Sveti Nikola Konak Vranje
The Monastery of St. Prophet Elijah is located in the village of Bresnica, in the municipality of Bosilegrad. The church was built in 1896, most likely on the foundations of an older church.
In the immediate vicinity of the church, there is a monastic residence (konak) with a ground floor and an upper floor. The konak has never been renovated and is in very poor condition. According to records from before the Balkan Wars, the monastery was inhabited by approximately 2–3 monks.
The main idea behind the reconstruction of the konak is to preserve its original state, i.e., the traditional bondruk (timber-frame) construction with brick infill.
As the monastery complex continues to develop, new needs have emerged to ensure its proper functioning. This has led to the idea of constructing a new building that would fully accommodate the monastery’s current requirements.
The new building is planned to be constructed using solid reinforced concrete, located on the northern side of the church complex. The site is favorable due to the presence of an already-built reinforced concrete retaining wall along the enclosure wall.
The building is designed on two levels. The basement level will house utility rooms serving the monastery’s economic needs, including a boiler room. These rooms will be accessed from the economic courtyard.
A garage is also planned on the inside of the monastery courtyard, next to the enclosure wall.
The ground floor level will contain guest accommodation rooms, accessible directly from the monastery courtyard.
On the southern side of the building, a large covered terrace (veranda) is planned, offering a view of the church and courtyard.
Date:
June 5, 2025