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Arilje, Church of St. Achillius
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The Church of St. Achillius is situated in the city of Arilje and was the see of the Eparchy of Moravica (Moravička). The first church was probably built in the 11th century, whereas the present-day church was renewed by the Serbian King Dragutin (reigned 1276-1282) in the year 1296 (Sp. 87), as seen on the inscription in the drum. It is a single nave edifice with a low transept, a semicircular apse and a dome, anarthex and an exonarthex. It belongs to the Raška architectural style. The façade is decorated with lesenes and blind arcades. The exonarthex with a dome was added later. The church was fresco painted with portraits of King Dragutin and his brother the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) as ktetors, Dragutin's wife the Arpad Princess Katalin of Hungary, their sons Vladislav and Urošica and several bishops of the Eparchy of Moravica. The church is a mausoleum of Dragutin's son Urošica.
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Baljevac, Church of St. Nicholas
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The Church of St. Nicholas in Baljevac was probably built at the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century (Enc III 72). It is a single nave edifice with a wide altar apse and three bays separated by pilasters, built of large hewn stone, while the window frames are carved from white, most likely Radočel marble. The monumental fresco painting, preserved only fragmentarily and in the lower zones, shows the stylistic features of the painting of the mid-14th century. Protection works were executed in 1935 and 1936, when the church was covered with a structure supported by nine columns, about half a meter away from the walls of the edifice. The conservation of the frescoes was carried out in 1969.
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Bekova, Church of St. Demetrius
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The Church of St. Demetrius in the Village of Bekova was given to the Banjska Monastery (Sp. IV 4).
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Beška Island, Church of St. George
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The Church of St. George was built before 1442 (Stojanović 395, Starinar 162). (LjS PP I, 400 (395) - svetagō Georgija u Gorice).
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Beška, Church of the Bogorodica
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The Church of the Bogorodica was built by a certain Jelena the wife of Đurđe Stracimirovič (ZN 276).
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Bijelo Polje, Church of St. Nicholas (Nikoljac)
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The Church of St. Nicholas in Bijelo Polje was built before the 14th century, probably in the time of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) at the end of the 13th century. It had several phases of development. The current church, which is surrounded by a cemetery, dates to the 16th century. It is a three-nave basilica with a dome and a semicircular apse. It was fresco decorated around 1550. To the North-West of the church is a free-standing bell tower.
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Bijelo Polje, Church of St. Peter
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The Church of St. Peter is situated in Bijelo Polje, on the Lim River, and was probably founded by the Serbian Prince Miroslav (reigned 1162-1190) before 1161-1162. It was built on an old place of cult, probably from the 9th or 10th century. (SN ZSp., 596 - koga izvoli Svety Petrь Apostolь; MD Kar. trg., 123, nap 14 - usque Limum ad ecclesiam S. Petri). It is a single nave edifice, with three bays skirted by pilasters and arches, and a rectangular apse. The Eastern and Western bays are almost equal in length, whereas the central one is much shorter and has a transverse barrel vault, in the middle of which is a square dome covered by a pyramidal roof. The construction above the vaults gave the church the look of a three-aisled basilica with a transept and a dome. In the second half of the 13th century the Western porch of the church was turned into a narthex and was painted with frescoes at the beginning of the 14th century. Also, bell-towers were added resembling the Churches of St. Tryphon in Kotor, Djurdjevi Stupovi in Budimlja and the Monastery of the Mother of God in Hvosno. The church furnishings, done in a pre-Romanesque style, were taken from the original (older) building.
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Blagoveštenje Monastery
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The Blagoveštenje Monastery was built somewhen in the 12th or 13th century (Enc I, 214).
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Bogdašići, Church of St. Peter
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The Church of St. Peter is located in Bogdašići near Kotor. It was built on the fundaments of an older church in the year 1269 by Bishop Neofil of Zeta. It is a single-nave Benedictine Church with Gothic vaults, semicircular apse, rectangular chapels in the North and the South and a bell-tower in the West. In the Southern chapel frescoes in Byzantine style have been discovered. The church represents the simplest form of the Raška style. Inside the church in the Southern wall is a Latin inscription naming the artisan Regolus. Beside the church entrance in the West is a Serbian inscription naming the ktetor Neofil and the year 1269.
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Brodarevo, Davidovica Monastery, Church of Epiphany
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The Church of Epiphany in the Davidovica Monastery is situated on the river Lim near Brodarevo. It was built by Župan Dmitar as monk David, the son of Vukan Nemanjić (the Grand Prince of Zeta) and brother of the Grand Prince Stefan, who built the Monastery of Morača Monastery (Kancelarski i notarski spisi, 1278-1301, 65-66; LjS ZiH., I, 119 (43) - Prěstavi se rabь Boži Dimitrije a zovomь Bratko).
The builders and artisans of the church came from Dubrovnik, Desina de Risa with his son Vlaho (as stated in the written documents still preserved), who incorporated Romano-Gothic elements into this church. It is a single nave edifice with three bays and a semicircular apse. Above the central bay is a dome, and above the side chapels are two more. The narthex was added later. Fragments of fresco decoration have remained.
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Brvenik, Church of St. Nicholas
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The Church of St. Nicholas near Brvenik was probably built in the 14th century (Starinar VIII-IX 285). It is a single nave edifice with a semicircular vault and apse (with proskomedia and diaconicon). The fresco decoration is poorly preserved.
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Brčeli
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In the 14 century a Church in Brčeli was mentioned (Starinar VI 158).
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Budimlja, Monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi (St. George)
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The Monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi (St. George) is situated in Budimlja near Berane and was built by Stefan Prvoslav, the son of Tihomir, as his mausoleum between 1170 and 1190. The monastery also served as the see of the Bishops of Budimlja (Rl. 9, 43). (PJ Š Pam., 68 - sьzyda crьkovь ... u Budimlje svetago Geōrgïa; LjS ZiN I, 1029 (286) episkopь Budimlьsky Teofilь ... vь domu svetago velikago Strastotrьpьca Hristova Georgïa).
The church underwent several reconstructions, but its plan remained the same. It is a single nave edifice with three bays and a dome. Later, in the 13th century (certainly by the 1240s), a narthex was added in the West of it with two rectangular-based towers. As most researchers believe, it was built by masters from the Adriatic (as to be seen in the polychromic façade), following the model of Apulian churches. Also, this church is similar in plan with the Church of St. Luke in Kotor.
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Church near Brodarevo
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A Church near Bodarevo was mentioned in the year 1443.
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Church of St. John the Theologian
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Tsar Constantine Asen donated the Church of St. John the Theologian together with a namelesse village and a meadow to the Monastery of St. George-Gorge (Selo ... [Svetoï] Ïōan(ь) B(o)gōslovecь, sь pašišti, sь niviem i sь vsěmi pravinami).
