The Mileševa monastery was founded between 1234 and 1236 by Serbian King Vladislav.
The monastery is situated in a valley of the Mileševa River, near Prijepolje.
Mileševa is one of the most important Serbian sanctuaries and spiritual centers.
In 1236, Vladislav moved the relics of his uncle Saint Sava from Trnovo in Bulgaria, where he died, to Mileševa.
Some historians believe that the coronation of Tvrtko I as King of the Serbs and Bosnia in 1377, took place in Mileševa.
In the 15th century, the monastery was the seat of the Metropolitanate of Dabar-Bosnia.
In 1459, the Ottomans set the monastery on fire, but it was soon restored.
In the first half of the 16th century, the first service books were illuminated in the Mileševa printing house.
One of the oldest schools also existed in the monastery.
In the middle of the century, during the time of Patriarch Makarije (the Serbian Patriarchate was restored in 1557), the monastery was thoroughly renovated.
Its external narthex was built and painted and probably cut through the wall between the narthex and the nave.
In later times, after several Ottoman military engagements,a new restoration was undertaken in 1863 when the church considerably changed in appearance.

The Mileševa monastery has been frequently visited by pilgrims and various travellers, including Cornelius de Schepper, some of them leaving records of their visits.
The monastery also received donations by Russian Emperors (Ivan IV Vasilyevich) and Wallachian and Moldavian rulers.
In 1594, the Ottomans removed the relics of Saint Sava from the monastery and publicly burned them on Vračar hill in Belgrade, making him thus a posthumous martyr.
On 27 October 1941, the Communist forces broke into the monastery and killed its hegumen Nestor Trkulja.

Mileševa was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia.
The Mileševa monastery was founded between 1234 and 1236 by Serbian King Vladislav. The monastery is situated in a valley of the Mileševa River, near Prijepolje. Mileševa is one of the most important Serbian sanctuaries and spiritual centers. In 1236, Vladislav moved the relics of his uncle Saint Sava from Trnovo in Bulgaria, where he died, to Mileševa. Some historians believe that the coronation of Tvrtko I as King of the Serbs and Bosnia in 1377, took place in Mileševa. In the 15th century, the monastery was the seat of the Metropolitanate of Dabar-Bosnia. In 1459, the Ottomans set the monastery on fire, but it was soon restored. In the first half of the 16th century, the first service books were illuminated in the Mileševa printing house. One of the oldest schools also existed in the monastery. In the middle of the century, during the time of Patriarch Makarije (the Serbian Patriarchate was restored in 1557), the monastery was thoroughly renovated. Its external narthex was built and painted and probably cut through the wall between the narthex and the nave. In later times, after several Ottoman military engagements,a new restoration was undertaken in 1863 when the church considerably changed in appearance.
The Mileševa monastery has been frequently visited by pilgrims and various travellers, including Cornelius de Schepper, some of them leaving records of their visits. The monastery also received donations by Russian Emperors (Ivan IV Vasilyevich) and Wallachian and Moldavian rulers. In 1594, the Ottomans removed the relics of Saint Sava from the monastery and publicly burned them on Vračar hill in Belgrade, making him thus a posthumous martyr. On 27 October 1941, the Communist forces broke into the monastery and killed its hegumen Nestor Trkulja. 
Mileševa was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia.
Mileševa Monastery