The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God stands in the meadows of Pošćenje, between the two village lakes, a few minutes' walk from the houses and about a kilometre from Nevidio canyon. Several medieval stećci, the carved tombstones of the region, are built into its walls, and a stone sarcophagus with carved sides lies behind it.
The church
The old church of Pošćenje stands on open grazing land between the larger and the smaller of the two village lakes, Veliko and Malo Pošćensko jezero. It is dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God (Uspenje Presvete Bogorodice).
What makes it worth the walk is the ground it stands on. People were buried here long before the present church was built, and the proof is in its walls.
The stećci
Look closely at the masonry and you will find several stećci built into it. Stećci are the carved tombstones of the medieval Balkans. Their presence here points to an older cemetery on the same spot, whose stones were later reused by the builders.
Behind the church lies a stone sarcophagus. The decoration carved on its sides can still be made out.
Stećci were made from the Middle Ages into the early 16th century, as flat slabs, chests, gabled blocks and upright stones. They are often carved with crosses, plant and geometric patterns, animals, weapons and human figures. A selection of stećci cemeteries in four countries is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Montenegrin sites on that list are near Žabljak and Plužine, so the stones at Pošćenje are a quieter, unlisted example of the same tradition. Šavnik municipality has more, among them the stećci of Gornja Bijela, in the valley of Crnjak waterfall.
Visiting
- From the village: a few minutes on foot across the meadows.
- The lakes: the Pošćenje lakes lie on either side of the church.
- The canyon: the entrance to Nevidio and Skakavica waterfall are about a kilometre away, which makes this an easy hour before or after canyoning.
Good to know
- Best time: May to October, when the meadows are free of snow.
- Shoes: the meadows are uneven and often wet. Wear proper shoes.
- Respect: this is a church, a churchyard and a graveyard. Do not sit or climb on the stones.
Questions people ask
What are stećci?
Medieval tombstones found across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia, made from the Middle Ages into the early 16th century. They take the form of slabs, chests, gabled blocks and upright stones, often carved with crosses, plant and geometric patterns, animals, weapons and human figures. A selection of stećci cemeteries is on the UNESCO World Heritage List; the Montenegrin ones on that list are near Žabljak and Plužine, not here.
Can I visit the church?
The church stands in open meadow, and you can walk around it and look at the stones in its walls and the sarcophagus behind it. It is a churchyard and a graveyard: keep your voice down, and do not climb on or move any stones.
How do I get there?
On foot from the village, a few minutes on tracks across the meadows. The two lakes lie on either side, so one short walk covers all three.