Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul (Novi Pazar)
| Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul | |
|---|---|
The Church and gravestones
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Novi Pazar, Serbia |
| Affiliation | Serbian Orthodox |
| Rite | Byzantine Rite |
| Country | Serbia |
| Heritage designation | |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural style | Early Byzantine |
| Completed | 9th century (4th century foundation) |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Official name: Stari Ras | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, iii |
| Designated | 1979 (3rd) |
| Reference no. | 96 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Type | Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance |
| Designated | 1979 |
| Reference no. | SK 182 |
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Serbian: Црква светих апостола Петра и Павла / Crkva svetih apostola Petra i Pavla), commonly known as Church of St. Peter (Црква Светог Петра / Crkva Svetog Petra) or simply Peter's Church (Петрова црква / Petrova crkva) is a Serbian Orthodox church, the oldest intact church in Serbia and one of the oldest ones in the region, situated on a hill of Ras, the medieval capital of the Serbian Grand Principality (Rascia), in Novi Pazar, Serbia. It is part of the Stari Ras complex, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in the 4th century during Roman rule, while additions were made in the 7th and 9th centuries, after which it served as the ecclessiastical seat of the Serbian church, and as the baptismal church and state council site of the Nemanjić dynasty, until the last years of the 12th century. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and Paul.
The exact date of founding is unknown; it is mentioned in the 9th century as the seat of the eparchy of Serbia (see Eparchy of Ras). Excavations on the site have unearthed Greek sculptures and Black-figure pottery dating to 7th and 6th century BC, as well as a 5th-century BC princely grave (with regalia, robes, gold-silver jewelry, masks, beads and Attic pottery), underneath the floor of the church, in 1957–1958. The findings are presently at the National Museum of Serbia, in Belgrade. Roman, Byzantine and medieval Slavic tombs surround the church.
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