Monastery of St. Nicholas, Kuršumlija
Monastery of St. Nicholas | |
---|---|
Native name Serbian: Манастир Светог Николе | |
Monastery of St. Nicholas in Toplica | |
Location | 18430 Kuršumlija, Serbia |
Built | 1166 |
Type | Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance |
Designated | 18 November 1947 |
Reference no. | SK 207[1] |
The Monastery of St. Nicholas (Serbian: Манастир Светог Николе) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery built by the Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja between 1159 and 1166. It is situated in the center of the historical region of Toplica, near the present day city of Kuršumlija (Serbia), in the upper valley of Toplica river.
It was one of the most important monasteries founded by the Nemanjić dynasty that ruled in Serbia during the Middle Ages. The monastery may be the oldest one founded by Stefan Nemanja.[2][3]
In the time of its foundation, the Monastery belonged to the Eparchy of Niš. From 1219 up to the first half of the 18th century, the Monastery was the seat of Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Toplica. Since then, it was merged with the Eparchy of Niš.
History
In the middle of the 12th century, before he became ruler of Serbia, prince Stefan Nemanja governed eastern regions, centered around Toplica.[4] There, he built the Monastery between 1152 and 1166. There is debate over the order in which Nemanja had established his monasteries in Kuršumlija. Domentijan said that the church dedicated to the Virgin was built first,[5] though Stefan's son Saint Sava said the St. Nicholas Church was in fact built first.[6] A conflict began when Nemanja started building monasteries, since his brothers denied that Nemanja had contributed to the work.[7] Despite their arguments Nemanja became the Grand Prince (veliki zupan).[8] Not long after that a palace was built near the monastery. Kuršumlija, then known as Bela Crkva ("White Church"), became the capital of the principality, and was given that name because the buildings were covered in lead roofs that shined white in the sun. After the Serbian Church became autocephalous archbishopric (Nicaea, 1219), the church became the seat of the Eparchy of Toplica.[9][8]
A Metropolitan bishop of Toplica is also mentioned in the first half of the 16th century, which implies that despite Ottoman occupation, the metropolis still existed and the church headquarters were still in this church.[8] The church was left empty after the Great Serb Migrations of 1690. At some time the Turks started taking the lead from the roof for use in making bullets.[8] The name of the city, Kuršumlija, comes from the Turkish kurşunlu kilise, which means the "lead church".[8] In the 18th century the church was still empty. It was finally torn down in the 19th century, allegedly by Sulj Krveša from Niš and Muli Halil. After this the Arnauts took bricks from the church, and materials were later used to build bakeries and army buildings.[8]
The National Museum in Belgrade took the first steps to repair the church in 1910, and built the roof. After World War II the reconstruction project was continued until 2003 with occasional breaks. The church today is under state protection. It is considered a cultural monument of exceptional importance.[8]
Architecture
As one of the most beautiful monuments of Serbian culture, the church is one of the prototypes of the Raška school. Byzantine influence is visible and also similarities with Hagia Sophia, Nicaea. It was built in three phases. The oldest building has one nave, a three-part altar and a segmented dome.[10] After the establishment of the Eparchy of Toplica in 1219, Stefan the First-Crowned built a narthex with two towers on the west side. The south tower was rebuilt. In the 14th century King Milutin built a chapel on the north side of the church.[10]
The interior is grand and has several rooms. The altar space is separated from the nave and there is no iconostasis. The altar contains two niches. The communion table is made in three pieces and stands in the centre of the altar. The floor of the altar is made of brick tiles. The church has a characteristic brick facade. Every second row is indented and covered with mortar. The single and double doors are made of oak wood and rotate around metal axles.[10]
Art
The inside of the church is plastered and frescoed. A small number of original frescoes from the 14th century are preserved on the window dome and the chapel of south tower. Apart from fragments of some frescoes showing bishop and Virgin, the church is not painted today.[8]
Gallery
- Post-restoration photo of Church of Saint Nicholas near Kuršumlija
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References
- ^ "Информациони систем непокретних културних добара".
