Divljana

Divljana (Serbian: Дивљана) is a village in the municipality of Bela Palanka, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 141 people.^[1] Divljana Monastery is one of the landmarks in Divljana.

Divljana
Village
Divljana Monastery
Divljana
Coordinates: 43°10′38″N 22°18′16″E
Country	Serbia
Region	Southern and Eastern Serbia
District	Pirot
Municipality	Bela Palanka
Population  (2002)
• Total	141
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Zapis oak

Zapis tree, Divljana Old Oak

There is a large old oak tree in Divljana that is a zapis ("inscription"), a village tree considered sacred. In a custom originating in pre-Christian Slavic mythology, a large tree, usually an oak, would have a cross carved into its bark, and would serve as a temple. Oak trees were sanctified in the settlements which had no church of their own. Experts from the Niš Institute for the natural protection estimated that it sprouted in c. 1400.^[2]

The trunk is completely open and hollow on one side. Inside, eight adults can fit, or a table and chairs. The tree, a durmast oak, is under state protection as a natural monument. Circumference of the Divljana oak trunk (as of 2017) is 6.35 m (20.8 ft), diameter is 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in), while the diameter of the crown is 23.13 m (75.9 ft). The tree is 13.43 m (44.1 ft) tall.^[2]