Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery

Signing of the document transferring the land of Vojlovica Monastery to the Serbian Church. Photo: press service of the Serbian Church

On May 11, 2026, the company Oil Industry of Serbia, NIS, donated the land and buildings of Vojlovica Monastery in Pančevo to the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Church’s website reported. The signing of the historic agreement took place at the Patriarchal Palace in Belgrade in the presence of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije and members of the Holy Synod.

The document was signed by Metropolitan Nikanor of Banat and NIS General Director Kirill Tyurdenev. Since 1965, this ancient holy site had effectively been located within the complex of the Pančevo Oil Refinery.

The company head said the step was an act of responsibility toward society and a recognition of the Church’s role as guardian of the Serbian people’s identity. According to him, for decades the monastery had been a place of spiritual strength for refinery workers, and now it is returning to the faithful as a pledge for future generations.

Metropolitan Nikanor called the event a moment of great historical justice and spiritual joy. He stressed that the monastery, founded by St. Stefan Lazarević, had finally returned to its own home – to the Mother Church.

Vojlovica Monastery, dedicated to the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels, is a cultural heritage site of exceptional importance. During World War II, Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo (Dožić) and the great St. Nikolaj (Velimirović) were held captive there. It was within these walls that St. Nikolaj wrote a canon before the wonderworking icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Slovesnica,” which remains in the monastery church to this day.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Serbia, the Church and the authorities agreed to establish an Orthodox university.

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