The founding charter of the monastery has not been preserved. The Manasija Monastery, also known as Resava, was built two kilometres northwest from the town of
Despotovac, in the picturesque ravine. Construction of the monumental mausoleum and the fortified town lasted about a decade. During this period, a church, large refectory, adjacent buildings, towers and walls, fortifications with protective walls and trenches were constructed.
Stefan Lazarević (founder's portrait (
Fresco) on the left-hand wall in monastery church to the
Holy Trinity (1413—1418). Monastery founder
Despot Stefan Lazarević built Manasija to serve as his mausoleum. The refectory was built parallel to the church, • The
church to the
Holy Trinity • The
refectory, placed to the south of the church • The fortress with 11 towers, the largest of which is the
keep, also known as the Despot's Tower (to the north of the church), with living quarters for the monks and other buildings The Church of Manasija Monastery was consecrated on the Feast of Pentecost /Whitsun/ in 1418, after about 2,000 square metres of frescoes had been painted. Only a quarter of the paintings survived. History records that Despot Stefan invested great effort in finding the "most honoured and skillful workers, the most experienced icon painters". During the five centuries of
Ottoman presence, the monastery was abandoned and wrecked several times. The lead roof was removed from the church, and so for over a century the
frescoes inside were subject to damage by rainfall. As a result, about two-thirds of them were irremediably lost. The
mosaic floor of that part of the church was partially preserved. At the eastern end, there are one large and two small apses, whereas two large choir conches flank the altar. Above the corners of the church, there are four small octagonal domes. located the remains of a person whom some claim to be Despot Stefan Lazarević in the southwestern part of the monastery floor. DNA comparison with the remains of his father,
Knez Lazar, confirmed that the remains belong to two closely related individuals. However, there is no doubt that Stefan's brother Vuk was buried in Manasija and the remains could as well easily be his. The Serbian Orthodox Church has already officially proclaimed the remains in the
Koporin Monastery, a smaller legacy of his, as those of Despot Stefan. == Burials ==