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The history of Visoki Dečani Monastery begins in the beginning of the 14th century {{cleanup|Needs basic editing and the reign of Saint King Stephen III. Stephan Uroš III of Dečani (1321-1331) was born around 1285. His father was the Serbian Saint King Stefan Uroš II Milutin . As a boy, Stephan spent some time as a hostage in the camp of the Tartars' Chan Nogay. From 1309-1314 he was governor of Zeta (today Montenegro). With his first wife Theodora, Bulgarian princess, he had two sons, Dušan and Dušman. In 1314 he came into conflict with his father who sent him off to Constantinople in exile. Six years later, King Milutin brought his son Stephan Uroš to Serbia and appointed him administrator of a province. Following his father's death, Stephan Uroš defeated various pretenders to the throne and became King of Serbia in 1321.The construction of the Church of Monastery Dečani devoted to Jesus Christ the Pantocrator (the Omnipotent) bagan in 1327. The founder Stefan Uros III known as Dečanski (of Dečani) commissioned for this work a group of master-builders headed by master Vitus of Kotor, while the supervision was taken over by the Serb Archbishop Saint Daniel II. And already in 1330, Stefan Dečanski granted his Charter to this pious endowment of his (foundation) together with his rich donations. During his ten year rule he led Serbia in several wars, the most significant of which was the conflict with the Bulgarians, whom he defeated in the battle of Velbužd (Ćustendil today) in 1330. His son, the Prince Dušan, was a prominent soldier in that battle. Soon after the victory, a dissatisfied nobility instigated a conflict between father and son. The old king was outmanoeuvred and imprisoned in the fortified town Zvecan (near Kosovska Mitrovica) where he died a violent death. Stephan’s remains have been preserved in the Decani church in a coffin at the head of the altar. The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates his blessed memory on November 11 in Julian Calendar. After the death of King Stefan, who was buried in the church of Dečani Monastery, his son Stefan Uros IV Dušan, known as "Dušan the Mighty," became the king and later Emperor of Serbia. Dušan had the construction of the church continued, and this work came to an end in 1335. Likewise, he confirmed his father's Charter given to the monastery. During their work on this project, the builders had also constructed a monumental refectory and cells for the monks and had raised around the building tall defence walls with a pirg (tower) at the entrance; and in the vicinity of Monastery of Dečani, a hospital had also been erected. This project was for the most part accomplished by the renowned Serb master-builders: the Protomaster (the chief master-builder) George assisted by his brothers Dobrosav and Nikola; and for this work they were richly recompensed. The wall-painting project in the church began soon after the erection of the building and lasted right down to 1350. The names of the painters - of which there are a great number - are not known except for "Sergius the Sinful," who signed his name in red on the pillar of the church. Judging by the name, but much more by the stylistic characteristics of the Decani painting, we may conclude that King Dušan brought in fresco artists from the Serbian Coastline who belonged to the so-called "Greek School" (pictores graeci).Emperor Dušan died suddenly in 1355 and was buried in the church he built, the monastery of Holy Archangels near Prizren. The monastery is now in ruinswikification.}}

In ==History=====Founding===Established in the time following the Battle of Kosovo (1389)fourteenth century, Monastery Decani was in decay initial construction occurred between 1327 and, therefore, Princess Milica, 1335 during the wife reign of the noble prince Lazar medieval Serbian king [[Stefan Uros III of Kosovo, having come with her sons to the Monastery, in 1397, issued a Charter by which the seized estates were returned to the brethrenSerbia|Stephen Uros III Dečanski]] (of Dečani). She also gave rich gifts to the The monastery. In is situated in the early 15th century, the Igumen valley of the Monastery was Gregory Camblak, who will later write Bistrica river surrounded by the biography mountains and forests of Stefan Dečanskithe Prokletije mountain range.

