Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Ras
Description
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, commonly known as Church of St. Peter or simply Peter's Church is a Serbian Orthodox church, the oldest intact church in Serbia and one of the oldest ones in the region, situated on a hill of Ras, the medieval capital of the Serbian Grand Principality, in Novi Pazar, Serbia. It is part of the Stari Ras complex, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in the 4th century during Roman rule, while additions were made in the 7th and 9th centuries, after which it served as the ecclessiastical seat of the Serbian church, and as the baptismal church and state council site of the Nemanjić dynasty, until the last years of the 12th century. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and Paul.HistoryEarlyThe exact date of founding is unknown; it is mentioned in the 9th century as the seat of the eparchy of Serbia . Excavations on the site have unearthed Greek sculptures and Black-figure pottery dating to 7th and 6th century BC, as well as a 5th-century BC princely grave, underneath the floor of the church, in 1957–1958. The findings are presently at the National Museum of Serbia, in Belgrade. Roman, Byzantine and medieval Slavic tombs surround the church.
Tell your friends
Quiz
