Montenegro Vacations

St. Tripun cathedral in Kotor was built  in the 12th century. This is the oldest cathedral church on this side of Adriatic Sea after the arrival of South Slaves. Cathedral of St. Tryphon is one of the  most beautiful examples of Roman architecture not only in Montenegro but along the Adriatic Coast.

The oldest, episcopal church in Kotor was founded at the beginning of 6th century. Foundations of this three nave basilica was discovered over 1,5 meters under foundation of Romanesque church St.Maria “of rivers” near Northern gate of Kotor.

In apse on the Northern nave of the basilica, pool of baptistery used for baptizing the adults by pouring liquid was discovered and in that time this ceremony was exclusive right of bishop, who was situated in the cathedral of the basilica.

Nevertheless, at the beginning of the 9th century relics of St.Tripun, martyr from Asia Minor, were brought to Kotor and in his honor one of inhabitants of Kotor Andreci (Andrea Saracenis) built up little arched martyr church, and its foundations were recently discovered near place where is Cathedral situated nowadays.

Cult of St.Tripun as healer of all illnesses, especially of those spelled by evil spirits – as Byzantium writer and Emperor from 10th century Constatine Porfirogenet testifies – became so powerful and spread that eventually pushed out cult of St.George, town protector by that time, and St.Tripun became town protector instead.

As the old basilica of St.Maria “of three rivers” was dilapidated, and the little martyr church of St.Tripun became too cramped, inhabitants of Kotor at the beginning of The 12th century decided to build up grandiose Romanic cathedral right next to the preromanesque martyr church. Its altars were dedicated in 19th of June 1166  in presence of numerous church dignitries, town prince – prior Vita, representativeof Byzantine Emperor Emanuel Komnen, master Izgnanak and inhabitants.

The new Cathedral instantly become and through many centuries remained center of not only religious, spiritual life, but also of all activities of the inhabitants. Inside the Cathedral were custodied documents attesting to the giving as a present new privilege and properties by dynasty of Nemanjic, and these documents can be defined as a beginning of archive activities.