- ^ "Info About Saint Nicholas Church". Super Odmor. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ Žarko Mijajlovic- Manastir svetog Nikole- Kuršumlija
- ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 31.
- ^ Mateja Matejić and Dragan Milivojević, "An Anthology of medieval Serbian Literature in English" (Columbus, Ohio, Slavica Publioshers, Inc., 1978)
- ^ Petko D. Marjanović, Toplica kroz vekove, Prokuplje 2008
- ^ Marija Janković, Toplička episkopija i Mitropolija u srednjem veku
- ^ a b c d e f g h Monuments of Culture in Serbia: Monastery of Saint Nicholas in Kuršumlija (SANU) (in Serbian and English)
- ^ Ćirković 2004, p. 43.
- ^ a b c Душан Миљковић, Распеће вечности. Цркве и манастири куршумлијске области, Ниш 1998
Bibliography
- Јанковић, Марија (1985). Епископије и митрополије Српске цркве у средњем веку (Bishoprics and Metropolitanates of Serbian Church in Middle Ages). Београд: Историјски институт САНУ.
- Popović, Svetlana (2002). "The Serbian Episcopal sees in the thirteenth century (Српска епископска седишта у XIII веку)". Старинар (51: 2001): 171–184.
- Ćirković, Sima (2004). The Serbs. Malden: Blackwell Publishing.
External links
- Official pages of the Eparchy of Niš
- v
- t
- e
- Vinča
- Mediana
- Justiniana Prima
- Mramorje
- Velika humka
- Rudna Glava
- Gamzigrad
- Trajan's Bridge
- Lepenski Vir
- Diana/Karataš
- Kraku Lu Jordan
- Starčevo
- Bassianae
- Sirmium
- Židovar
- Gomolava
- Čibska šuma
- Kalvarija
- Ulpiana
- Viminacium
- St. Achillius
- Dositej's Lyceum
- Princess Ljubica's Residence
- Belgrade Fortress
- Captain Miša's Mansion
- Belgrade Cathedral
- Museum of 4 July
- Secret Partisan Print Shop
- Residence of Prince Miloš
- Topčider Church
- Topčider Parish House
- Topčider Obelisk
- Pokajnica
- Golubac Fortress
- Takovo complex
- Manasija
- Tabula Traiana
- Kragujevac District Courthouse
- House of Svetozar Marković
- Sobrašice of Lužnice
- Žiča
- Studenica
- Maglič
- Lazarica with Kruševac Fortress
- St. Nicholas Monastery
- Holy Mother of God, Kuršumlija
- Lazarevac Memorial Church
- Mačkov Kamen complex
- Despot Stefan Memorial
- Hajduk Veljko's Powder Magazine
- Early Byzantine Tomb
- Skull Tower
- Niš concentration camp
- Đurđevi Stupovi
- Petrova Church
- Sopoćani
- Stari Ras
- Hristić family House
- Banja Monastery
- Mileševa
- Partisan Hospital, Prijepolje
- St. Peter and Paul's in Gornja Dobrinja
- Gradac Monastery
- Kalenić
- Smederevo Fortress
- Museum of 1941 Uprising
- Partisan printing house "Borba"
- Headquarters of the Main People's Liberation Committee of Serbia
- Plant nursery, Užice
- Partisan Hospital, Krčagovo
- Kadinjača
- Stari Han
- Oplenac
- Ljubostinja
- Ravanica
- House of Dimitrije Tucović
- Atenica Wine cellar
- Prnjavor Memorial Chapel
- Wooden Church, Dub
- St. Peter and Paul's in Sirogojno
- Monument to the Unknown Hero
- Prohor Pčinjski
- Bođani Monastery
- Bač Franciscan Church
- Dunđerski Palace
- Neštin House
- Bački Petrovac House
- Beočin Monastery
- Rakovac Monastery
- Šlajz
- Bishop's palace, Vršac
- Mesić Monastery
- Vojinović Bridge