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Church of St. John the Theologian, Meadow
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Tsar Constantine Asen donated a meadow near the Church of St. John the Theologian to the monastery of St. George-Gorge (Selo ... [Svetoï] Ïōan(ь) B(o)gōslovecь, sь pašišti, sь niviem i sь vsěmi pravinami).
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Church of Sveti Prokopie
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The Church of Sveti Prokopie (the Saint Prokopios) is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (i svety prokopie). In the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 is specified that the Church of Sveti Prokopie was located in Drěnovь dolь (I u Drěnově dolě crьkvь svetago Prokopija). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the Church of Sveti Prokopie in Drěnovь dolь (I u Drěnove Dolě crьkvь Svetago Prokopija sь naměstijemь i sь baštinoju crьkve te), to the Hilandar Monastery.
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Deževa, Nikolina Crkva
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The Nikolina Church was located in Deževa (Sp IV 3).
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Deževa, Spasova Crkva
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The Spasova Church was mentioned in Deževa (Sp IV 3).
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Dolac, Church of Bogorodica
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The Church of Bogorodica in Dolac was built between 1441-1451 (ZN 295).
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Dovolja Monastery
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The Monastery of Dovolja was mentioned in the 15th century (Enc I 616).
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Dubravica, Church of Saint Demetrius
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The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) donated the settlement site of Dubravica together with hunting grounds for fish and animals as well as uncultivated land (zabel) to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje. In the subsequent border delimitation a Church of Saint Demetrius is mentioned (Dade kraljevьstvo mi crьkvi Svetago Georgija selište imenujemo Dubravice niže Tavora, s lovištemь ribnymь i zvěrnymь, i sь nivijemь; blato i dubravica; Dubravice do mege Svetago Dimitrija pod zabělomь, i do druma careva koi grede na Pšinju, i do Mela, ta putemь do děla, ta po dělu do mege Svetago Dimitrija).
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Goražde, Church of St. Nikolina
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The Church of St. Nikolina was situated within the boundaries of the Village of Goražde (Sp IV 4).
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Gradac Monastery, Church of the Annunciation of the Holy Mother of God
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The Gradac Monastery is situated in the region of Ras on the river Ibar and on the slopes of Mount Golija. It was founded by the Serbian Queen Jelena Anžujska (ca. 1230-1314), as stated by her biographer the Serbian Archbishop Danilo II (ca. 1270/75-1337) (Danilo 75-80). She was buried in this church in 1314. Even though the church belongs to the Raška style, it also has very distinct gothic elements. As such, this church represents a fine example of Western and Eastern influences merged in one edifice. It is a single nave edifice with an octagonal dome. The narthex has two paracclesions that resemble the Žiča Monastery, but also the Studenica Monastery (as seen in one paracclesion which is dedicated to St. Simeon Nemanja and in the arrangement of certain painted themes). Under the roof is a series of arcades with consoles. The church has rich sculptural and fresco decoration. The largest part of the interior of the edifice is made of marble (especially visible in the altar screen). Out of two marble sarcophagi, one belongs to the Serbian Queen Jelena Anžujska.
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Island of Starčevo, Monastery Starčeva Gorica, Church of the Holy Mother of God (1)
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The Church of the Holy Mother of God of the Starčevo Gorica Monastery was built between 1368 and 1379 (ZN br 149); (LjS ZiN IV, 6071 (16) - si sveti prolog Gorice Starčeve).
Its a triconchos with a dome.
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Ivanja, Church of St. John
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The Church of St. John in Ivanja was built during the 14th century. It is a single nave edifice with a semicircular apse.
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Jad(o)varce, Church Sveti Nikola
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The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated together with his son, the Young King (mlad kralь) Uroš, the church of St. Nikola near Jadvarce with the priest Draj, his family, place, boundaries and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo (U Jadvar᾿cěhь crьkovь Svety Nikolaje, što priloži kraljevьstvo mi Svetoi Bogorodici Htětovskoi, popa Draju sь rodomь i sь městomь, sь megami i sь vsěmi pravinami). The Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the church of St. Nikola near Jadvarce, previously bestowed to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo, to the Monastery of Hilandar (I vь Jadovarcehь crьkovь Svety Nikolaje, što priloži carьstvo mi Bogorodici Htětovskoi popa Draju i sь rodōmь i sь městomь i sь megjami i sь vsěmi pravinami).
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Ježevica, Church of St. Nicholas
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The Church of St. Nicholas in Ježevica was built in the 14th century or even earlier (Enc II 132).
It has a plan of an inscribed cross with a dome with semicircular apse. Narthex and a bell tower were added later, in the 19th century. The Church was fresco painted in the 17th century on the ground of probably 14th century painting.
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Jovanje Monastery
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The Jovanje Monastery was built in the 14th or 15th century (Enc II 158).
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Karan, Bela Crkva
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Bela Crkva was built by župan Brajan (Starinar IV 115-219, Starinar VII 15-35, Portreti 50-1).
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Kom, Monastery of the Bogorodica
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The Monastery of the Bogorodica in Kom was built by the parents of Ivan Crnjević at an unknown point in time. At the 4th of January 1485 the monastery was given to the Church of the Bogorodica in Cetinje (ZSp. 780 XIX).
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Kočane, The Monastery of Saint Demetrius
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The Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane owned a deserted settlement site in Jastrebnica. Jovan Oliver, the veliki sluga of the Serbian lands and Pomorje, showed favour to Simeōn, the hegumen of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane (ja sluga veli Ōliverь stvorih milostь gospodinu mi Svetomu Dimitriju iže u Kočěnehь, a na lice igumenu Simeōnu) and entrusted Todor with the task to settle Jastrebnica (Naidohь selište pusto Svetago Dimitrija u Jastrebnicě i podahь moga člověka Todora, koi mi se prěda izь Grьkь, po ruce da naseli ōmozi selo). Jovan Oliver issued between 1332 and 1341 a charter, which specified the rights and duties concerning the reinhabited monastic land.
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Krьpeno, Sveti Nikola
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In the year 1334/35 King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the metochion in or near village of Krpeno to the Treskavec Monastery (U Polozě metohь Krьpenь sь voděničьjemь i sь vinogradi i sь nivijemь i sь planinami i sь vьsěmi pravinami jego, što priloži svetopočivšii kralь za dušu si). King Stefan Uroš IV donated the Metochion of Saint Nicholas in or near Krьpeno to the Treskavec Monastery (Selo vь Poloze Krьpeno, metohь Svety Nikola, što priloži svety kralь).
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Kumanica Monastery, Church of the Sts. Archangel Michael and Gabriel
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The Church of the Sts. Archangel Michael and Gabriel (dedicated to the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels) of the Kumanica Monastery was built during the 13th or 14th century (Gsnd XI 132). It is located at the entrance to the Kumanica Gorge, on the right bank of the river Lim, in the village of Vrbnica, which today belongs to the municipality of Sjenica in Serbia.
