The Monastery of Kovilj is located in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, about 20 kilometers east of Novi Sad, near the Danube River and the Kovilj–Petrovaradin Marsh Nature Reserve. According to tradition, the monastery was founded in the early 13th century by Saint Sava, the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church and one of the most important figures in Serbian spiritual history.
The monastery was built at the place where Saint Sava is believed to have reconciled the Hungarian King Andrew II with his brother and healed the king’s son, which later became part of the monastery’s founding legend. Throughout the centuries, the Monastery of Kovilj developed into an important spiritual and cultural center in the region.
Today, the monastery is known not only for its religious life and large brotherhood, but also for its traditional monastic craftsmanship. The brotherhood runs a respected school of iconography and produces a range of monastery products, including honey, cheese, wine, and fruit brandies. Kovilj brandies are made in limited quantities following traditional methods, reflecting the long-standing monastic tradition of fruit cultivation and distillation in the fertile plains of Vojvodina.
