Page 25 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(2) (2024)

Sensory Encounters:
Decoding the Symbolism of St Nicholas Church in Ljuboten
Senzorična srečanja:
dekodiranje simbolike cerkve Svetega Nikolaja v Ljubotenu

Jasmina S. Ćirić
University of Kragujevac, Serbia
jasmina.ciric@filum.kg.ac.rs

Abstract
This paper explores the intersection of embodied cognition and sensory encounters within St Nicholas
Church in Ljuboten, built in 1337 near Skopje, North Macedonia. The study focuses on the church’s or-
namental brickwork, particularly the apse’s decorations, arguing that these features transcend mere aes- 25
thetics to facilitate immersive spirituality. Central to the analysis is the monogram of Demetrius (Dmi-
tar), a key element concealed within the west portal, which highlights the interplay between material
culture and spiritual practice. By employing a multidisciplinary approach combining art historical anal-
ysis with cognitive science insights, this research examines how the church’s physical and ornamental el-
ements engage the senses, enriching the medieval religious experience. The decorative motifs of chess
fields, zigzags, and cryptograms serve as cognitive metaphors bridging the sacred and sensory, contrib-
uting to a deeper understanding of religious devotion. This paper underscores the role of sensory en-
counters in medieval spirituality, positioning St. Nicholas Church within the broader Byzantine and
Serbian medieval cultural context.
Keywords: Sensory Engagement, Symbolism, Medieval Church Architecture, Ljuboten.

Izvleček
Članek raziskuje presečišče utelešenega spoznavanja in čutnih doživetij v cerkvi svetega Nikolaja v
Ljubotenu, zgrajeni leta 1337 v bližini Skopja v Severni Makedoniji. Raziskava se osredotoča na okrasno
opeko cerkve, zlasti na okrasje apside, in poudarja, da ti elementi presegajo zgolj estetiko ter omogočajo
poglobljeno duhovno izkušnjo. Osrednji del analize je monogram Demetrija (Dmitra), ključni motiv,
skrit v zahodnem portalu, ki izpostavlja medsebojni vpliv materialne kulture in duhovne prakse. Z mul-
tidisciplinarnim pristopom, ki združuje umetnostnozgodovinsko analizo in spoznanja kognitivne zna-
nosti, raziskava preučuje, kako fizični in okrasni elementi cerkve vključujejo čute ter bogatijo srednjeve-
ško versko izkušnjo. Okrasni motivi šahovskih polj, cikcak linij in kriptogramov služijo kot kognitivne
metafore, ki povezujejo sveto in čutno ter prispevajo k poglobljenemu razumevanju verske pobožnosti.
Prispevek poudarja pomen čutnih izkušenj v srednjeveški duhovnosti in cerkev svetega Nikolaja ume-
šča v širši bizantinski ter srbski srednjeveški kulturni kontekst
Ključne besede: čutna izkušnja, simbolika, srednjeveška cerkvena arhitektura, Ljuboten

Introduction gust 31, 1337 (Tatić 1927, 95; Đorđević 1995, 145;
St Nicholas Church in Ljuboten (figs. 1a, 1b), lo- Korać 2003, 109; Radujko 2008, 101). The peri-
cated in present-day North Macedonia, was con- od marked significant developments in medie-
structed during the reign of King Stefan Dušan val Serbian architecture, with this church stand-
(r. 1331–1346 as King and 1346–1355 as Tsar). The ing as a notable example of the era’s artistic and
ktetorial inscription dates the completion of structural advancements (Korać 2003, 13–14;
the church between September 1, 1336, and Au- Ćirić 2024, 257–273).
https://doi.org/10.26493/2350-5443.12(2)25-44 © author/authors