The church had three building phases. The earliest would include the revetment for levelling the ground at the bottom of the cliff as well as the modest structure leaning against the rock shelter face. Of this oldest building only vestiges of the Southern wall with its footing, partially lying under the South-Eastern corner of the church, have survived. In the 14th century a one-nave church was built on the site of the original building. It was no longer a cave church in the literal sense of the word, but the echoes of the original idea were preserved through the "chapel", a small building erected against the Eastern wall of the Church, which directly leaned on the cliff. In the last building phase, in the 16th century, the church has a cruciform plan with a semicircular apse in the East, two rectangular side chapels and a narthex at the Western end. The monastery survived the Ottoman conquest as evidenced by the record of the monk Mihailo from 1514. The church was rebuilt in 2000.
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Lojane
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The village of Lojane is mentioned in the charter (the so-called "zbirna hrisovulja") of the Serbian Kings Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) and Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) from the years 1303/04 and 1336/40-1342/45 for the Monastery of Hilandar. In Lojane was located a Church of the Holy Mother of God, which was handed over to the monastery together with the village of Lojane (I pride kraljevьstvo mi crьkvь svetije Bogorodice iže vь Lojaně i sь selomь Lojanomь sь vsěmi megjami sela togo i sь vsěmi pravinami i sь vinogrady, i s nivijemь i s livadijemь i sь voděničijemь i sь zaselky Kьkrino i Zaplьžane i Kobilija Glava i Dobrutovci i Gradište, da jestь metohь svetie Bogorodice hilandarske). The village of Lojane is registered as Lojan in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1519 and from the years 1570 to 1572.
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Lučani, Church of St. Nicholas
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The Church of St. Nicholas in Lučani was given by Tsar Uglješa to the Hilandar Monastery (ZSp 461 II - I crьkvu u Lučanehь Svetago Nikolu ... mi pravinami i megami města togo).
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Maglič Fortress, Church of St. George
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In the Maglič Fortress a Church of St. George was mentioned during the time of bishop Danilo (Danilo 373)
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Majstorovina Monastery, Church of the Holy Trinity
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The Church of the Holy Trinity of the Majstorovina Monastery was built in the 14th century. The inscription above the entrance door of the Holy Trinity Monastery, which was preserved until 1926, indicates that the monastery was built during the time of the first Serbian Patriarch Joanikije in the 14th century.
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Margaritь
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King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated in 1334/35 the abandoned village of Margaritь with summer pastures to the Monastery of Treskavec (Selište divьje Margaritь sь ōblastiju i sь pravinami i sь planinomь). King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed in 1343/44 the donation of the former abandoned village and now settlement of Margaritь to the Monastery of Treskavec. Furthermor, he donated a watermill, vineyards and a summer pasture with all rights (Selište Margaritь sь vsěmi pravinami, sь nivijemь, sь vinogrady, sь voděnicu, sь planinu). In the year 1344/45 King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the donation of the village of Margaritь with vineyards, a mill and all rights (Selo Margaritь s vinogradi, s niviemь, s mliniemь i s vsěmi pravinami).
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Mažići, Church of St. George (Orehovica)
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The Church of St. George is situated in the village of Mažići, near Priboj, on the left side of the river Lim. It was probably first built prior or around the time of the Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja (reigned 1166/68-1196) in the 12th century on an old ritual place. The monastery is first mentioned in the 13th century in the Studenica Typicon. The church was ruined probably in the middle of the 13th century and was renewed at the time of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), according to his biographer the Serbian Archbishop Danilo II (ca. 1270/75-1337) (Danilo 138). It is a single nave edifice with a dome and a narthex, which was added later. The building was destroyed in the 17th century and again, the entire complex, was renewed in the 20th century.
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Mileševa Monastery, Church of the Ascension of Jesus Christ
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The Mileševa Monastery is situated near Prijepolje in South-Western Serbia. The Monastery's Church of the Ascension of Jesus Christ was built by the Serbian King Stefan Vladislav (reigned 1234-1243) in 1234 (Teodosije 178; Domentijan 6). Regarding its ground plan, this church resembles Žiča Monastery, therefore it belongs to the Raška style. In 1236 Saint Sava (ca. 1175-1236) died in Veliko Tărnovo. In 1237 he was buried in the exonarthex of the Mileševa Monastery, at which point his cult started to evolve. It is a single nave edifice with a semicircular apse with two bays, a dome and a narthex. Above the Eastern bay is a dome, and on its sides are rectangular choirs. In 1228 the proskomedia and diakonikon were added, probably modeled by the Žiča Monastery. The church widens from the West to the East and ends with three altar apses leaning directly on the domed Eastern wall. The exonarthex was built by the same builders, who constructed the exonarthex and a tower of the Studenica Monastery. It has a catehumeneon and two side chapels, a dome and no windows (in accordance with its purpose). The entire church was lavishly decorated with frescoes and sculpture (especially around the portals and windows). Frescoes in the nave, narthex and exonarthex are dated to the 1230s and 1240s. In the 16th century the church was repainted. In the exonarthex are famous frescoes with scenes of the Last Judgement, purposefully designed by Saint Sava, while he was preparing a grave site for himself. In 1594 the Ottomans took away the relics of Saint Sava and burnt them on the Vračar plateau in Belgrade, probably on the site where today the Church of St. Sava and the National Library of Serbia stand.
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Mojsinje, Church of Bogorodica Rođenje
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The Church of Bogorodica Rođenje in Mojsinje was built in the 14th century (Enc I 215).
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Monastery of Cetinje (Cetinjski manastir)
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The Cetinjski manastir of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral) in the historical capital of Montenegro, Cetinje, houses an renowned and very important treasury, which preserves manuscripts, incunabula, icons, liturgical objects and textiles.
Monastery complex represents a city-fortress and consists of the Church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin, lodgings and a cemetery surrounded on the West by stone walls.
The Monastery was founded by Prince Ivan Crnojevic of Zeta in 1484 as the cathedral monastery of the Eparchy of Zeta. It is believed that the ktetor was inspired by the Venetian architecture, during his stay in Ancona, and was a three-nave basilica with the dome, with elements of Renaissance architecture.
The Monastery was devastated in 1692 and rebuilt in 1701 by Mitropolitan Danilo Petrovic-Njegos, above the remains of the court of Ivan Crnojevic. It was burnt and reconstructed in 1743 by Metropolitan Sava Petrovic Njegos. By the end of the 18th century the Monastery was devastated once more, rebuilt several more times and finally in 1927 rebuilt for the last time.
The Church of the Bogorodica in Cetinje was built by Ivan Crnojević (ZSp. 778-81 - na mestě glagolěměmь Cětině vь slavu i vь hvalu toe gospožde Matere Božie vь ime Roždьstva).
The Cetinje Monastery was built in 1484 (Marković 150).
The Monastery hosts important relics: right hand of St. John the Baptist, remains of St. Peter of Cetinje, particles of the True Cross, royal crown of Serbian king Stephen Uroš III Dečanski, icon of the Philermos Mother of God, etc.