- Medieval palace of Vučitrn
- Monastery of St Barbara
- Danilović House
- Hadum mosque
- Orthodox Church in Čurug
- St. Nicholas', Stari Slankamen
- Velika Remeta
- Vrdnik-Ravanica
- Grgeteg Monastery
- Jazak Monastery
- Mala Remeta
- Candlemas Church, Krušedol Selo
- Krušedol Monastery
- Novo Hopovo
- Staro Hopovo
- Gorioč
- Our Lady of Hvosno
- St. John's, Crkolez
- St. Nicholas', Đurakovac
- St. Nicholas', Kikinda
- Suvača
- Orthodox Church in Mokrin
- Churches in White Drin valley
- Dobra Voda
- Dolac Church
- Drsnik Church
- Mlečane Church
- Čabić Church
- Kijevo Church
- Pograđe Lower Church
- Pograđe Upper Church
- Romanian Church in Uzdin
- Holy Thetokos', Vaganeš
- Ubožac (Rđavac)
- Presentation of Mary, Lipljan
- Arača
- Almaška Church
- Church of The Assumption, Novi Sad
- Novo Brdo
- St. Nicholas', Velika Hoča
- St. John's, Velika Hoča
- Vojlovica
- Transfiguration Church, Pančevo
- Transfiguration Church, Budisavci
- Bajrakli Mosque
- St. Jeremiah's, Goraždevac
- Warehouses of Karlovčić
- Ogar House
- St. Luke's, Kupinovo
- St. Nicholas', Sibač
- Kaljaja
- St. Peter of Koriša
- Holy Salvation, Prizren
- St. Nicholas', Prizren
- Churches of Sredačka Župa
- Holy Virgin, Sredska
- St. George's, Sredska
- St. Nicholas', Mušnikovo
- St. Paraskevi, Mušnikovo
- Bogoševce Church
- Gornje Selo Church
- Drajčići Church
- Sinan Pasha Mosque
- Hammam of Prizren
- Imperial Mosque
- St. John's, Sombor
- Devič
- Divša
- Kuveždin
- Petkovica Monastery
- Warehouses of Golubinci
- Šišatovac
- Old St. Stephen's, Sremska Mitrovica
- Patriarchate of Karlovci
- Saint Nicholas', Sremski Karlovci
- Subotica Synagogue
- Subotica City Hall
- Virgin Hodegetria, Mušutište
- St. George's, Rečane
- Catholic Church of Čoka
- Orthodox Church of Vilovo
- Zvečan Fortress
- Sokolica
- Monuments of Nerodimlje
- Nerodimlje Medieval Town
- Petrič Fortress
- St. Uroš
- Holy Archangels, Gornje Nerodimlje
- Churches of Sirinićka Župa
- St George's, Gornja Bitinja
- St. Theodor Tyron's, Donja Bitinja
- St. Nicholas', Gotovuša
- St. Nicholas', Štrpce
- Privina Glava
- Orthodox Church of Molovin
- Holy Archangels
- Gračanica
- Visoki Dečani
- Our Lady of Ljeviš
- Patriarchate of Peć
- Banjska Monastery
- Terzijski Bridge
- Miloš Obrenović's House
- Bela Crkva
- Bubanj
- Šumarice
- Stolice
- Marićevića jaruga
- Radovanjski Lug
- Cer Memorial Ossuary
- Vuk Karadžić's birth house
- Kraljevo Memorial Park
- Čegar
- Ljubić
- Boško Buha Memorial Complex
- Chapel of Peace
- Site of the Battle of Slankamen
- Vezirac Hill Memorial
- Idvor Memorial Complex
- Site of the Battle of Senta
- Syrmian Front Memorial Complex
- Takovski grm
- Knez Mihailova Street
- Tešnjar
- Novi Pazar Fortress with the Old Bazaar and Altun-Alem Mosque
- Gornja Dobrinja Complex
- Negotin Wine Cellars
- Rajac Wine Cellar
- Rogljevo Wine Cellar
- Štubik Wine Cellar
- "Staro selo" Etno Complex
- Topčider
- Stari Ras area
- Gazimestan
- Sremski Karlovci
- Bač Fortress
- Dositej's Lyceum area
- Fruška Gora
- Military Technical Institute Complex
43°08′24″N 21°16′37″E / 43.1399°N 21.2769°E / 43.1399; 21.2769