User:Malajzezi/sandbox
Existing article: Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mosque
St. Stephen's Cathedral in Rozafa, Shkodër
| St Stephen's Cathedral in Rozafa, Shkodër Katedralja e Shën Shtjefnit në Rozafë | |
|---|---|
.JPG) St Stephen's Cathedral in Rozafa | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Archdiocese of Shkodër-Pult |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Year consecrated | 13th century |
| Status | No longer active |
| Location | |
| Location | Shkodër, Albania |
| Geographic coordinates | 42°3′55″N 19°31′12″E / 42.06528°N 19.52000°E |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 13th century |
| Completed | 1251 |
The St. Stephen's Cathedral of Shkodër in Rozafa (Albanian: Katedralja e Shën Shtjefnit në Rozafë, Latin: Ecclesia cathedralis Sancti Stephani de Scutaro) is a church in the castle of Rozafa, Shkodër, Albania.
History[edit]
The cathedral was build in the castle of Rozafa in the 13th century,[1] and enlarged in the 14th and 15th centuries while being under Venice possession. In 1319 Don Andrea of Shkodër brought from Ragusa carpenters to assist in the renovation of the area of the church dedicated to the choir. Another renovation is mentioned in 1403 from the then captain general of Shkodër, who brought from Ragusa 5000 tiles to use for coverage of the church's roof.[2]
The construction typology is similar to that used in the Ratac Abbey, in today Montenegro, which was later built, as well as with a church of Šas. It had a cella, covered by roof, as well as an altar distinguished by crossed vaults. The altar had the only window of the church. There are elements of both dominican and franciscan type of construction in the cathedral.[1]
Close to the church must have existed the house of the bishop, which is documented since 1251, however, after the 1478-1479 Siege of Shkodra the bishop was no longer allowed to reside in the castle. The Ottomans transformed the church into a mosque in 1685. After that year from the former church's objects the old organon was kept, as a war trophy, within the mosque. When the cathedral became a mosque in 1685, it bore the name of Mehmet the Conqueror Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Mehmet Fatihut). A minaret was built on the southern side of the former cathedral and, within a niche of the altar, was built a mihrab.[3]
Nearby the church, until 1951, has existed an inn, called The Inn of Noka (Albanian: Hani i Nokës), which seems to have been built on the foundations of the bishop's house.[3]
In 1939 Italian priest and albanologist Zef Valentini suggested ways to perform restauration work on the church.[4][5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Meksi 2021, p. 145.
- ^ Malaj 2021, p. 44.
- ^ a b Malaj 2021, p. 45-46.
- ^ Valentini 1939, p. 274-281.
- ^ Malaj 2021, p. 46-47.
Sources[edit]
- Malaj, Edmond (2021), Hulumtime mbi historinë e krishtërimit në Shkodër e rrethina gjatë mesjetës, Botime Françeskane, ISBN 978-9928-331-17-5
- Meksi, Aleksandër (1983), Arkitektura Mesjetare në Shqipëri, 8 Nëntori
- Valentini, Zef (1939), Monumenta qi po hupin. Ma e bukra kishë në kala", Leka VIII nr. 6