The Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Serbian: Црква успења пресвете Богородице/Crkva uspenja presvete Bogorodice, Croatian: Crkva uspenja presvete Bogorodice) in Šibenik is Serbian Orthodox cathedral in southern Croatia, serving as the nominal seat of the Eparchy of Dalmatia. The church is a baroque building dating from the 17th to 18th centuries, originally built on a site inhabited by the Templars in the 12th century.[1] Initially, it served as the Roman Catholic Church of St. Saviour, part of a Benedictine nunnery, until 1810 when Napoleon ruled Illyrian Provinces transferred it to the Serbian Orthodox community under bishop Benedikt Kraljević.[1]
| Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos | |
|---|---|
Црква успења пресвете Богородице Crkva uspenja presvete Bogorodice | |
 Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos | |
| Location | Šibenik Šibenik-Knin County |
| Country | Croatia |
| Denomination | Serbian Orthodox |
| History | |
| Dedication | Dormition of the Theotokos |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Eparchy of Dalmatia |
The church is home to a notable collection of cultural, historical, and artistic artifacts, featuring Italo-Cretan icons, other religious items, and an extensive library.[2] Its facade is decorated by a Baroque bell tower, designed by the local master Ivan Skoko in the early 18th century.[2]
History
editIn the 16th century, Orthodox Greeks and Serbs in Šibenik shared the Church of St. Julian.[3] By 1600, the Orthodox Serbs built a church dedicated to the Holy Cross, and in 1778, they relocated their services to the newly constructed Church of St. Spas, which is still in use today.[3] During the French rule in Dalmatia in 1810, the Orthodox community also established the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the city center.[3] This area has traditionally been the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Dalmatia.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b n.a. (n.d.). "Šibenik - Crkva Uspenie Bogomatere". Portal Kulturni turizam. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ a b Godinić, Patricia (2016). Kulturno - povijesno nasljeđe Šibenika (Bachelor of Science thesis). Juraj Dobrila University of Pula. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d Marko Podrug (6 March 2021). "Ljudsko posrnuće dovelo je do provale u šibensku crkvu". Novosti (Croatia). Retrieved 23 August 2024.