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Morača Monastery, Church of the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God
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The Monastery of Morača is situated in the valley of the river Morača in the Municipality of Kolašin in Montenegro. It was built by Stefan, the son of Vukan Nemanjić (the Grand Prince of Zeta) and grandson of Stefan Nemanja (ZN 17). The katholikon is dedicated to the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God. It is a single-nave edifice with three bays, narthex and a dome. It has a side chapel dedicated to St. Stephen. All major elements of the Monastery of Žiča and the Patriarchate of Peć have merged into this edifice. The main portal is in Romanesque style. The fresco decoration of the 13th century has been poorly preserved (the majority of the decoration was ruined, when the monastery was ravaged by the Ottomans in the 16th century). The church was renovated in the 20th century.
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Novi Pazar (Ras), Church of St. Peter
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The Church of St. Peter in Ras was built by order of the Serbian Prince Mutimir (reigned 851-891) around 870-890 on a hill of Stari Ras ("Old Ras"), in today’s city of Novi Pazar. (VĐ ŽSN., 18 i 19 - se v'toroje kr'Štenije prijeti ... u V'seslavnyju ... Petra i Pavla). However, the latest research refutes the previous beliefs that the church was built by Prince Mutimir in 870, but much earlier, probably around 820, by Prince Radoslav. It seems that Prince Mutimir restored the building approximately six decades later, making it an episcopal seat (the church was most likely destroyed in one of the two Bulgarian campaigns against Serbia). It was decorated with fresco paintings at the beginning of the 10th century with the merit of the Serbian Prince Petar Gojniković (reigned 892-918).
The building, made from sandstone and travertine, is a rotunda encircling an irregular tetraconch (with the fact that the conch on the Eastern side, intended for the altar space, had a different shape and a larger area than the other three conchs) with vaults in the form of semicircles. Above the central area is a dome which is octagonal on the outside. The Eastern conch served as an altar, while on its Northern, Western and Southern sides the rotunda is embraced by a horseshoe-like ambulatory above which are galleries looking onto the nave, which served as a catechumenate or matroneum. The rotunda constructed on the described foundation was surrounded on all sides, except in the east, by a nave, which was divided by radial walls into five "rooms", interconnected by passages. The outer wall of the nave was adjacent to the circular wall of the rotunda. On the exterior, the edifice resembles pre-Romanesque style, with shallow arched niches placed on the upper part of the drum and the lateral wall of the rotunda, along the apse. Niches can be seen in the interior as well.
The baptismal piscina, hollowed out in front of the southeast pilaster of the rotunda, points to the conclusion that St. Peter's church was partly intended for baptisms. The church simultaneously functioned as a court chapel.
The only preserved sculptural decorations inside and around blind niches in the interior of the church are floral and geometrical motifs along with crosses engraved into fresh plaster.
The fresco paintings have mostly faded. Today some of the decoration can be seen in the drum with five scenes associated with Christ’s nativity and childhood (Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Adoration of the Magi and Presentation at the Temple). In the squinches, one can see parts of scenes of the Baptism and Betrayal of Christ, and on the Western wall, below the drum, parts of the Crucifixion. All compositions were framed with wide bands, rimmed with red. On elongated figures, red-violet and yellow-golden tones prevail. The background is mostly golden, while grey is seen once it progresses towards the top. Art historians believe that Byzantine masters were hired to decorate the church (they also find similarities with the Church of St. Stephen in Kastoria and the Church of Transfiguration near Koropi, Attica).
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Novoseli, Church of the Holy Mother of God
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The Church of the Holy Mother of God in Novoseli was given by Tsar Dušan to the Monasery of St. Pantheleimon at the Holy Mount (ZSp. 508 II - I ošte priloži carstvo mi selo Novoselь Koje jestь konь Vlьčištь sь vsěmi megjami, i sь materiomь Božomь Adinioticomь).
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Ograđenica, Church of St. Pantheleimon
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The Church of St. Pantheleimon was situated within the boundaries of the village of Ograđenica (Glasnik XV 279).
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Ovčar, Monastery of the Holy Trinity
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The Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Ovčar, near the village Dučalovići, was built probably in the 12th or the 13th century (Enc IV 641).
Its a single-nave edifice with a dome, three bays, a narthex on the Western side (built later) and apse on the Eastern side, which is semicircular on the inside and five-sided on the outside.
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Pavlica, Monastery Nova Pavlica
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The Nova Pavlica Monastery was build in the years 1397-1398 by Stefan and Lazar Musić, the sons of čelnik Musa (ZN 175; Letopis matice srpske 117, 114).
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Pavlica, Monastery of Stara Pavlica
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The Monastery of Stara Pavlica, dedicated to the Sts. Peter and Paul, near the Monastery of Nova Pavlica is situated on a rocky plateau of the Ibar gorge. It was most probably built by a pre-Nemanjić Dynasty at the end of the 12th century, since a charter of the Serbian King Stefan Prvovenčani (reigned 1196-1227) refers to it as a dependance of Studenica Monastery (Starinar VIII-IX 206-210). It is a single nave basilica in the form of a cross with a dome and three apses. In the altar space pots of baked clay have been inserted into walls for better acoustics. Remains of fresco paintings in the dome and on the arches of the pillars are probably from the 13th century as they are similar in style to the ones in the Church of Djurdjevi Stupovi.
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Peć, Church of St. Demetrius (Patriarchate of Peć)
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The Church of St. Demetrius is situated in the city of Peć. It was built by Archbishop Nikodim, probably between 1320 and 1324, as is written in the Peć Chronicle.
It is a reduced cruciform edifice with a spacious dome and altar. Western bay is lower and dimmer than the rest of the Church (serving as a resting place of two Patriarchs - Jefrem and possibly Sava IV). It has a cross (groin) vault, which was, as some scholars believe, built later.
In 1614 some parts of the building (namely its Northern wall) have been reconstructed.
On the altar screen some sculpture can be seen. The Church was fresco painted in the middle of the 14th century, and renovated in the 17th century. The name of one painter (out of two who painted this Church) has remained inscribed in the apse in Greek lettering.
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Pijanьcь, Church of Sveti Nikola
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The Church Sveti Nikola in Pianitza with the village was granted in 1346/1347 to the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (crьkvь svetago Nikole sь selomь; ōtь svetago Nikole). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the Church of Sveti Nikola (I u Pijancu crьkvь Sveti Nikola sь selōmь i sь vinogradōmь i sь voděnicami i sь lugōmь), to the Hilandar Monastery.
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Praskvica Monastery
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The Praskvica Monastery was founded on the instigation of the montenegrinian nobleman Baoša III (Sp XI 67-68; ZSp. 754).
