Patriarchate of Pec
Encyclopedia
The Patriarchate of Peć (Serbian
: Пећка патријаршија or Pećka Patrijaršija, pɛ̂ːt͡ɕkaː patrijǎrʃija) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery
located near Peć
. The complex of churches is the spiritual seat and mausoleum of the Serbian archbishops and patriarchs
.
In 1990, the Patriarchate of Peć was added to Serbia
's "Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
" list, and on 13 July 2006 it was placed on UNESCO
's World Heritage List as an extension of the Visoki Dečani site which was overall placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
(d. 1235) was still alive that the site became a metoh
(land owned and governed by a monastery) of Žiča monastery
, then the seat of the Serbian archbishopric.
Archbishop Arsenije I
(d. 1266) built the Church of the Holy Apostles, as he wanted the seat of the Serbian Church to be at a more secure location and closer to the centre of the country. Soon, around 1250, he ordered it decoration. Archbishop Nikodim I
built the Church of Saint Demetrius
around 1320, north of the other church. A decade later, around 1330, his successor, Archbishop Danilo II
built a third church, south of the original one - the Church of the Holy Virgin Hodegetria to the south of which he added the small Church of Saint Nicholas
. In front of the three main churches, he then raised a monumental narthex
. In front of the narthex he built a tower. In the time of Archbishop Joanakije II, around 1345, the hitherto undecorated Church of Saint Demetrius was decorated with fresco
es.
Emperor Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355) raised the Archbishopric at Peć to Patriarchal status.
During the 14th century, small modifications were made to Church of the Holy Apostles, so some parts were decorated later. From the 13th to the 15th century, and in the 17th century, the Serbian Patriarchs and Archbishops of Peć were buried in the churches of the Patriarchate.
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
: Пећка патријаршија or Pećka Patrijaršija, pɛ̂ːt͡ɕkaː patrijǎrʃija) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
located near Peć
Pec
Peć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
. The complex of churches is the spiritual seat and mausoleum of the Serbian archbishops and patriarchs
Patriarch of Serbia
This is a list of the Archbishops and Patriarchs of Peć and the Serbs from the creation of the church as an archdiocese in 1219 to today's Patriarchate. The list includes all the Archbishops and Patriarchs that led the Serbian Orthodox community under Patriarchate of Peć...
.
In 1990, the Patriarchate of Peć was added to Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
's "Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance (Serbia)
Cultural Monuments of Exceptional Importance are the monuments in the Republic of Serbia that have the highest level of the State protection, and some of them are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites....
" list, and on 13 July 2006 it was placed on UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's World Heritage List as an extension of the Visoki Dečani site which was overall placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Foundation
The precise date of the foundation of the Patriarchate is unknown. It is thought that while Saint SavaSaint Sava
Saint Sava was a Serbian Prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church, the founder of Serbian law and literature, and a diplomat. Sava was born Rastko Nemanjić , the youngest son of Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja , and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in...
(d. 1235) was still alive that the site became a metoh
Metochion
In Eastern Orthodoxy, a metochion is an ecclesiastical embassy church, usually from one autocephalous or autonomous church to another. The term is also used to refer to a parish representation of a monastery or a patriarch....
(land owned and governed by a monastery) of Žiča monastery
Žica
Žiča is an early 13th century Serb Orthodox monastery near Kraljevo, Serbia. The monastery, together with the Church of the Holy Dormition, was built by the first King of Serbia, Stefan the First-Crowned and the first Head of the Serbian Church, Saint Sava....
, then the seat of the Serbian archbishopric.
Archbishop Arsenije I
Saint Arsenije I Sremac
Arsenije Sremac or Arsenius was the second archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church and a disciple of Saint Sava of Serbia.- Early life :...
(d. 1266) built the Church of the Holy Apostles, as he wanted the seat of the Serbian Church to be at a more secure location and closer to the centre of the country. Soon, around 1250, he ordered it decoration. Archbishop Nikodim I
Saint Nikodim I
Nikodim I of Peć was the 10th Metropolitan of Peć and Archbishop of Serbs from 1316 to 1324, he died in the year 1325. He is a Serbian saint and the Orthodox Church celebrates his feast day on May 11/24.-Life:...
built the Church of Saint Demetrius
Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki
Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki was a Christian martyr, who lived in the early 4th century.During the Middle Ages, he came to be revered as one of the most important Orthodox military saints, often paired with Saint George...
around 1320, north of the other church. A decade later, around 1330, his successor, Archbishop Danilo II
Saint Danilo II
Saint Danilo II the Serb is a saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He was originally an archbishop during the heyday of the Serb Nemanjić state under Tsar Dušan Silni in the 14th century...
built a third church, south of the original one - the Church of the Holy Virgin Hodegetria to the south of which he added the small Church of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
. In front of the three main churches, he then raised a monumental narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
. In front of the narthex he built a tower. In the time of Archbishop Joanakije II, around 1345, the hitherto undecorated Church of Saint Demetrius was decorated with fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es.
Emperor Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355) raised the Archbishopric at Peć to Patriarchal status.
During the 14th century, small modifications were made to Church of the Holy Apostles, so some parts were decorated later. From the 13th to the 15th century, and in the 17th century, the Serbian Patriarchs and Archbishops of Peć were buried in the churches of the Patriarchate.
Restoration
Restoration of the complex began in June 2006 and was completed in November 2006. The main aim was to protect the complex from the weather, as well as to repair the inner walls and exterior appearance. Two previously unknown frescoes were uncovered on the north facade of the Church of St. Demtrios, of a Serbian queen and nobleman. http://www.kosovo.net/news/archive/2006/November_14/4.htmlSee also
- Monument of Culture of Exceptional ImportanceMonuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance (Serbia)Cultural Monuments of Exceptional Importance are the monuments in the Republic of Serbia that have the highest level of the State protection, and some of them are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites....
- Tourism in SerbiaTourism in SerbiaSerbia stretches across two geographic and cultural regions of Europe: Central Europe and Southeast Europe. This boundary splits Serbia roughly in a ratio of 1:2 alongside the Danube and Sava rivers. The northern parts of the country are Central-European lowlands while the southern and central...
- List of Serb Orthodox monasteries
- Serbian Orthodox ChurchSerbian Orthodox ChurchThe Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
- Patriarchs of SerbiaPatriarch of SerbiaThis is a list of the Archbishops and Patriarchs of Peć and the Serbs from the creation of the church as an archdiocese in 1219 to today's Patriarchate. The list includes all the Archbishops and Patriarchs that led the Serbian Orthodox community under Patriarchate of Peć...
(Archbishops of Peć) - Serbs in Kosovo
External links
- Official presentation of the Patriarchate of Peć
- Official site of Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raška and Prizren - old
- New official site of Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raška and Prizren
- Official site of the Serbian Orthodox Church
- Serbian Unity Congress
- Map - Area under jurisdiction of Patriarchate of Peć in the 17th century
