| Dečani | |
|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |
| Дечани | |
  Dečani
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| Coordinates: 42°32′N 20°17′E / 42.533°N 20.283°E | |
| Country | Kosovo[a] |
| District | District of Đakovica |
| Area | |
| - Total | 180 km2 (69.5 sq mi) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 50,500 |
| - Density | 280.5/km2 (726.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 51000 |
| Area code(s) | 0381 390 |
| Website | Municipality of Dečani |
Dečani or Deçan (Albanian: Deçan or Deçani; Serbian: Дечани, Dečani) is a town in the Đakovica district of western Kosovo.[a]. It is a mountainous area, with borders both to Montenegro and Albania. There is a total of 36 villages within the municipality. The territory of the municipality is 371 km2. During the 1998-1999 conflict, Dečani was one of the strongholds of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and subsequently suffered a high rate of infrastructure destruction by the Serbian military and paramilitary forces. Much reconstruction has taken place with the assistance of the international agencies and support from the Kosovo Albanian diaspora.[citation needed] It is widely known for the Visoki Dečani monastery of the Serb Orthodox Church.
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In 1991, the population of the municipality numbered 49,000, including 97.28% Albanians, 1.61% Serbs and Montenegrins, etc.[citation needed]. Demographics of Kosovo#Minority groups include Bosniaks, Kosovo Egyptians and Roma. The non-Albanian communities are mainly residing in the villages of Babaloc, Dubovik, Glodane, Gramocelj, Irznic, Požar, Rastavica, Šaptelj, Papracane and there is a Serb Orthodox clergy in the Visoki Dečani monastery.
The monastery of Dečani is situated near the town. It was built between 1327 and 1335 by the Serbian medieval king, St. Stephen of Decani, and was dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord. The monastery is situated in the valley of the Dečanska Bistrica river surrounded by the mountains and forests of the Prokletije mountain range. It is regarded as the largest and best preserved medieval monastery in Kosovo. During its turbulent history the monastery was an important spiritual center renowned for its artistic and intellectual activities. Although the monastery buildings suffered damage during the Ottoman period, the church has been completely preserved complete with its 14th century fresco paintings. Today a young brotherhood of 30 brethren lives in the monastery maintaining the traditions of the past: religious services, icon painting, wood carving, book publishing and is also active in the missionary work. The beautiful monastic services are served according to the typicon of Mount Athos.
In 2004, UNESCO listed the monastery on the World Heritage List, citing its frescoes as "one of the most valued examples of the so-called Palaeologan renaissance in Byzantine painting" and "a valuable record of the life in the 14th century".
Notes:
| a. | ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. The Assembly of Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence on 17 February 2008, a move that is recognised by 65 of the 192 UN member states and the Republic of China (Taiwan), but not by other UN member states. Serbia claims it as part of its own sovereign territory. |
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Coordinates: 42°32′N 20°17′E / 42.533°N 20.283°E
Decani (Latin: "of the dean") is the side of a church choir occupied by the Dean. In English churches this is typically the choir stalls on the south side of the chancel, although there are some notable exceptions, such as Durham Cathedral. The opposite side is known as Cantoris.
In English churches, in the typical arrangement, looking from the altar into the congregation, this would be the LEFT side.
If the choir voices divide in a piece of music, the Decani side would usually sing the first or higher parts.
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