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Prevlaka, Monastery and Church of St. Archangel Michael
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The Church of St. Archangel Michael, also known by the name "Tumba sancti Archangeli", is situated on the small island of Prevlaka in the Bay of Tivat. There are three layers of edifices on this site. The first church was built on the basis of a 6th century basilica (with graves found as well), which became a three nave basilica by the end of the 6th century. A Benedictine monastery dedicated to St. Archangel Michael was probably built in the 9th century. It was a three nave basilica with a semicircular apse in the center and two rectangular little apses on the sides (which are still being debated in art history, since no similar examples have been found), a narthex and a bell tower on the South-East part of the edifice. A large number of fragments of architectural sculpture of the pre-Romanesque style has been preserved, and some of its pillars were moved to the Church of St. Tryphon in Kotor in 1166. In the 12th century this place was ruined and deserted. This abbey, according to the oldest preserved document in Kotor from 1124, was meant to be the Cathedral of Kotor. At the beginning of the 13th century (1220s) the bishopric of Zeta was founded at this very place by Saint Sava (ca. 1175-1236). Therefore, the second church was built on the remains of an abandoned and demolished Benedictine monastery. It had a dome and strong buttresses and a parraklesion was added on the North side. Numerous graves have also been found. The monastery was abandoned at the end of the 14th century and destroyed in the middle of the 15th century, following the killing of 70 monks. In the immediate vicinity of the ruins of this church, i.e. to the East of it, a single nave edifice, which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was built in 1833 with bells above the Western entrance.
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Prilep, Barovo
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The church of Barovo is mentioned as part of a boundary description of the property of the Metochion of the two Saint Theodores in the town of Prilep (ōdь Barovu crьkvu ta na Svetu Petku, ta na Svetago Geōrgїa, ta na nakovalьnu, ta po hrїdu, i ōpiratь se u Trěskavьcь, kako pohodi putь isь Trěskavьca u tu že crьkvь Barovu). In the year 1343/44 the church of Barovo is mentioned as part of a boundary description of the property of the Metochion of the two Saint Theodores in the town of Prilep (počinae megja ōdь Barovu crьkvь, ōdь Svetogo Nikole, ta uzь dolь ōbьjemljušte Svetye (!) Petku, ōpirajušte do Svet(a)go Georьgija, vьshodešte na Nakovalьnu, ōbьjemljušte Varnavu, ōpirajušte na Dubnicu do krьsta, ōbьjemljušt(e) ... uši ishodešte izь Trěskavьca putь gra(dь)sky, paky do crьkovь Barovu, ōbьjemljušte crьkovь Prodrom(o)vu). In the year 1344/45 the church of Barovo is mentioned by the King in the boundary description of the Metochion of the two Saint Theodores. The church of Barovo was the starting point and the end of the boundary description (ōtь Barove Crьkve, na Barovu crьkvь).
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Prilep, Sveti Dimitrie
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The church lies in the east of the former medieval lower town of Prilep (today Varoš). It formed an integral part of the town's medieval main square and was erected in several phases from the 12th until the 14th century. The original building was a small one-nave church (second half of the 12th century). In 1284 the whole church was decorated with new frescoes. A fundamental reconstruction was undertaken in the middle of the 14th century. Two frescoes of donors from the 14th century are preserved (one depicting Dimitrije Misinopolit, a representative of a famous noble family in Prilep). Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the Metochion of Saint Demetrius with its fields, vineyards and watermills as well as with its fair in the year 1334/35 (Metohь Svetii Dimitrїe u Prilěpě, što priložihu Misinopolitova dětьca, sь nivijemь i sь vinogradi i sь voděnicami i sь Kučьkověne selištemь i sь panagiromь i sь vьseju pravinoju togo). King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the donation of the Metochion of Saint Demetrius in the town of Prilep with the fair, vineyards and the watermill in 1343/44 (Vь gradě motohь Svetyi Dimitrie Misinopolitivь panagirь zadušnica Misinopolitovihь dětei sь nivijemь, sь vinogrady, sь voděnicijemь, sь vsěmi pravinami). In the year 1344/45 the King confirmed the donation of the Metochion of Saint Demetrius with vineyards and a mill to the monastery of Treskavec (Metohь Svetyi Dimitrïe u Prilěpě s niviemь, sь vinogradi, sь mlini i sь vsěmi pravinami).
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Prilep, Sveti Geōrgїe
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The church of Saint George is mentioned as part of a boundary description of the property of the Metochion of the two Saint Theodores in the town of Prilep (ōdь Barovu crьkvu ta na Svetu Petku, ta na Svetago Geōrgїa, ta na nakovalьnu, ta po hrїdu, i ōpiratь se u Trěskavьcь, kako pohodi putь isь Trěskavьca u tu že crьkvь Barovu). The church of Saint George is mentioned in 1343/44 as part of a boundary description of the property of the Metochion of the two Saint Theodores in the town of Prilep (počinae megja ōdь Barovu crьkvь, ōdь Svetogo Nikole, ta uzь dolь ōbьjemljušte Svetye (!) Petku, ōpirajušte do Svetago Georьgija, vьshodešte na Nakovalьnu, ōbьjemljušte Varnavu, ōpirajušte na Dubnicu do krьsta, ōbьjemljušte ... uši ishodešte izь Trěskavьca putь gradьsky, paky do crьkovь Barovu, ōbьjemljušte crьkovь Prodromovu). In the year 1344/45 the church of Saint George is mentioned as part of a boundary description of the property of the Metochion of the two Saint Theodores in the town of Prilep (ōtь Barove Crьkve ta podь gradь kь Svetomu Geōrgiju).
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Ras, Monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi
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The Church of St. George is situated in Ras near the city of Novi Pazar and in close proximity to the episcopal see of Raška, a suffragan of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. It was built in the years 1170-1171 by the Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja (reigned 1166/68-1196) as a combination of Byzantine and Latin spatial composition and construction, and as such belongs to the so-called Raška school of architecture. It was fresco decorated in 1975. The church is designed as a single nave edifice divided into three parts: the three-part altar space, the central bay and the narthex. Above the central part of the building is a dome with elliptical base, which is rather unusual, and decorated inside with arcades on free-standing colonettes. The entrances with vestibules on the lateral sides of the bay under the dome were created as a new solution. It has bell towers on its Western side (Spis sv Save 60-61; Kralj Stefan 5, Domentijan 16-17). (BĐ ŽSN., 23 - s(ve)ty m(u)č(e)niče H(ri)stovь Geōr'gije).
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Ribnica, Church of St. George
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The Church of St. George is situated in Ribnica (today's Podgorica, Montenegro) where, according to legend, the Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja (reigned 1166/68-1196) was baptised. It is a single-nave edifice with an apse, a dome and a bell tower on its Western side. The church was rebuilt and extended several times. Along the Eastern side of the building researchers revealed the remains of an older building. Its walls were used as the foundation walls of the apse, which was extended further to the Northern and Southern side as well as to the interior of the building, indicating the continuity of the sacred place and ancient settlement. Furthermore, the remains of the older building were used as construction material for the new one. There are numerous written accounts on the church. The Church of St. George is similar to the Church of St. Peter in Omiš.
