The landscape of the monastic endeavour: The choices of St Sava of Serbia

St. Sava of Serbia's selection of monastic sites reflects a profound integration of Byzantine eremitic tradition and personal monastic experience, shaping the landscape of monastic life through distinct conceptual embodiments. His choices gave physical form to two key landscapes: the Karyes kellion in Hilandar, representing the 'locus amoenus' or pleasant place, and the cave hermitages in Studenica and Mileseva monasteries, embodying the 'locus horridus' or harsh place. This study reveals how these selections were methodically grounded, drawing on contemporary landscape studies to analyze the intentional design behind monastic environments. The research underscores Sava's mastery of monastic tradition and its practical application, offering insights into the interplay between spiritual practice and physical landscape in medieval monasticism.

Popovic, D. (2024). The landscape of the monastic endeavour: The choices of St Sava of Serbia. Balkanika, (55), 99–122. https://doi.org/10.2298/balc2455099p