Spiritual respite and discovering the tradition of the Monastery of Saint Stephen

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04. Aug 2025.

On July 29, 2025, the residents of the Asylum Center in Vranje had the opportunity to visit the Monastery of Saint Stephen in the village of Gornje Žapsko a place of spiritual peace and rich history, located just a few kilometers from Vranje. The visit included 27 beneficiaries from Ukraine, who had the chance to learn about the monastery’s past and the significance of this sacred site.

The monastery, currently maintained by a sisterhood, is dedicated to the Translation of the Relics of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr and Archdeacon. It was built in 1843 on the foundations of older churches, about which little is known due to the destruction of historical records. Until the First Balkan War in 1912, the monastery was located on the border between Serbia and the Ottoman Empire. As such, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it played both a missionary and strategic role. During that time, it housed a religious-teaching school known as the Psalter Theological School.

The monastery’s history is also connected with notable figures Saint Justin of Ćelije’s grandfather served there, while his father completed schooling within the monastery. After World War I, the monastery was home to Russian White Guard officer Nikolai Sofronitsky, who contributed to its preservation. Today, the sisterhood nurtures the Byzantine tradition of icon painting and chanting, translates the writings of Saint Paisios of Mount Athos, and produces natural remedies from medicinal herbs.

During the visit, the nuns shared stories about the monastery’s history and spiritual significance, followed by a modest refreshment served in the monastery’s dining hall. After the tour, the participants continued socializing over a shared lunch at a nearby restaurant. Everyone left with positive impressions and expressed a desire for such visits to become a regular part of their activities.

This activity is part of the cultural program implemented by the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) in cooperation with the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia (KIRS), within a project supported by UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). The goal is to promote social inclusion, cultural exchange, and strengthen psychosocial support for beneficiaries of the Asylum Center in Vranje.