The monastery church is dedicated to St. Archangel Michael (Arhanđel Mihajlo) (November 21)
The parish temple of St. Archangel Michael in Grabovo was declared a monastery and metochion of the Krušedol Monastery. The modern monastery’s Baroque, stone church, consecrated in the first half of the 18th century, was built next to an older wooden temple (which it replaced). In the same period, a corresponding bell tower was built next to the church. There are no records of who was the temple patron. Since a Serbian school was opened in Grabovo as early as 1625, the first in the present Vojvodina, it is possible that the benefactors were residents of the settlement and its surroundings. During the Second World War, the church was not demolished, but with decades of neglect it became a ruin. By deciding to have the Grabovo church of St. Archangel Michael be arranged as a monastery, the renewal of this temple began, and is still on-going. Part of it is the restoration of the church outside and inside, the restoration of the bell tower, the arrangement of the area around the temple and the construction of two konaks. In one of the konaks, a chapel was founded, dedicated to St. Stefan the Blind (Sv. Stefan Slepi) (Branković). The entire monastery area, organized around the church, captivates by its neatness and beauty.
The monumental iconostasis from the middle of the 19th century testifies that the church was carefully maintained in the 19th century. Sava Ljubenković made a luxurious carving of the iconostasis. The icons on the iconostasis date from the middle of the 19th century and are the work of painter and lithographer Pavle Čortanović, who studied painting in Vienna.
In addition to its temple patron saint’s day, the monastery also celebrates St. Archangel Gabriel (Sv. Arhanđel Gavrilo) (July 26) because the village has been celebrating this holiday for a hundred years.
TOURIST INFORMATION: The monastery can be visited during daylight hours. Decent dress is implied. Group visits must be announced a day in advance. Phone: +381 (0)64 21 80 021 (call in the period 9.00 a.m.–10.00 a.m.).
*We received information about the Monastery of the Holy Archangels (manastir Svetih Arhanđela) in Grabovo from Mother Angelina, and we thank her for that kindness.
