Written historical sources and art-historical interpretation: The case of the church of the Virgin at Toplica

Abstract

Based on the new analysis of the passage of the text of the Vita of St. Symeon Nemanja dedicated to Virgin’s church at Toplica, written by his son Stefan «the First-Crowened», and a critical recapitulation of archeological findings as well as of attitudes presented in historiography, this article offers new insight into ideological and religious reasons for the rebuilding of this, originally Early Byzantine, church. The event is explained as a part of programmatic intentions related to the restoration of the Archbishopric of Ohrid as succesor of ancient Iustiniana Prima, during the time of archbishop John (Adrian) Komnenos (1140-1163).

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