Page 36 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(2) (2024)

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studia universitatis hereditati, letnik 12 (2024), številka 2 / volume 12 (2024), number 2

Figure 9: Portrait of King Dušan and the Impact of Light, St. Nicholas Church in Ljuboten, North Wall
(photo Jasmina S. Ćirić)

symbolic link. It reinforces the connection be- Nevertheless, it could be said that the pro-
tween the themes of sacrifice, Divine interven- tomagister from Ljuboten or the architect from
tion, and the sacred entrance to salvation. The his workshop, was possibly engaged in Mateič
shell thus enhances the theological narrative as well, as indicated by the sculpting style of the
of the portal, aligning with the broader Chris- mentioned motifs (fig. 8).
tian symbolism of Mary as the mediatrix of Di- Specific positioning of motifs on the capi-
vine grace and gateway to Christ. It is impor- tals suggests that both the entrance in Ljuboten
tant to note that a similar iconographic solution (1336/37) and the Virgin’s Church of the Black
was later repeated in the Church of the Virgin of Mountain (before 1355) had a ceremonial func-
the Black Mountain above the village of Mateič tion. Significant spaces or buildings (refectory,
(Matejče Monastery). Interestingly, Vojislav Ko- abbot’s residence, courtyard, etc.) were probably
rać observed that ‘In the interior, a striking three- located on this side of the church (Korać 2003,
arched passage (trivilon) connects the narthex 217; cf. 242, figs. 24, 25).
with the nave. The two powerful, circular col- The double-headed eagle, a symbol fre-
umns support cubic capitals adorned with styl- quently associated with both the Nemanjić dy-
ized human and animal heads and curved leaves nasty and the Byzantine Palaiologos dynasty,
on the corners. While there are no direct parallels represents the unity of spiritual and temporal
for these capitals, their treatment resembles those authority. Its presence in the capital underscores
found in the St Archangel’s Church in Prizren, the Serbian rulers’ aspiration to reflect the gran-
th
dated to the 14 century’ (Korać 2003, 217, fn.14). deur and legitimacy of the Byzantine Empire.