The preserved founder's inscription from 1644 in the St. Mother of God's Monastery in Sićevo mentions the senior monk Jovan, and in 1597 the senior monk Leontije is registered in the Monastery of St. John above Gornji Matejevac. Senior monks were particularly chosen priests, respected elders, who were awarded special authorities by the bishop. The institution of senior monk being still active then, although having remained as an old religious custom from the times of Serbian state to which the whole Article 11 of the Dušan's Code was dedicated, throws a little different light on the circumstances of the contemporary life of Niš citizens. The strengthened Serbian church cherished tradition, in accordance with the efforts of Patriarch Pajsije. The great importance of the institution of senior monk is also pointed out by the fact that only senior monk Jovan is mentioned in the inscription, and not the bishop of Niš Gerasim.