The Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Ardenica, or simply Ardenica Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery. The Albanian name is Manastiri Lindja e Hyjlindëses Mari, or simply Manastiri i Ardenices.
It was built by the Byzantine Emperor, Andronikos II Palaiologos, in 1282 after the victory against the Angevins in the siege of Berat.
In 1451 the celebration of marriage of Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania, with Andronika Arianiti took place in this monastery.
In 1780 the Monastery started a theological school to prepare clerics in Greek Orthodoxy.
It had an important library with 32,000 volumes that got completely burned by a fire in 1932.
The Church of Saint Mary within the monastery contains frescos from brothers Kostandin and Athanas Zografi, painted in 1744.
The hills of Ardenica can be found in southern Myzeqe in a dominant position. From this position, one can see Krujë, Dajti, Tomorr, the Adriatic Sea, the Karavasta lagoon and the Labëria mountains.
(c) wikipedia
