Poganovo Monastery

Poganovo Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox sanctuary in the Jerma River gorges with a stone and brick church featuring three apses arranged in a three-leaf clover shape. The building follows the Morava architectural style and contains detailed frescoes painted in the late 15th century.

A Serbian nobleman called Konstantin Dejanović Dragaš, a relative of King Dušan, founded the monastery in 1390 while ruling parts of Macedonia and Bulgaria. It marks a time when Serbian power and influence in the southern region were at their strongest.

The site is dedicated to Saint George and serves as a pilgrimage destination where visitors light candles and pray. The church has drawn worshippers across centuries and remains a focal point for spiritual devotion in the region.

The monastery sits in a mountainous area next to the Jerma gorge and is reachable on foot from the nearest village, though the path can be steep. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for natural surroundings and basic facilities on site.

Artists from northern Greece arrived in 1499 to paint the inner walls with biblical scenes and saint figures, with inscriptions written in Church Slavonic. These frescoes showcase the cultural exchange between Serbian and Greek artistic traditions from that period.

Location: Dimitrovgrad

Inception: 14 century

GPS coordinates: 42.97963,22.63749

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:51