Cathedral of Saint Domnius
The Cathedral of St.. Split ( kroat.: Duje Cathedral Svetog, Sveti Sveti Duje or Dujam ) in Split in Croatia is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Split - Makarska. It is located in Diocletian's Palace on the Peristylplatz. The church was built in the 4th century dedicated to St. Duje and is the oldest cathedral in the world. It is the Archbishop of Split - Makarska seat.
History
The present cathedral of Split was originally built as Diocletian's mausoleum. Immediately after the emperor's death, in 313, acknowledged the Milan agreement to all Christians the right of free exercise of religion a " both the Christians and even all men free proxy to append the religion that each one chooses for himself ." The Christians built it in Salona, the former administrative center of the province of Dalmatia, near Split, several basilicas on graves of Christian martyrs who were a center of sacred worship and attracted many pilgrims.
In the 7th century Avars and Slavs destroyed Salona. The survivors fled to the surrounding islands and much of later returned and lived on the abandoned Imperial Palace. The imperial mausoleum was converted into a Christian church, the pagan symbols have been removed as well as the sarcophagus in which rested the Emperor. From the ruined basilica in Salona they brought the bones of the martyrs who had assassinated the Emperor Diocletian in the palace: the bones of the first bishop of Salona Split, as well as of Anastasius, an ordinary worker. Archdeacon Thomas, a chronicler of the 13th CENTURY, Ivan Revnjanin mentioned as the first Archbishop of Split in the 7th century, he has the church organized and decorated in Split.
The Great Gate of the Cathedral was completed in 1214 by local sculptors and artists Andrija Buvina, he decorated the gate is made from walnut with carvings showing 28 scenes from the life of Jesus. The gate is well preserved on the lower piece that has suffered damage by the visitor traffic. The gate is very valuable for the European cultural heritage, since wood doors from this period were destroyed over the centuries, while the typical bronze doors are quite well preserved.
Description
The cathedral is built in the shape of an octagon, it has a covered Peripteros with 24 marble columns with Corinthian capitals. The portal of the Cathedral, also from antiquity. On the baroque stone slab with the tiara as statements of metropolitan and primatial status of the Church emphasizes the the archbishopric up to the promulgation of the Papal Bull Locum Beati Petri had in 1828. Above the portal there is a small sarcophagus with the bones of the Daughters of the King Bela IV, Katarina and Margarita, who died during the attack of the Tatars in Klis in the 13th century.
The cathedral has a rounded interior and is covered by a dome with triangular and semicircular niches. In the niches earlier sculptures of emperors and gods were erected. The interior is surrounded by eight granite columns, which are placed on a base of white stone and crowned with Corinthian capitals. The columns have a purely decorative function. Above the richly decorated capitals are wreaths as a basis for the second row of columns of porphyry. The second column series is complete with Corinthian capitals and with slightly smaller wreaths. A frieze with portraits of Mercury as psychopomp ( soul companion realm of the dead ) and medallions with Emperor Diocletian and his wife, Empress Priske is about. Left of the entrance is the hexagonal pulpit ( ambon ), which was built in 1257 as a gift to the Princess Kolafisa. Built it has Master Mavro from precious black and green Poryphor, the most likely comes from the destroyed sarcophagus of Diocletian. The pulpit stands on six marble columns, the capitals of which look different and have been processed from local stone.
In the 15th century two stone altars were built with ciborium, which were placed in two slots on the right and left of the main altar. The right altar dedicated to Saint Duje. The Italian masters Bonino da Milano was built by him in 1427 in the form of a sarcophagus. Then there is a picture of St. Duje in ceremonial robes of office is lying, his head resting on the aureole, while three angels, how to wear a fabric that is gathered like a curtain over him. Dujam Vuskovic 1429 decorated the inside of the ciborium with late Gothic frescoes. In the second half of the 18th century the new altar was built and this was dedicated to Saint Joseph. 1958 during the renovation of the baroque altar frontal was removed and thus an ancient sarcophagus bearing the image of the Good Shepherd ( Pastor Bonus ). On the sarcophagus is the cafeteria with inscription which is rhythmic verses and dates from the 13th century.
The left altar is dedicated to St. Anastasius, one of the patron saints of the city of Split. Built has him George of Dalmatia in 1448 in the form of a sarcophagus with the Gisant. The frontal is a realistic relief of the flogging of Christ, which was carried out after a drawing of Donatello. The Venetian sculptor Giovanni Maria Morlaiter Built in 1767 in the northern niche of the cathedral an altar. 1770 the relics were deposited there. On the frontal of the altar is a relief is in the Rococo style, is shown on the how St. Duje is beheaded. There is a cycle of paintings depicting scenes from the life of Mary, the work of the Venetian artist of Flemish descent Pietra de Costera Above the altar. The main altar was built 1687-1689. Above the altar is a carved and plaited ceiling. The oil paintings on dealing with Eucharistic themes and are the work of the painter Matije Ponzoni who has painted them on behalf of his brother Archbishop Sforza Ponzoni.
The attachment to the choir initiated at the end of the 17th century, the Archbishop Markantun de Dominis. This cultivation meant that the eastern wall of the mausoleum was demolished. Thus, the Peripteros was damaged, but increases the cathedral. In the choir are artful wooden benches and an Archbishop's throne, and six large oil paintings from the life of St. Duje, a work of the painter Pietro Ferari, and a wooden crucifix, which dates from the second half of the 14th century, and the form of the Greek Y has.
Belfry
The bell tower of St. Duje is one of the best preserved of the entire Adriatic coast. Its construction began in the 13th century and lasted until the mid-16th century. Because of the exceptionally long construction time will find a mix of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles.
The bell tower is a very fancy building, specifically its slim, transparent form and its step-like narrowing upwards. Specifically, the adaptation of the ancient environment, which was achieved through the use of wreaths and capitals in the shape of the openings and arches and is in harmony with the arcades of the peristyle and the entablature of the Peripteros.
The first builders and planners of the bell tower are not known, but it is known that in the 15th century Nikola Tvrdoje has guided the work again recorded. The construction of the tower was supported not only by the population splits, other founders were also the Croatian- Hungarian King Bela IV and his wife Marija and Prince Francopan and his wife Kolafisa.
The bell tower was restored in 1890-1908 from scratch. The last floor with the Renaissance characteristics was thoroughly changed, so that it is in harmony with the remaining floors of the tower. The numerous ancient spolia and sculptures of the Griffons ( birds of prey ), lions and Sphinx were removed. Some parts of the tower are preserved in the museum of the city of Split and were incorporated into the building of the Tusculuma in Salona.