Mosaic Oplenac

mosaic of st. georges church.

the initial idea of king peter carve walls names of soldiers , officers had perished in balkan wars of 1912 , 1913. but, since church not completed, , since first world war followed (1914-1918), idea had abandoned. solution decorate interior of temple mosaics, sort of museum of reproductions of beautiful frescoes of medieval serbian art. copies 60 serbian medieval churches , monasteries had been brought st. george church @ oplenac. entire mosaic has 725 painted compositions (513 in temple , 212 in crypt), on there 1500 figures. entire area of mosaic 3,500 square metres (38,000 sq ft); 40 million various coloured pieces of glass have 15 thousand different varieties of colour, making vivid artistic impression.

to right side of entrance, on entire southern wall of narthex, painting of trustee, king peter i, holding model of church on palm of left hand, wearing crown , coronation ornaments. right hand, guided st. george, whom temple dedicated, , shown approaching mother of god, greeting him christ sitting on throne.

in southern apse gallery of serbian medieval rulers, impressive line-up every 1 of them represented respective churches. first on left stefan nemanja (ruled 1168 1196), wearing priest garb of hilandar monastery, holding studenica monastery. then, there king stefan first crowned (1196-1227) model of Žiča monastery, king stefan radoslav (1227–1234) narthex of studenica monastery, followed king stefan vladislav (1234–1243) mileševa monastery, king stefan uroš (1243–1276) sopoćani monastery; king stefan dragutin church of st. achillius (1276–1282), king stefan milutin (1282–1322) gračanica monastery, king stefan dečanski (1322-1331) visoki dečani monastery, , 2 emperors – stefan dušan (1331-1355) monastery of holy archangels; , stefan uroš v (1355–1371) matejić monastery. next depicted ruler lazar of serbia (1371-1389) ravanica monastery, son despot stefan (1389–1427) manasija monastery, followed Đurađ branković church of smederevo.

in calotte of main dome pantocrator, copy of thorax found in gračanica monastery. face of christ, 27 metres floor of temple, looks impressive , of proportional dimensions. although diameter of painting 9 metres (29 ft), , although finger of christ 1.5 metres (5 ft) long, , nose 1.2 metres (4 ft) long, harmonious. in altar frescoes of lord s supper , way golgotha. in altar niche there 5-metre (16 ft) tall figure of divine mother of god in praying position (copy of fresco patriarchal monastery of peć). also, there secret of holy communion , communion of apostles bread , wine. these of compositions make rich interior of church.

besides mausoleum (st. george church), there other objects encompass foundation of king peter – king peter s house, king’s villa, queen’s villa, vineyards, vineyard keeper’s house, etc. visitors can visit historic town of topola located nearby, traditional stronghold of karađorđević family, ever since time of karađorđe.