ARCHIMANDRITE DIMITRIJE: “Tumane Monastery Is Not a Miracle Factory, But a Sanctuary of Divine Grace”

Tumane Monastery, the most visited monastery of the 21st century, continues to draw attention not only from the faithful but also from the broader public. With the blessing of its saints and under the guidance of Divine grace, this sacred site has become a spiritual center attracting thousands of pilgrims from Serbia and abroad.

In a recent appearance on the Sinteza program on Newsmax Balkans, the monastery’s abbot, Archimandrite Dimitrije, emphasized that Tumane “is not a miracle factory where people can obtain or purchase miracles,” but rather “a holy place where the grace of God acts according to our faith, as well as the will of God and His saints to perform miracles.”

Located near Golubac, the monastery celebrated 630 years of existence in 2019. It holds the relics of Saint Zosimus and Saint James of Tumane, along with other holy items such as a fragment of the relics of Saint Nectarios of Aegina and the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, which was discovered among ruins in Russia’s Kursk region.

Ordained as archimandrite in 2020, Dimitrije also spoke about his personal path to monasticism. “Monasticism is a divine calling that unfolds over time, and everything is left to our free will. What drew me to Tumane was the figure of Saint James,” he explained. He recalled that the monastery was in extremely poor condition when he arrived. “At first, Tumane felt like a punishment—it was in such dire circumstances. I felt both fear and an odd attraction to take the step,” he said. “I asked myself—if Zosimus was truly a miracle-worker, as people said, why was the monastery in such a state? Today, we have the answer. If someone had told me ten years ago that the monastery would look like it does now, I would’ve thought they were out of their mind.”

Tumane is widely regarded by the public as a holy site where believers pray for healing or for the salvation of loved ones suffering from serious illness. In his book “Tumane Monastery – The Miracle of God’s Love”, the archimandrite documents numerous healing experiences he personally witnessed.

He also commented on several extraordinary events that took place at the monastery. “I have personally seen candles light in the hands of believers,” Dimitrije said. “Just a few days ago, the entire monastery was on alert when a young woman was brought in, screaming with unearthly cries, barely standing through the prayers. It was a terrifying confrontation with the saint. After the prayer, she calmed down.”

The abbot emphasized that such occurrences are also reminders for all of us. “They show us that God is alive, and that saints act through miracles and protect us. Tumane is not a marketplace of wonders—it is a sanctuary of prayer, repentance, and faith.”

He further pointed out that the monastery welcomes medical professionals as well. “We have never told anyone to avoid doctors. Medicine, too, is a gift from God. But God can heal what medicine cannot,” he concluded.

(Tpknews.com)