education
February 22, 2026
The Extended Mind and Hand of the School
The first student dormitory in our country was founded by Saint Sava at Hilandar in 1199, where he educated 200 young monks in a boarding school, who later became the foundation of the educational system of medieval Serbia. Boarding schools were founded throughout Serbia – in Studenica, Žiča, Peć, Mileševa, Ravanica, Visoki Dečani, Ljubostinja, Resava, Hopovo, and Đakovica. It is less known that at the court in Brnjak, Serbian Queen Helen of Anjou opened a boarding school for girls at the end of the 13th century, whom she fed, enlightened, and educated. Princess Milica Hrebeljanović also founded a boarding school at the Ljubostinja monastery where nuns and female war orphans were educated and taught female crafts, with a special focus on gold embroidery for decorating ceremonial clothing.
TL;DR
- The first student dormitory in Serbia was established by Saint Sava at Hilandar in 1199.
- Medieval monastic boarding schools and institutions for girls, like the one by Queen Helen of Anjou, were precursors to modern student housing.
- Student dormitories were founded to ensure educational access, addressing barriers like distance and financial constraints.
- Historically, dormitories provided education and upbringing, acting as an extension of the school's influence.
- While early boarding schools sometimes led to psychological challenges, modern dormitories prioritize student well-being and offer enhanced support and connectivity.
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