CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE – THE MAUSOLEUM OF ROYAL FAMILY KARADJORDJEVIC

НАСЛОВНА / CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE – THE MAUSOLEUM OF ROYAL FAMILY KARADJORDJEVIC

The church of St. george is situated on the top of little oplenac at an altitude of 347 m. This white fi ve – domed church of sophisticated forms and materials was built in Serbian-Bizantine style. The church was designed by an architect Kosta Ј. Јovanovic and its construction lasted from 1910 to 1930. The church is the foundation of King Peter i who was a grandson of Karadjordje, the founder of royal dynasty. The most important characteristic of church is its interior decoration made in mosaic that covers an area of 3 570 m². Cubes for mosaic are made in Murano near Venice of special type of glass paste. Walls of church are covered with more than 60 millions glass cubes in over 15 thousands shades color, and some of cubes are covered with fourteen-carat and twenty-carat gold. Th is impressive interior classifi es the church of St. george as one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Copies of the most beautiful frescoes from over 60 Serbian medieval monasteries are gathered in the oplenac church. in the center of the church , under the main dome, there is a big massive candelabrum.

This candelabrum is made of melted arms used in World War i in the battle of Kajmakčalan. Candelabrum, made in shape of Serbian medieval crown placed upside down, symbolizes the mourning of Serbian people for the lost of Serbian kingdom at Kosovo in 1389. in silence of oplenac church four of Serbian rulers and eighteen members of Karadjordjević dynasty have found a place of eternal rest. on the upper part of church there are two sarcophagi of honor made of Vencac marble – in the south choir is sarcophagus of djordje Petrović Karadjordje (1762-1817), the founder of royal dynasty, and in the north choir is the sarcophagus of King Peter i ( 1844 – 1921), the founder of the church. in the crypt ,where the tombs are made of dečani onyx, two more Serbian rulers are buried –duke Alexander Karadjordjević(1806-1885), son of Karadjordje, who ruled Serbia from 1842 to 1858 and King Alexander i who was murdered during offi cial visit to France in 1934. Skillfully incorporated into the environment of oplenac hill, Mausoleum of dynasty Karadjordjevic with its monumental exterior and wealth of ornaments and mosaic, represents the pearl of cultural and historical heritage of Topola and oplenac.