Lazarica (church)

Lazarica Church
Црква Лазарица
Lazarica Church
Lazarica Church
43°35′N 21°19′E / 43.583°N 21.317°E / 43.583; 21.317Coordinates: 43°35′N 21°19′E / 43.583°N 21.317°E / 43.583; 21.317
Location	Kruševac
Country	Serbia
Denomination	Serbian Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodoxy
Website	http://www.lazarica.rs/
History
Founded	1378 (1378)
Founder(s)	Lazar of Serbia
Dedication	Saint Stephen
Architecture
Status	Church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
Designated	1979
Style	Morava Architectural Style
Specifications
Height	17.25 m (57 ft) internal height
Number of domes	1
Materials	Stone
Administration
Diocese	Eparchy of Kruševac

Church of the Holy First Martyr Stephen (Serbian: Црква светог Првомученика Стефана), better known as the Lazarica Church (Црква Лазарица), is a Serbian Orthodox church in Kruševac, Serbia. It was built in 1375-1378 as an endowment of prince Lazar of Serbia. Lazarica, as an outstanding achievement of the Serbian medieval architecture, was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by the Republic of Serbia. Lazarica was built as a prototype of the Morava school of architecture, as a palace church associated with the Kruševac Fortress, the capital of Prince Lazar. Today, only Lazarica and parts of the keep remain from the vast fortress complex.

Informations about the founding of the church can be found in the "Žitije despota Stefana Lazarevića" by Constantine of Kostenets.Lazar of Serbia built the church at the same time as the fortifications for the capital Kruševac. In 1455, Kruševac fell under Ottoman Empire rule, and the church was abandoned and desecrated. Lazarica was used as a stable for horses, and the roof was torn down for use elsewhere. During the Russo-Austrian-Turkish War, from 1736 to 1739, Lazarica was partially reconstructed, and the interior was painted with frescos by Andra Andrejević. After that, Kruševac fell under Ottoman rule again. The first major reconstruction of Lazarica occurred after the establishment of the independent Principality of Serbia, with numerous modifications over the next hundred years.