The Church of Stаint Nicholas ( sr-Cyrl, Црква Светог Оца Николе) is a
Serbian Orthodox church in the town of
Vrlika
Vrlika is a small town in inland Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The closest large towns are Sinj, Knin, and Drniš. Vrlika was given the status of town in 1997. Vrlika is an underdeveloped municipality which is statistically classified as the ...
, located in
Northern Dalmatia,
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
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, capit ...
.
History
Built in 1618, the
Orthodox
Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to:
Religion
* Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pa ...
church dedicated to
Saint Nicholas is the oldest religious object built in Vrlika. A bell tower was added and consecrated by hieromonk Vikentija (Stojisavljević) from Dragović monastery in 1801 and its current
iconostas
In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis ( gr, εἰκονοστάσιον) is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. ''Iconostasis'' also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed ...
dates from the mid-19th century.
Throughout the centuries, the church was the target multiple arson attempts during world wars and most recently, the
Yugoslav Civil War. On 28 May 1972, the church was severely damaged in a fire set by Croatian nationalists during the
Croatian Spring crisis, only to be restored two years later on 26 May 1974. Between 1990 and 1991, explosives were planted around the church several times by Croatian nationalists.
Starting in 2015, renovations were made to the church with new doors, windows and a new metal staircase leading up to the bell tower. A complete restoration of the church exterior facade was also included in the project which cost approximately one hundred thousand Euros raised by Vrlika's Serbian Orthodox faithful from all around the world.
In August 2018, the Serbian Orthodox inhabitants of Vrlika along with many Vrlika Serbs from the diaspora, congregated in Vrlika to celebrate the 400 year anniversary of the church.
Traditions
Čuvari Hristovog Groba (
Serbian: Чувари Хрстовог Гроба; "Guardians of Christ's Grave"). The tradition of
Čuvari Hristovog Groba (
Serbian: Чувари Хрстовог Гроба; "Guardians of Christ's Grave") is a long held Easter tradition in Vrlika and the Church of Saint Nicholas.
Although exact knowledge of when this custom began in Vrlika is not known but, according to oral tradition, the custom is believed to have been brought to Vrlika from
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
during the 16th century
The tradition was first mentioned in the church records in 1764.
See also
*
Dragović monastery
The Dragović Monastery () is a Serbian Orthodox monastery situated on a hill downstream the Cetina River not far from Vrlika in Croatia. When the artificial Peruća Lake was created, the original monastery sank due to land movement. The new monas ...
, Serbian Orthodox monastery founded in 1395 near Vrlika
*
List of Serbian Orthodox churches in Croatia
Annotations
*Name: Church of Holy Father Nikolaj (Храм Св. Оца Николаја)
References
Serbian Orthodox church buildings in Croatia
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1618
17th-century Serbian Orthodox church buildings
Vrlika
History of the Serbs of Croatia
1618 establishments in Europe
Buildings and structures in Split-Dalmatia County
17th-century churches in Croatia
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