history
HOLY SITE IN THE CITY CENTER: Church of St. Achillius in Arilje Resists for Centuries
The Church of St. Achillius has been located in the center of Arilje for centuries, built in 1276 by King Dragutin Nemanjić. It is a spiritual beacon of the region, and through its long history, it bears witness to numerous battles that Serbs bravely fought against enemies. It was named after a bishop from Larissa, one of the greatest fighters for Christianity of that era, whose relics were transferred to Arilje at the beginning of the 12th century.
TL;DR
- The Church of St. Achillius in Arilje was built in 1276 by King Dragutin Nemanjić.
- The site was a pagan sanctuary even before the current church.
- The church contains 13th-century frescoes, including the famous Blue Angel, believed to be Archangel Gabriel.
- The church was elevated to a metropolitanate during Tsar Dušan's reign.
- It was damaged and burned multiple times but began restoration in 1829.
- The church is now a monument of exceptional importance in Serbia.