Žiča
Žiča Monastery | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Манастир - Жича |
| Order | Serbian Orthodox |
| Established | 1207-1217 |
| Dedicated to | Christ the Pantocrator |
| Diocese | Eparchy of Žiča |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Stefan Prvovenčani |
| Important associated figures | Stefan Milutin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance |
| Designated date | 1947 |
| Site | |
| Location | Trg Jovana Sarića 1, Kraljevo, Serbia |
| Coordinates | 43°41′46.68″N 20°38′44.66″E / 43.6963000°N 20.6457389°E |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | www |
The Žiča Monastery (Serbian: Манастир Жича, romanized: Manastir Žiča, pronounced [ʒîtʃa] or [ʒîːtʃa]) is an early 13th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery near Kraljevo, Serbia. The monastery, together with the Church of the Holy Dormition, was built by the first King of Serbia, Stefan the First-Crowned and the first Head of the Serbian Church, Saint Sava.
Žiča was the seat of the Archbishop (1219–1253), and by tradition the coronational church of the Serbian kings, although a king could be crowned in any Serbian church, he was never considered a true king until he was anointed in Žiča. Žiča was declared a Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Serbia. In 2008, Žiča celebrated 800 years of existence.