Cultural treasure discovered in Temska village near Pirot: There are more than 40 votive crosses there

Photo: Elena Vasic Petrovic

As part of a study dedicated to protection of the village of Temska, which was carried out by experts of the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments in Nis, objects and locations have been identified that are of special importance for the preservation of the cultural heritage of that region.

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As the Institute's expert Elena Vasic Petrovic explained for Pirotske Vesti, the most significant discovery is the fact that there are 40 votive crosses (Serbian: "zavetni krst") in Temska's immediate vicinity.

"As part of preparations for creating the Spatial Plan for the entire territory of the City of Pirot, we as the Institute made several proposals for preparatory studies. One is to study protection for the village of Krupac, which was done last year, the second is for Temska, and the third is for Gostusa. The Public Enterprise for Planning and Construction of the City of Pirot works on one of these plans every year and commissions a study. This year we did a study on protection for the village of Temska. It actually represents a documentation basis for the General Regulation Plan, everything that is prescribed there as a protection measure is incorporated into the Plan and based on that, further activities should be carried out to improve the status of cultural heritage," says Vasic Petrovic.

She added that the most important discovery in Temska is a large number of votive crosses.

"The most significant discovery are the votive crosses, of which there are over 40 in the village and the surrounding area, including the monastery, and there are about 30 outside the monastery. Also, objects that should come under protection as cultural-historical items have been identified. There are cooperative buildings that are state property in the center of the village and are currently not used by anyone, and right next is the building of the local community administration, which is under the authority of the city and has a large number of users. The cooperative buildings in the center of the village should be reorganized going forward and presented as the administrative and cultural center of the village. There is also an old cinema," she explains.

The other unit is made up of a school and a church, which are located next to one another. Both entities are proposed to be listed as protected as spatial, cultural and historical entities.

"In addition to those two facilities, the existence of numerous archaeological sites - some of which are linked to votive crosses, and there are also larger objects, necropolises from the Roman era, medieval buildings - is very significant," said Vasic Petrovic, who is the sole winner of the prestigious European award Europe Nostra for the protection study created for the village of Gostusa.

(Telegraf.rs)