Description of the attraction
The Orthodox Church of St. George is located in the old city cemetery. It is considered the oldest temple in Podgorica. Built in the Romanesque style, it has undergone many changes throughout its history. At the moment, only its cubic structure reminds us that this is a Romanesque building. It is typical for sacred buildings of the X-XII centuries.
Scientists are still arguing about the date of the foundation of the Church of St. George. Some believe that the temple appeared here in the 9th century, others date it to the 11th century. Historians are sure of one thing for sure: during the construction of the Church of St. George, the building material left over from an older church was used. An urban legend generally says that this church was built on the site of an ancient, before the foundation of a destroyed monastery.
This simple, modest, one-nave church at the foot of Goritsa Hill is famous for its interesting 16th century murals, the author's name of which has not survived. These frescoes still amaze with the brightness of the colors and the skill of the artist. The rest of the paintings were completed three centuries later, in the 19th century. Several ancient canvases depicting saints can be attributed to the treasures of the temple. In general, the Church of St. George in the past could not be called a poor temple. However, numerous wars and clashes with the Turkish invaders led to the fact that the temple lost most of its values. The dominant feature of the church is the rich iconostasis, which was recently created.
The church has a small Orthodox shop selling icons and candles. The cemetery near the temple is open to tourists.
