On the south shore of Lake Skadar near the Montenegrin town of Virpazar is an ancient monastery Beska. It is built on the island Beska along with the other standing nearby monasteries, and all of them are historical monuments of culture and, moreover, an interesting tourist attraction in Montenegro.

Number of medieval monasteries only on the shores of Lake Skadar has more than 2 dozen, which in turn undoubtedly points to the important role of the spiritual life of ancient Slavic Zetas (formerly known as Montenegro). At the monastery Beska are two churches: the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. George.

Zeta ruler George II Stracimirovich Balsic at his own expense built in the late 14th century, a church dedicated to St. George. The building of the temple - one-nave building with a dome towering over him and ringing a bell tower 3, that just describes the architecture of the time. Currently partially preserved floor that was paved with stone slabs.

Some time later, at the behest of the wife and daughter of Prince Martyr Lazarus Balsic Helena, there was a second church, a little bit inferior to the size of the previous one, which was erected in honor of the Virgin. This fact is indicated on the label located above the entrance to the church, dated 1440 year. It was conceived as a temple to the tomb of Helena, and he later served these purposes. Beautiful stone carving decorated the western facade of the church.

Both of these buildings were covered with paintings, traces of which to this day has not been preserved. These buildings show great skill architects of those years, managed to skillfully insert them into the main natural landscape of the island.

His contribution to the history of the state has made the monastery Beska by rewriting the monks church books. The remaining samples of their work are now in the Cultural Arts Center of Montenegro (monastery Savina, library Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts).

During the occupation by the Turks the monastery ceased to function and was abandoned, and the churches were looted and partially destroyed.

In the early 20th century Church of the Annunciation was restored by Nicholas I, King of Montenegro, for the health of Milena, his wife. Church has been given a different name. However, many wars over the centuries and was not allowed to operate the monastery, he was again given the decline.

Only in 2002, it gets its rehabilitation and reconstruction. Now the monastery Beska - not only a monument to the cultural heritage of the country. He is an active convent.