The Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Lijeva Rijeka (Podgorica municipality) is one of the most important and oldest endowment shrines in the Vasojevići tribe.
Basic features and history:
Location and importance: It is located in Lijeva Rijeka, the home and historical seat of the Vasojević tribe, in the area between Podgorica and Mateševo.
Prince's Endowment: The church has exceptional historical significance because it was built in 1862 as the first endowment of Prince Nikola I Petrović Njegoš in Vasojevići. It was erected as a sign of recognition and gratitude to the Vasojević family for their struggle and loyalty to Montenegro.
Architecture: It was built in the spirit of traditional Montenegrin sacral architecture of hewn stone. It is a one-nave building with a "horsetail" bell tower above the entrance. Next to the church, there is also a local cemetery and a meeting place where throughout history Vasojevic chieftains gathered.
Feast and assembly (Spasovdan): It is dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord (Spasovdan). On this holiday every year in Lijeva Rijeka, a liturgy is served and a traditional people's assembly is held, where the locals, Vasojević and guests from all over gather.
Affiliation: The temple belongs to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and represents an important spiritual and folk center of this part of Montenegro.
