History Oplenac

tomb of king peter of serbia.

peter i, upon ascension throne in 1903, chose spot 337 metres (1106 ft) on top of mali oplenac hill location of st. george church. location measured geodesy experts; altar face east according orthodox tradition. in 1907 cornerstone laid, , charter dedicated st. george placed in foundation. winning prize tender given architect nikola nestorović. after long , animated expert discussion, regarding demand monumentality of serbian-byzantine style, , due king’s own displeasure proposed solution, tender in 1909 launched. committee made same previous members (mihailo valtrović, andra stevanović, , architect konstantin jovanović, replaced dragutin Đorđević previous committee).

the committee awarded first prize young architect kosta j. jovanović. on may 1, 1910 construction started following jovanović’s plan. stone breaking crypt , foundation of church lasted 4 months. on 1 september 1910, foundation completed. in 1911 building process continued @ fast pace, , church under dome. decided same year façade of church made of white marble, came nearby venčac mountain, today known exceptionally white marble. in autumn of 1912 church complete , ready consecration. serbian patriarch dimitrije consecrated church on 23 september 1912. during pauses of 1912-1913 balkan wars , first world war, there pause in construction of church. when austria-hungary occupied serbia in winter of 1915, church looted – copper cover removed dome, roof , portals. lighting conductor removed bells. many windows broken including little marble pillars , ornaments. using excuse important records might hidden, occupiers desecrated graves in crypt.

returning liberated homeland , historical creation of kingdom of serbs, croats , slovenes, peter not able see completion of foundation. king died on 16 august 1921, , successor alexander took on completion. modified original plan.

after reconstruction of crypt, jovanović, followed iconostasis, lightning conductor, new copper roof golden edges on dome. bells made frères piccard annecy le vieux, france , mosaics made puhl & wagner berlin, germany. bronze chandelier made luks, zagreb, croatia. church once again consecrated in september 1930. church services held until 1947. after declared cultural monument , open visitors. oplenac added list of monuments of culture of exceptional importance in 1979, , protected state.