Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (Montenegrin, Serbian, Croatian
: Katedrala Svetog Tripuna/Катедрала Светог Трипуна) in Kotor
is one of two Roman Catholic cathedral
s in Montenegro
. It is the seat of the Croatian
Catholic Bishopric of Kotor
which covers the entire gulf, currently led by Bishop
Mons.
Ilija Janjić.
(local name Sveti Tripun), the patron and protector of the city, on the same site where an older church had already existed long ago. That earlier church was built in 809 by Andrija (Andreaccio) Saracenis, a citizen of Kotor, where the remains of the Saint were kept after being brought from Constantinople
(now also known as Istanbul
).
, one of the oldest and perhaps the most beautiful monument along the Adriatic Sea
, is showing its splendor again.
It contains a rich collection of artifacts. Older than many famous churches and cathedrals in Europe
, the Cathedral of St. Tryphon has a treasury of immense value. In its interior there are fresco
s from the 14th century, a stone ornament above the main altar in which the life of St. Tryphon is depicted, as well as a relief of saints in gold and silver. The most representative works of Kotor's masters and craftsmen are kept in this Cathedral, making its collection quite unique.
The collection of art objects includes a silver hand and a cross, decorated with ornaments and figures in relief. It is only a part of the valuable objects of the Treasury of this unique sacral building which was the City Hall in the past.
Today, it is the best known tourist attraction in Kotor and a symbol of the city: the Saint is depicted in the city’s coat of arms, along with a lion and the Mount of San Giovanni (St. John).
Montenegrin language
Montenegrin is a name used for the Serbo-Croatian language as spoken by Montenegrins; it also refers to an incipient standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect of Serbo-Croatian used as the official language of Montenegro...
: Katedrala Svetog Tripuna/Катедрала Светог Трипуна) in Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
is one of two Roman Catholic cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
s in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. It is the seat of the Croatian
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
Catholic Bishopric of Kotor
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotor
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotor is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Bay of Kotor area in Montenegro. It is centered in the city of Kotor . It was erected as a diocese in the 10th century....
which covers the entire gulf, currently led by Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Mons.
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Ilija Janjić.
Location and name
It is located in the city of Kotor, one of the best preserved and most beautiful medieval fortified towns in the Mediterranean. It was built in honor of Saint TryphonTryphon, Respicius, and Nympha
Saints Tryphon , Respicius, and Nympha are Christian saints who were formerly celebrated jointly on 10 November in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church from the eleventh century until the twentieth...
(local name Sveti Tripun), the patron and protector of the city, on the same site where an older church had already existed long ago. That earlier church was built in 809 by Andrija (Andreaccio) Saracenis, a citizen of Kotor, where the remains of the Saint were kept after being brought from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(now also known as Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
).
History & Arhitecture
This Roman Catholic cathedral is the largest and most beautiful building in Kotor, and was consecrated on June 19, 1166. The cathedral was seriously damaged and rebuilt after the earthquake of 1667, but there were not enough funds for its complete reconstruction. That is the reason why its two towers are so different one from the other. Another massive earthquake in April 1979, which completely devastated the Montenegro coast, also greatly damaged the cathedral. Luckily, it has been salvaged and the careful restoration of parts of its interior has not been completed until a few years ago. Today, this formidable piece of Romanesque architectureRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
, one of the oldest and perhaps the most beautiful monument along the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
, is showing its splendor again.
It contains a rich collection of artifacts. Older than many famous churches and cathedrals in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Cathedral of St. Tryphon has a treasury of immense value. In its interior there are fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
s from the 14th century, a stone ornament above the main altar in which the life of St. Tryphon is depicted, as well as a relief of saints in gold and silver. The most representative works of Kotor's masters and craftsmen are kept in this Cathedral, making its collection quite unique.
The collection of art objects includes a silver hand and a cross, decorated with ornaments and figures in relief. It is only a part of the valuable objects of the Treasury of this unique sacral building which was the City Hall in the past.
Today, it is the best known tourist attraction in Kotor and a symbol of the city: the Saint is depicted in the city’s coat of arms, along with a lion and the Mount of San Giovanni (St. John).
See also
- Croatian Civic Society of MontenegroCroatian Civic Society of MontenegroThe Croatian Civic Society of Montenegro is a Croat community organisation in Montenegro.Their headquarters is located in the coastal town of Kotor, in the Boka kotorska region of MontenegroThe president is Ivan Ilić, and the vice-president is Tripo Schubert....
- Our Lady of the RocksOur Lady of the RocksOur Lady of the Rocks is one of the two islets off the coast of Perast in Bay of Kotor, Montenegro . It is an artificial island created by bulwark of rocks and by sinking old and seized ships loaded with rocks...
- Croats of Boka KotorskaCroats of Boka KotorskaThe Croats have a minority in Boka Kotorska , a coastal region in Montenegro, the largest of their kind in Tivat. They are also known as Bokelji, a common name for all inhabitants for of Boka Kotorska...
- Saint TryphonSaint TryphonSt. Tryphon may refer to:*Tryphon of Campsada, 3rd century*Tryphon of Pechenga, 16th century*Saint Trifon, patron saint of Kotor*Tryphon Zarezan, Bulgarian saint...
External links
- http://www.discover-montenegro.com/St_Tryphon's_Cathedral.htm Kotor St Tryphon's Cathedral
- http://www.gcatholic.com/churches/data/whsHRX.htm#fog World Heritage Catholic Churches