After the Turkish final conquest Painting of the country in the middle of the 15th century, Monasteiy Dečani painfully but successfully survived in new circumstances. A great swing in the Monastery's life, particularly the artistic one, interior church walls began in the second half of the I6th century, soon after the restoration of the Serbian Patriarchate in Peć building was completed and continued until 1350. In Other than the period name of time between "Sergius the 16th and the 17th centurySinful", the treasury of Decani was becoming ever richer who had signed his name in many objects of art and, among other things, in books - manuscripts which were copied there. In red on the time pillar of the Great Migration, in the late 17th centurychurch, the Monastry was looted again by the Turks and the living quarters were burned. It experienced a similar fate in the middle names of the 18th century. When Danilo Paštrović Kažanegra took administration many artisans of the monastery in 1764, he found Dečani almost in ruins. The monastery did church interior are not have a fortress or a refectory, and only one monk was in residenceknown. He undertook the difficult task of reconstruction of Judging by the monastery compound. Under his direction, he had a new iconostasis made, which is in the church to this day. Thanks to his effortsname, but much more by the monastery once again reborn. As a result of his efforts, Igumen Daniel was recognized as second founder stylistic characteristics of the Decani monastery. In the first half of the 18th century a substantial support came at painting, it appears that time, and oven later, from the Serbian charitable contributors who lived King Dušan brought in the southern Austro-Hungary. Those were the emigrants from Kosovo after the Great Migration of the Serbian people.In the second half of the same century, the monastery buildings and the walls around them were restored. Dečani monks and their benefactors continued rebuilding of the monastery in the beginning of the 19th century. Simeon Lazovic and his son Aleksije, fresco artists from Bijelo Polje, painted icons on the iconostascs in the chapels of St. Demetrius and St. Nicholas. With the consolidation of the Serbian State after the First and Second Serbian Uprisings, the Serbian rulers also began supporting the Monastery: in 1836, Prince Miloš Obrenović commissioned the building of the new residental quarters and Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević in 1857 presented a reliquary for the relics of St. Stefan Decanski. He also payed for the new roof on the church. The monks themselves managed coastline who belonged to restore some old and construct some new buildings within the Monastery. In this time Dečani monks travelled as far as St. Petersburg and Moscow bringing rich gifts from the Russian Church and powerful Russian emperors.The end of the 19th century was a painful period of struggle of the Serb Orthodox people and our Church to survive in very difficult circumstances. The Ottoman rule was very weak and the local Albanians committed many crimes against the Christian population especially terrorizing Serbian monasteries. Due to increasing level of violence against Christian Serbs Turkish authorities brought additional troops so- Nizams - to keep the order. A unit of Turkish soldiers was assigned to Decani Monastery too in order to protect it from threats of local Albanians. In 1878 Kosovo Albanians gathered in the Prizren League established their national ideology which had a goal to create an Albanian state on called "ancestral territoriesGreek School" as soon as the Ottomans power declines(pictores graeci).

== After liberation = Under Turkish yoke ===After the final conquest of Serbia by the Turks in the middle of the fifteenth century, Dečani Monastery, with difficulty, survived under Turkish rule. Beginning in the second half of the sixteenth century and with the restoration of the Serbian Patriarchate in Peć, monastery's life, particularly the artistic life, improved. During the sixteenth and the seventeenth century, the treasury at Decani Monastery became richer as many objects of art and books were added. Also manuscripts were copied.

Kosovo was soon found again within the Kingdom of Serbia, after the Balkan wars 1912-1913. In the beginning of the late seventeenth century the Russian brotherhood from Mount Athos came to live in , the monastery on the invitation of was looted again by the Serbian bischops. This was an attpempt to rejuvenate Turks during the brotherhood "Great Migration" and increase the level of living quarters were burned. The monastery experienced a similar fate in the spiritual life middle of the community. This brotherhood lived in Decani until 1916 when they were deported by Bulgarian police out of Serbiaeighteenth century.

=== World War In 1764, Igumen Danilo Paštrović Kažanegra took over administration of the monastery, which he found was almost in ruins. The monastery fortress walls and refectory were gone, and only one ===monk was in residence. He undertook the difficult task of reconstruction of the monastery compound. Under his direction a new [[iconostasis]] was installed in the church that continues in use today. Under his guidance and efforts, the monastery was once again reborn. As a result of his work, Daniel is recognized as second founder of the Decani Monastery. Beginning in the first half of the eighteenth century substantial support was received from the Serbians who lived in the southern part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These Serbians were emigrants from Kosovo after the "Great Migration".

