Zočište_Monastery
The Zočište Monastery (Serbian: Манастир Зочиште, romanized: Manastir Zočište; Albanian: Manastiri i Zoçishtës) or formally St. Cosmas and Damian's Monastery (Serbian: Манастир Св. Козме и Дамјана, romanized: Manastir Sv. Kozme i Damjana) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery belonging to the Eparchy of Raška and Prizren, situated in the village of Zočište, about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Orahovac, Kosovo.[1] The original church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was built in the 13th century. The graveyard includes tombstones dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The monastery was renovated in the 16th century and again in 2008 after being destroyed in 1999.[2] The Church building has been rebuilt on the existing and consolidated foundations using original building material from the ruins of the old church.[2]
The monastery is famous for the relics of the Saints Cosmas and Damian. The shrine at the monastery was said to provide a miraculous cure for eye diseases and mental and psychosomatic disorders.[1] It is said to be "One of the most important cultural places for Serbian and Christian settlements in the Metohija region."[2] It was designated as Cultural Heritage of Serbia in 1954.[3] The monastery was included into the Republic of Kosovo list of "Special Protective Zones" on 20 February 2008.[4]