Ostalo
THE CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE ON ”GRADINA” BETWEEN SELCE AND BRIBIR
Ranko Starac
Sažetak
The church of St. George (Juraj) is on the top of the prominent hill over the valley where the road which connects Selce and Bribir is, the historical centre of this part of the Vinodol basin. The church was built on the edge of the wall of a huge prehistoric fortress. The pieces of clay pots originated from a developed and early stage of the late Bronze Age were found while digging up the soil during a probe into one of the terraces south of the top of the hill. This means that the fortress was established and in use during many centuries of the second millennium BC. On this occasion there were no traces found from later centuries of Iron Age. The thickness of the fortification’s wall (although the stones from the wall were used for the production of cement in the past), show us that there were many reconstructions over long periods because the placement of the fortress is perfect
with the beautiful panoramic view.
The same fortification’s wall was refurbished during late Antiquity. The wall was reinforced using plaster on its façade. At the same time (probably in the period of the Gothic-Byzantine Wars) a small square building was built on the top of the hill. This was a guard’s house but may have also been used as a Christian chapel, (St. George was usually celebrated at prominent positions with clear military and strategic functions). In the centuries of the late Middle Ages, this building was reconstructed and refurbished many more times. The massive square half-columns built next to the original side walls were constructed in the early Middle Ages. These columns were set into the house during the construction of the arched ceiling which is a characteristic of the early Romanic adaptation of the early Christian small dimensioned buildings, which can be found along the Adriatic coast. During later refurbishment (Vinodol is an earthquake area causing frequent destruction) a new back wall was built (during 12th century), the front wall was refurbished; the ceiling construction was changed twice, then in 19th century and again in 1930s. After WWII (when the church was hit by a cannon’s projectile) this place of worship was abandoned completely and its altar was destroyed. This important monument of thousand years of life on karst washed by rain and bura (wind) and troubles was refurbished and consecrated in 1997.
Ključne riječi
prehistoric fortress; church of St. George (Juraj); single part construction; pre- Romanesque; Vinodol; Selce; Bribir
Hrčak ID:
332383
URI
Datum izdavanja:
9.12.2004.
Posjeta: 476 *