 The Church complex of the Patriarchate of Peć
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Пећка патријаршија / Pećka Patrijaršija |
| Order | Serbian Orthodox |
| Established | 12th century |
| Diocese | Eparchy of Raška and Prizren |
| Controlled churches | The Church of the Apostles, The Church of St. Demetrius, The Church of the Virgin Hodegitria, The Church of St. Nicholas |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Saint Sava, St Arsenije I |
| Important associated figures | Saint Sava, St Arsenije I, Archbishop Nikodim, St Danilo II |
| Site | |
| Location | Near Peć, Kosovo[a] |
| Coordinates | 42°39′40″N 20°15′58″E / 42.661°N 20.266°ECoordinates: 42°39′40″N 20°15′58″E / 42.661°N 20.266°E |
| Public access | Yes |
| Other information | Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance |
| Medieval Monuments in Kosovo | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
| Country | Serbia |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv |
| Reference | 724 |
| UNESCO region | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2004 (28th Session) |
| Extensions | 2006 |
| Endangered | 2006- |
The Patriarchate of Peć (Serbian: Пећка патријаршија or Pećka Patrijaršija, pronounced [pɛ̂ːt͡ɕkaː patrijǎrʃija]) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located near Peć, in Kosovo[a]. The complex of churches is the spiritual seat and mausoleum of the Serbian archbishops and patriarchs.
In 1947, the Patriarchate of Peć was added to Serbia's "Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance" list,[1] 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.[2]
Contents |
History [edit]
The precise date of the foundation of the Patriarchate is unknown. It is thought that while Saint Sava (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 frescoes. Emperor Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355) raised the Archbishopric at Peć to Patriarchal status.[3]
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. In 1459-63 after the death of Arsenije II the patriarchate became vacant and was abolished but was restored in 1555-7 by Suleiman the Magnificent under the advice of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, while several Bulgarian eparchies were placed under its jurisdiction.[4][5] In the early 18th century and especially during and after the Austro-Turkish war of 1735-9 the patriarchate became the target of the Phanariotes and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, whose goal was to place the eparchies of the Pec patriarchate under its own jurisdiction. In 1737 the first Greek head of the patriarchate of was appointed after the intervention of Alexandros Mavrocordatos, who labeled the Serb leadership "untrustworthy". In the following years the Phanariotes embarked on policy initiatives that led to the exclusion of Serbs in the succession of the patriarchate, which was eventually abolished in September 1766.[5]
Restoration [edit]
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. [1]
See also [edit]
- Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
- Tourism in Serbia
- List of Serb Orthodox monasteries
- Serbian Orthodox Church
- Patriarchs of Serbia (Archbishops of Peć)
- Serbs in Kosovo
Notes and references [edit]
Notes:
| a. | ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. The latter declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. Kosovo's independence has been recognised by 99 out of 193 United Nations member states. |
References:
- ^ Monuments of Culture in Serbia: МАНАСТИР ПЕЋКА ПАТРИЈАРШИЈА (SANU) (Serbian) (English)
- ^ UNESCO (2006). "List of World Heritage in Danger". Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=5NyQEh8qFIQC
- ^ Kia, Mehrdad (2011-08-31). Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire. ABC-CLIO. p. 117. ISBN 9780313336928. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ a b Frazee, Charles A. (1969-02-01). The Orthodox Church and Independent Greece, 1821-1852. CUP Archive. pp. 6–. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Patriarchate of Peć |
- 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
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