During Later in the eighteenth century, the First World War monastery buildings and the part of Kosovo in which walls around them were restored. The Dečani monastery is situated was first occupied by Bulgarians monks and then by Austrian Armytheir benefactors continued rebuilding the monastery into the early nineteenth century. Bulgarian soldiers stole some valuables Simeon Lazovic and his son, Aleksije, artists from Bijelo Polje, painted [[icon]]s on the monastery and made an attempt to even take iconostasis in the relics [[chapel]]s of St. Stefan Demetrius and transfer them to BulgariaSt. Nicholas. This was prevented by a miracle With the consolidation of the Saint. The truck in which Serbian State after the relics had to be transported broke down First and could not be repairedSecond Serbian Uprisings, the Serbian rulers also began supporting the monastery. In 1836, Prince Miloš Obrenović commissioned the meantime building of new residental quarters, and in 1857, Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević presented to the Serbs called Austrian cavalry to take monastery a reliquary for the control relics of St. Stefan Decanski. He also paid for the monasterynew roof on the church. The monks themselves managed to restore some old buildings as well as build new ones within the monastery was under Austrian military control until . During this time Dečani monks travelled as far as St. Petersburg and Moscow and returned with rich gifts from the [[Church of Russia|Russian Church]] and the liberation in 1918Russian emperors.

=== Between Wars After liberation===After the Balkan wars of 1912-1913, Kosovo found itself again within the Kingdom of Serbia. During the early years of the twentieth century the Russian brotherhood from [[Mount Athos]] came to live in the monastery on the invitation of the Serbian [[bishop]]s in an attempt to rejuvenate the brotherhood and increase the level of the spiritual life within the community. These Russian monks lived in Decani until 1916 when they were deported by Bulgarian police out of Serbia.

After During World War I the end part of Kosovo in which Dečani Monastery is situated was occupied first by the war Bulgarian army and then by the brotherhoood of Dečani could resume its regular monastic life in much more favourable conditionsAustrian army. The period between two wars was the period of spiritual flourishing of Bulgarian soldiers stole some valuables from the monastery under and made an attempt even to take the wise leadership [[relics]] of igumen Leontije NinkovićSt. The monastery Stephen and transfer them to Bulgaria. This was also financially suported prevented by a miracle of the Saint, when the truck in which the Royal House of Karađorđevićrelics had to be transported broke down and could not be repaired. In 1925 King Aleksandar of Yugoslavia and Queen Marija visited the Monastery and left their rich gifts to meantime the brotherhood. In Serbs called the thirties Austrian cavalry to take the Serbian Orthodox Church opened a Seminary in control of the monastery of Decani and many young candidates for priesthood were spiritually trained . The monastery remained under Austrian military control until the vaults of the ancient Decani churchliberation in 1918.

=== After the end of the war the brotherhoood of Dečani resumed its regular [[monasticism|monastic]] life under much more favourable conditions. The period between World War Two ===Wars I and II was a period in which spiritual life in the monastery flourished under the leadership of Igumen Leontije Ninković. The monastery was financially supported by the Royal House of Karađorđević. In 1925, King Aleksandar of Yugoslavia and Queen Marija visited the monastery and left rich gifts to the brotherhood. In the 1930s, the Serbian Orthodox Church opened a [[seminary]] in the Monastery of Decani and many young candidates received their spiritual training for the [[priest]]hood under the vaults of the ancient Decani church.

