Epitrachil

A grave discovered in the deambulatorium of the church – commonly known as Peter’s Church – yielded human remains clothed in the full vestments of a metropolitan, unusual because the fabric’s place and date of origin vary (the earliest pieces were created in the late 14th century – and bear visible signs of wear – while others were made in the second half of the 18th century). Among the oldest liturgical vestments one which especially stands out is an epitrachelion with gold embroidery. The stole was created by three different masters and features the Deisis along with ornamental patterns at each end. The Deisis depicts the Mother of God and St. John the Baptist praying on behalf of mankind before Jesus Christ, along with liturgists St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian and St. Nicholas. Unique in composition, style and the quality of its embroidery, the piece – possibly made as a gift to one of the first Raška metropolitans – is one of the few preserved late14th to early 15th century epitrachelions and is also among rare archaeological evidence that precious vestments were cared for and handed down through the generations.