Mileševac: Icons on Glass from the Heart of Serbia – Our New Partnership
At Svetazvezda, we are constantly looking for workshops in Serbia that carry on our faith and tradition with special care. With Милешевац (Mileševac), we have found such a workshop. We are now offering selected glass icons from Mileševac in our range – and in this article, we introduce you to the people and the idea behind these exceptional icons.
Who is behind Mileševac
Mileševac is a small studio from Ratajska near Prijepolje in southwestern Serbia – the region where Manastir Mileševa is located, home to the world-famous fresco Бели Анђео (Beli Anđeo, the White Angel). The name of the studio is therefore no coincidence: here, people literally work in the shadow of one of the most important sanctuaries of the Serbian Orthodox Church. And indeed, the Beli Anđeo, the Sveti Arhangel Gavrilo, is among the motifs that Mileševac produces.
The idea behind the studio is clearly formulated: Orthodox tradition, art, and contemporary craftsmanship should come together in icons that will last for generations. Mileševac draws its inspiration from medieval frescoes, from the monasteries of Serbia, and from materials that bear the traces of time. Mass-produced goods are the opposite of what the studio stands for – every detail is carefully considered, from the wooden base of the icons to the packaging, which is worthy of a gift of such value.
Icons on glass – Light and faith in the room
The new line we carry at Svetazvezda is Mileševac's glass icons. The motif is crafted on glass with a transparent background and set in a solid wooden frame – the result is an icon that integrates into the room in a unique way. Because the background remains transparent, the icon always looks different depending on the light and wall: it doesn't just stand in the room, it lives with it.
The motifs include Sveti Nikola, Presveta Bogorodica, the Beli Anđeo, Sveta Petka, Sveti Georgije, Sveti Vasilije Ostroški, Sveti Arhanđel Mihailo and Sveti Jovan Krstitelj – all in the impressive format of 51 × 39 cm. This means that these icons are not only intended for one's own icon corner but also as a special gift for Slava, for baptism or for a wedding – for those moments, in other words, when an icon is passed from one generation to the next.
Why this partnership fits Svetazvezda
Our ambition from the beginning was to be a bridge: between the workshops, monasteries, and family businesses in Serbia and the diaspora around the world. Mileševac embodies exactly what we value in our partners – deep roots in faith, respect for tradition, and an uncompromising eye for detail. Every icon that finds its way from Ratajska to a home in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, or overseas carries a piece of this homeland with it.
We are starting this collaboration with great joy and are convinced that Mileševac's glass icons will inspire many families in the diaspora. The first icons are now available in our Mileševac collection.
Nek vas prati Božji blagoslov – vaša Svetazvezda porodica.
