Maps of Power

Nin, Church of the Holy Cross

Crkva Sv. Križa (Krsta), Црква Св. Крижа (Крста)

Begin 01.01.0800

Properties

ID 117820
System Class Place
Place Existing Church
Case Study Beyond East and West: Sacred Landscapes Duklja and Raška
Dedication Holy Cross
Evidence Existing Monument
Ground Plans Greek Cross
Stylistic Classification Pre-Romanesque
Administrative unit Zadar County , Croatia

Description

The Church of the Holy Cross was built around 800. Its entrance bears an inscription in crude capitals which says: "GODEAI IUPPANO ?ISTO DOMO CO". The inscription is interpreted as "Godečaj Iuppano isto domo construxit". Thus, the church is interpreted to have been a court chapel of the Croatian rulers, who had their court next to the church. It was also used as a sepulcher.
The Church was named the smallest cathedral in the world. Its an edifice shaped in the form of a Greek cross whose arms are vaulted, has three apses and a dome of irregular ellipsoidal shape. Noticeable shifts from the correct axis are the result of tracking the sun so the Church served (and is still used) as a kind of clock and calendar.

Files

The Church of St. Cross in Nin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5)
The Church of St. Cross in Nin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5)