During the Second ===World War the monastery brotherhood passed through the difficult days of Albanian violence and persecution. Thousands of Serbs from the area of Dečani were forced out of Kosovo in 1941 and many were killed or abducted. Kosovo Albanian militants organized by Balli Combetar organiaztion planned to destroy the monastery. It was only in the last moment that hieromonk Makarije secretly managed to reach Pec and call Italian Carabinieri to protect the monastery. From then on the Italian Army protected the monastery from Kosovo Albanians.II===

=== After WW During World War II ===the monastery brotherhood experienced difficult days of Albanian violence and persecution. In 1941, thousands of Serbs from the area around Dečani Monastery were forced to leave Kosovo and many were killed or abducted. Kosovo Albanian militants organized by Balli Combetar organization planned to destroy the monastery. It was only in the last moment that [[hieromonk]] Makarije managed secretly to reach Pec and call Italian Carabinieri to protect the monastery. From then on the Italian Army protected the monastery from Kosovo Albanians.

After the Second World War II ended the monastery property was confiscated by the new communist authorities who were regime that was very hostile towards the Serbian Orthodox Church. Even one of the monastery buildings - Prizren konak - was turned into a political school. After many misdeeds commited by the atheists - both Albanian and Serbs - this building was destroyed in a fire in 1948. After that the communists left the monastery which continued living in very humble conditions without support neither either from the state nor or from the Church which that had been completely impoverished by the repressive communist repressive laws.

 === Monastery Today ===In 1992 , the new brotherhood led by Fr. Teodosije replaced the older brethren who retired to the coastal monasteries of Montenegro. The monastic brotherhood has also developed various monastic activities: woodcarving, painting of icons, translating and publishing books. Although completely surrounded by Muslim Albanians, the monastery of Visoki Dečani thus became has become an important spiritual centre center for not only for Orthodox Christians of Kosovo and Metohija, but for our the entire country and Orthodox followers worldwide. In September of 1992, over 2,000 people were christened in the Bistrica river. That was probably the first time - , since the mass conversion of Slavs to Christianity in the 7th seventh century - , that so many people accepted the Christian Orthodox faith of their forefathers.

During the Kosovo conflict of 1998-1999 the Monastery monastery brotherhood openly stood against the violence as a way of resolving the conflict. Both the repressive policies of Milosevic repressive policy and the Kosovo Albanian rebellion were sharply criticized. The monastery sheltered refugees of different ethnicities and distributed food parcels in the area all the time during the conflict.Today, the monastery is a thriving brotherhood with 30 young monks from all parts of our country who continue living under the constant protection of the Italian peacekeepers - KFOR. Despite isolation and everyday threat of Albanian extremists, without basic freedom of movement Dečani monks continue with their everyday spiritual activities with firm hope that God will protect this monastery as many times in its turbulent history.

Holy services in Decani Monastery are known for their solemn beauty. They are performed according to Today, the traditional monastic liturgical rules monastery is a thriving brotherhood with 30 young monks from all parts of Mount Athos and attract numerous pilgrims and faithful Serbia who come to worship at continue living under the monastery. The most sacred moment during constant protection of the year is the Feast day of Italian peacekeepers, the Patron Saint - StKFOR. King Stephen Despite isolation and everyday threats from Albanian extremists and without basic freedom of Decani when numerous priestsmovement, Dečani monks, nuns and lay people gather in continue with their everyday spiritual activities with firm hope that God will protect the monastery to celebrate their beloved protector. Monastery as He has begun the publishing programmany times in its turbulent history.

In Holy services in Decani Monastery are known for their solemn beauty. They are performed according to the presence traditional monastic [[liturgy|liturgical]] [[typikon|typicon]] rules of several hundred faithful from throughout Serbia Mount Athos and Montenegro, Serbian Patriarch Pavle with 17 hierarchs of the Serbian attract numerous [[pilgrim]]s and Greek Orthodox Churches served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy faithful who come to worship at Visoki Decani Monastery on June 20 (Sunday) 2004, consecrating as the new Bishop of Lipljan and auxiliary Bishop monastery. The most sacred moment during the year is the Feast day of the Diocese Patron Saint, St. King Stephen of Raska and PrizrenDecani, when numerous priests, Teodosije (Sibalic)monks, Igumen of Decani [[nun]]s and lay people gather in the monastery to celebrate their beloved protector. Monasteryhas also begun a publishing program.