty Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Mount Athos in Greece and the only Serbian monastery there. It was founded in 1198 by Stefan Nemanja and his son Saint Sava. St. Symeon was the former Grand Prince of Serbia (1166–1196) who upon relinquishing his throne took monastic vows and became an ordinary monk. He joined his son Saint Sava who was already in Mount Athos and who later became the first Archbishop of Serbia. Upon its foundation, the monastery became a focal point of the Serbian religious and cultural life, as well as assumed the role of "the first Serbian university". It is ranked fourth in the Athonite hierarchy of 20 sovereign monasteries. The Mother of God through her Icon of the Three Hands (Trojeručica) is considered the monastery's abbess.
Exterior view
Stefan Nemanja, Grand Prince of Serbia
Saint Sava, first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Hilandar Monastery during King Aleksandar Obrenović's visit in 1896.
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Christian churches.
Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade, Serbia
Saint Sava, first Serbian archbishop
Trojeručica meaning "Three-handed Theotokos" is the most important icon of the SOC, and the main icon of Mount Athos
Serbian Patriarch Danilo III, fresco from the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć