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Skadar, Church of St. Nicholas
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The Church of St. Nicholas is situated in the vicinity of Skadar. It was erected by the Serbian Queen Jelena Anžujska (ca. 1230-1314) in 1280. It is a three nave basilica with a semicircular apse. For the needs of Orthodox liturgies the altar space received short bays and was raised one step above the floor of the church. Also, a semicircular niche was found in the Northern nave for the needs of the proskomedia. The church was ruined in the 1960s.
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Skadar, Monastery of the Most Pure Mother of God of Krajina
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The Monastery of the Most Pure Mother of God of Krajina ("Craini"), with its main church dedicated to the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God, was built near the South-Western shore of Lake Skadar. As most researchers believe, its ktetor was the Serbian Prince Jovan Vladimir (reigned 990-1016), whose remains were transferred here not long after he was murdered in 1016 in Prespa. Next to him his wife Kosara was buried. The church was renewed and enlarged several times, but the original plan is still visible. It is a single nave edifice with semicircular conchae on its Southern, Eastern and Northern sides, making it a trefoil building, similar to the Church of St. John the Baptist in Zaton on the River Lim, built at approximately the same time, and the Church of St. Panteleimon in Ohrid (the burial church of St. Kliment of Ohrid), built during the time of Tsar Samuel's domination in the Balkans. The Church of the Most Pure Mother of God of Krajina was renewed at the end of the 14th century, probably at the time when the Metropolitan see of Zeta was transferred. It is believed that Balša III Djurdjević (reigned 1403-1421), the ruler of Zeta, was responsible for its renovation. Today, only fragments of fresco decoration indicate that the church was once embellished. (FŠ LPD., 331 - in ecclesia sancta Mariae, in loco qui dicitur Craini).
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Skopje, Upper Town, Church of the Holy Virgin with its Residence
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The Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin confirmed and donated landed property to the Monastery of St. George-Gorg near Skopje in the year 1300. In his charter he is mentioning the Upper Town of Skopje with its fortifications and other buildings, amongst others the Church of the Holy Virgin (црьквь светаа богородица): вьнѹтрь града скопиꙗ при вратѣхь великыхь полата и црьквь светаа богородица еже ѥсть придаль монахь ксенофонть. This church and its residence (полата), which were given by the monk Ksenofont to the Monastery, were to be found in the vicinity of the "Great Gate" (при вратѣхь великыхь). In systematic excavations in the Upper Town (Kale) from 2007 until 2012 a cross-shaped church (13th-14th cent.) was discovered in the south-eastern section of the Upper Town (i.e. excavation Kale VII). Perhaps these remnants are to be identified with the Church of the Holy Virgin.
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Sopoćani Monastery, Church of the Holy Trinity
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The Sopoćani Monastery is situated near the source of the river Raška in the region of Ras in the vicinity of the city of Novi Pazar. The church was built by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš I (reigned 1243-1276), the son of the Serbian King Stefan Prvovenčani (reigned 1196-1227) around 1260 (PJŠ Pam., 70 - sьzida že crьkovь Sopokjani). The exonarthex and a bell tower were added later, in the first half of the 14th century (resembling the Žiča Monastery). The church is a mausoleum of members of the royal Nemanjić members: the King's mother Anna Dandolo, Stefan Prvovenčani, Grand Duke Djordje and King Uroš I himself. It is a single nave edifice with three bays and a dome and has a three-partite semicircular apse as well as a narthex. On the sides of the narthex are separate chambers. On the outside, the edifice resembles a three-nave basilica (all side rooms, next to the altar, choirs and chapels are placed under one, single-pitched roof), which is also the element that distinguishes this building from the others of the Raška style group. The windows and portals were done by masters from the coastal area in the Romanesque style. The entire church was fresco painted around 1270. After being damaged, the church was reconstructed in the 15th century (at the time some alterations were made). After the Ottoman rule, in the 20th century, this site was reconstructed and renovated.
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Studenica Monastery, Church of Joachim and Anne (the King's Church)
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The Church of the Saints Joachim and Anne, later renamed into the King's Church, is situated next to the monastery's katholikon in the Studenica Monastery. It was built in 1313 or 1314 by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) (ZN 46, Danilo 138) as indicated in the inscription on the façade below the roof cornice. The church is constructed as a building with a reduced cruciform ground plan and a dome.
The Church was fresco decorated by Michael Astrapas, one of the leading painters of the epoch, in the spirit of Byzantine classicism of the Palaiologan era. It was fitted with white marble furnishings and reliefs.
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Studenica Monastery, Church of St. Nicholas
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The Church of St. Nicholas is situated next to the monastery's katholikon in the Studenica Monastery. It was built at the end of the 12th century (Gsnd XIV 215), probably simultaneously with the Church of the Holy Mother of God or King Radoslav's narthex at the latest. The ground plan shows a single nave edifice with a semicircular apse. It was built with stone and tufa. Some fragments of fresco paintings have survived and are dated to the 1230s (until the middle of the 13th century the latest). It bears certain similarities with frescoes of the Church of the Virgin Ljeviška in Prizren.
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Studenica Monastery, Church of the Holy Mother of God
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The Church of the Holy Mother of God in the Studenica Monastery is situated 39km to the South-West of the city of Kraljevo. It was built between 1183 and 1196 by the Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja (reigned 1166/68-1196) (Spisi sv. Save 153; Kralj Stefan 9; Domentijan 24; ZSp. 569 V - I u Rasinyi methohь Popovacь, crьkva hramь Vavědenïe prěsvetïe Bogorodica i zaselakï, i selo Vožetinь, selo Rakla i zaseljakь, i selo Pohovacь, i selo Vělika Vruševïca i Podrumi, i povele da prinose vyno trevy rady monastiru). The relics of Stefan Nemanja were brought to Studenica (from the Monastery of Hilandar) making this place the political, cultural and spiritual center of the Serbian realm. Around his tomb are buried - his wife Ana (nun Anastasija), his son the Serbian King Stefan Prvovenčani (reigned 1196-1227), Grand Prince Vukan, Nemanja's grandson Stefan (the son of King Uroš I) and the Serbian King Stefan Radoslav (reigned 1228-1233) with his wife. Therefore, Studenica Monastery became known as the Lavra of St. Simeon the Myrrh-Streaming (Myroblytos). For this reason the church became the model to emulate in the construction and fresco painting of Serbian churches.
It is a single nave edifice with a dome and a three-part altar space, side vestibules and a narthex. The vestibules had a cult purpose, as evidenced by niches in their Eastern walls.
The façade of the Church of the Holy Mother of God is made in accordance with the traditions of Romanesque art (the masons came from the coastal region, perhaps Kotor). Some typically Byzantine details, such as the semicircular arch on the sides of the tambour of the dome and the disposition of the windows on it, are harmoniously integrated into the Western concept of the exterior of the walls. The most impressive Romanesque features of the monastery's katholikon are the friezes of arcades on the upper edges of the walls and the shapes of window openings and portals, i.e. their sculptural decoration. The Western and Southern entrance doors, along with a trifora at the altar, are most prominent example of the rich sculptural decoration of this period in history. Also, the lunette above the Western door is richly decorated with sculptural decoration of the Holy Mother of God with Christ and two Archangels. An inscription on the tympanum of the Western portal is written in Serbian letters, which indicates that the artist(s) were probably Serbian. According to the fragmentarily preserved inscription in the tambour of the dome, it is known that the painting of the church began in 1208 and 1209. The fresco decoration was thoroughly renovated in 1569 by Longin. Around 1230 the Serbian King Stefan Radoslav (reigned 1228-1233), the son of the Serbian King Stefan Prvovenčani (reigned 1196-1227), built an exonarthex with two semicircular chapels on the Southern and Northern sides and perhaps a square tower with a chapel on the upper floor of the main entrance of the monastery.
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Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska (Monastery Matejče)
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It is assumed that the church building was erected during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Isaakios I Komnenos (1057-1059). The existence of the Church Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska is beyond doubt attested from the 14th century. The monastery is mentioned in the boundary description of the village of Črěševo, which forms part of a donation by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje (ta nad Svetuju Bogorodicu črьnogorьsku do Črьnoga kamene). The Vita of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V (reigned 1355-1371), written by the Serbian Patriarch Pajsije, reports that Stefan Uroš V and his mother Jelena completed the Church Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska after the death of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) (I togda blagočьstivaa carica sь sinomь svoimь sьvršajutь crьkovь ostavšuju ōt blagočьstivago i prěvisokago cara Stefana vь črьnoi gori ne sьvršena i trudomь i podvigomь i pomoštïju prečistye vladičice naše i bogorodice i svoihь praroditeь pomoštïju i zastupljenïemь sьvrьšajutь crkьvь prěslavnuju vь pohvalu i slavu uspenïe prěčityje i prěblagoslovenïe vladičice naše i bogorodice i prisnoděvy marie i do dьnьsь iměnuetse črьnogorska bogorodica). It is unclear, whether the Church of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska is identical with the church in the Skopska Crna Gora above Žegligovo built by Jelena, the mother of Stefan Uroš V, which is attested in the Serbian genealogies (rodoslovi) and annals (letopisi) (u Črьmьnyje Gory, vyše Žegligova; eius vero mater aedificavit Ecclesiam in Nigro Monte, supra Segligovo). The Ottoman Sultan Murad I (reigned 1360-1389) might have passed by the Church Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska on his march against the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović (reigned 1373-1389) before the battle on the Kosovo field (Kosovo Polje) in 1389. Evdokija Balšić commissioned the monk Gerasim in the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska in 1409 to write the manuscript of the Dialogues (paterik) by Saint Gregory the Great (...sia božestvennaja kniga, glagoljemaa dialogь, ispisa se iže vь ōbitěli prěčityje i prěslaьnyje vladyčice naše bogorodice nerukotvorennyje čjudotvorice črьnogorьskye povelěnïem blagověrnyje i blagočьstivyje i hristoljubivyje gospogje despotice kyr Eudokyje, dьšti blagověrnago i hristoljubivago i velikago gospodina Gjurgja Balšikja...). The scribe Vladislav Gramatik resided in the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska between 1457 and 1497. In 1479 he compiled a liturgical book (panegyrikon) in the Monastery at the foot of the Crna Gora in the region of Žegligovo (monastiri prěsvetyje vladičice naše bogorodice iže vъ podkrilïi Črьnye Gory, vь prědělě Žegligovʼcěm). The scribe Dimitrij Kantakuzin also temporarily resided in the monastery. The scribal notes of both copyists mention the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska in the year 1469 (vь vьsečьstněmь monastiri prěsvetye bogorodice suštee iže v podkrilïi Črьnye Gory), 1473 (vъ vъsečъstněm monastiri prěsvetye vladičice naše bogorodice i prisnoděvy Marïe, suštee iže v podkrilïi Črъnye Gory), 1479 (vь vьsečьstněm monastiri prěsvetyje vladičice naše bogorodice iže vъ podkrilïi Črьnye Gory, vь prědělě Žegligovʼcěm) and 1480/81 (Vladislavu dïaku ōt Črьnogorskye bogorodice). The Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska is registered as "Holy Mother of God in Kara Donlu" or "Monastery Karadonlu with the second name Holy Mother of God" in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from the years 1570 to 1572. In the 17th century (between 1647 and 1654) the Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo Rajić payed a visit to the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska (Da se zna kogda pridohь azь arhiepiskopь Gavriilь vъ carьnogorsku bogorodicu). The British traveller Edward Brown saw most probably the Monastery of Sveta Bogorodica Črьnogorska, when he passed through the city of Kumanovo in 1668/69 (near which [scil. Kumanovo] there is still a Greek Monastery, upon the side of the Hills).
The Church has a ground plan of an inscribed-cross with five domes, resembling those of Staro Nagoričine and Church of St. Panteleimon in Nerezi (near Skoplje), narthex and a three-partite apse. The central dome has a twelve-sided drum and is set on four massive pillars. The smaller domes, erected in the shape of octagons, are located in the corners of the building - the eastern ones are situated on the prosthesis and the deaconry, and the western ones above the narthex. The narthex is decorated with a modest architectural sculpture. The Church is vaulted with barrel and cruciform arches, placed on the walls, pillars and pilasters in the interior of the building. The façade is decorated with lesenes.
This Church is a true representative of the building traditions of the Palaiologan epoch, such as Churches in Arta, Mistra and Thessaloniki.
The Church has been fresco painted between 1348 and 1352, representing the largest painted ensemble on the Macedonian territory in the 14th century and the second largest in the Balkans.
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Ušće, Church of St. Nicholas
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This is the place, where according to tradition the Serbian King Stefan Prvovenčani (reigned 1196-1227) and his brother Vukan awaited the relics of Saint Simeon (Stefan Nemanja), brought from the Monastery of Hilandar to the Monastery of Studenica by their brother Sveti Sava (Starinar VIII-IX, 285-288).
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Vaznesenje Monastery
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The Vaznesenje Monastery in the Kablar Region was built in the 12th or 13th (Enc I 306).
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Voljavac, Church of the Holy Mother of God
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The Church of the Holy Mother of God is situated in the village of Voljavac in Montenegro. It was built at the end of the 12th century by the Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja (reigned 1166/68-1196) on the remnants of an older edifice and was confirmed as a possession of the Church of the Holy Apostles on Lim by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321). This church is a single nave vaulted edifice, with three bays, semicircular apse and a narthex. At the Western side of the church were two pilasters, similar to the Churches of St. Luke and of St. Anne in Kotor. Its entrance is in the West. It was in ruins until 1995 and then renewed. Before the renovation, the walls were preserved up to a height of 50 to 70 cm. Old graves and spolia are to be found around the church, and to its North a recent cemetery. To the North-West of the church a free-standing bell tower was erected in 1995.
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Vraneša, Church of the Holy Mother of God
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The Church of the Holy Mother of God (Bogorodica) Vraništica in the village of Vraneša near Šahovića was built in the 13th or 14th century (Enc I 215).
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Vranjina, Vranjina Monastery, Church of St. Nicholas
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The Church of St. Nicholas in the Vranjina Monastery was probaly founded by Bishop Hilarion of Zeta. Tsar Dušan gave the Church to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Prizren (ZSp 706-708). (FŠ LPD., 346; VM LJ., 88; SN ZSp. 59; AA I, 679 (205) - qui Vuranie dicitur; u ostrove Vranine). The Church was multiple times renewed.
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Vukovci, Church of the Holy Trinity
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The Church of the Holy Trinity in Vukovica was most probably built in the year 1336 (SN. 3636). It is located on the local cemetery and today its walls are covered with white stone. A bell tower was built above the entrance of the church in the West. To the West of this church remains of an older edifice can be discerned.
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Zaton, Church of St. John the Baptist
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The Church of St. John the Baptist in Zaton on the River Lim near Bijelo Polje is a trefoil church built in the 9th or the 10th century, was destroyed in the 14th century and again in the 20th century. Finally, it was rebuilt in the 21st century. The similarity with the Church of St. Panteleimon in Ohrid indicates that it was probably erected during the reign of Tsar Samuel. The ground plan indicates a single nave church with square base and three conchae on its Eastern, Northern and Southern sides. Fragments of fresco decoration and a stone slab floor were found. Researchers believe that the church was fresco decorated in the time of the Serbian Prince Miroslav (reigned 1162-1190).
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Čačak, Gradac Church of the Mother of God (Church of the Ascension)
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The Church of the Mother of God (today's Church of the Ascension of Jesus Christ) was situated in today's city of Čačak (former Moravski Gradac). It was built by the Grand Župan (Stefan) Stracimir, brother of Stefan Nemanja (RL. 9, 43, Mar 65) probably before 1186. It became episcopal Church in the 14th century, and later turned into a metropolitanate. During Ottoman occupation the Church was turned into a mosque. Today, on its place, a new Church, dedicated to Christ, was built.
The first written testimonies of the Church are found in the Studenica typicon (1207–1215), and later in the Charter of the Žiča Monastery.
It was a single nave edifice with a dome, tripartite apse and two bell towers on the Western side. The present appearance is the result of some adaptations, especially those into a mosque.
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Štip, The Church od Saint Nicholas
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The grand duke Jovan Oliver donated the Church of Saint Nicholas in Štip with the priest Sifievь (u štipě svety nikola pop sifievь). The Serbian Emperor confirmed the endowment of Jovan Oliver and enlarged it for the bishopric of Zletovo. It consisted of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Štip, the priest Sifievь with all patrimonial estate, land, field, vineyard and 20 čьbьrь (I šte priloži svetoje carьstvo mi episkopïi crьkvi Arhaggelu u Zletovoi, u gradu Štipu crьkvь svetago Nikoly pop Sifievu sь vsomь baštinomь i sь zemlomь i s niviemь i s vinogradi, i k. čьbьrь, i sь vsěmь ōtьtesomь crьkve te).
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Štip, The Church of Saint Blaise
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The Church of Sveti Vlasije (Saint Blaise) was erected by the Čelnik Stanislavь on his inherited property in the area possessed by the Hilandar Monastery. Stanislavь donated the church to the Hilandar Monastery and requested the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš to confirm his endowment. The Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš issued on this ground the charter for the Hilandar Monastery (i vьspomenu carьstvu mi kako jestь sьzidalь crьkvь na svojei baštině vь oblastь domu prěsvetije Bogorodice Hilanʼdarʼskije, svetago sveštenʼnomučenika Vlasija, mole carьstvo ni i trěbuje potvrьždenije carьstva mi jakože biti toi svetoi i božьstvʼnoi crьkvi vь vsaku svobodu podь oblastiju doma prěsvetije Bogorodice Hilanʼdarʼskije i ježe carьstvu ni pravověrʼnoje jego porabotanije. Prošenije jego isplьnihomь, jako da si jestь svetaa i božьstvьnaa crьkvь sveti sveštenʼnomučenikь Hristovь Vlasije vь oblasti domu prěsvetije Bogorodice Hilanʼdarʼskije neotjemljemь nikimь do věka, i sь ljudmi što si imaa u gradu).
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Šudikova Monastery
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The Šudikova Monastery is situated to the North of Berane (Gsnd XI 125).
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Žiča Monastery, Church of the Ascension of Jesus Christ
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The Church of the Ascension of Jesus Christ in the Žiča Monastery is situated 32km from Vrnjačka Banja and near the city of Kraljevo. It was built by the Serbian King Stefan Prvovenčani (reigned 1196-1227) and his brother Saint Sava (ca. 1175-1236) in 1207 and was finished of 20 May 1221, on the feast of Ascension when the Great Council was held (Teodosije 139-141). It was the see of the Serbian Orthodox Archbishopric since 1219 and a place of coronation of the Serbian Kings (after Stefan had received the royal wreath from Pope Honorius III in 1217 and was coronated in Žiča). It is also a mausoleum of the First-Crowned Serbian King.
The ground plan of the church follows the pattern formed previously in the Church of the Holy Mother of God in the Studenica Monastery with some differences visible at the altar space, making it a model of all future buildings of the 13th century, of the so-called Raška monumental architecture. The church was built in several stages. Firstly, a single nave edifice was erected with three bays and a narthex with a parekklesion on both of its sides, semicircular apse and a dome. The present Western section was separated by a narthex wall until the end of the 13th century, when the wall was removed and the narthex was joined to the nave in a single space. The lateral arms of the transept were erected next to the central bay. After 1220 (but prior to the Great Council in 1221) the prothesis and the diaconicon were added in the altar. By 1230 a spacious exonarthex with a bell-tower was built on the Western side, which has a katechoumemion on the upper floor and a parakklesionon the upper floor of the tower. Another special feature of this church is its façade, which is painted in red. It is believed that the builders came both from Byzantium and the Adriatic. The church was fresco painted by artists from Byzantium. There are two layers of frescoes in the interior: the older one, created around 1220, belongs to the so-called Golden Age of Serbian painting and the younger one, from the beginning of the 14th century, belongs to the painting from the period of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), created under the influence of the so-called Palaiologan Renaissance style.
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Žiča, Church of St. Peter and Paul
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The Church of St. Peter and Paul was built in the 13th century (Gsnd XIV).
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