The Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God
Location: Gornje Zuniče
Year of construction: 1938.
The Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God in Gornje Zuniče was built on a hill at the entrance to the village on the left side of the Zaječar-Knjaževac road.
It was built in 1934 and consecrated in 1938 by Bishop Emiljian of Timok.
The funds for the construction of the church were provided by the inhabitants of Gornje Zuniče and industrialists and merchants from Knjaževac.
In the churchyard there is a monument to the Russian Red Army soldiers who died in the Second World War.
Gallery
Architecture
The church is basically a simple, elongated building vaulted with a semi-rounded vault, covered by a gable roof. It was built on a raised plateau. The foundation of the church was made of stone, while brick was used to build the church. Stone steps lead to the entrance to the church. On the east side, there is a semi-circular altar apse vaulted with a semi-dome, slightly narrower than the width of the nave of the church. The massive belfry, resting on a square plinth, is located on the west side above the entrance to the church. The belfry on all four sides has openings in the form of biforas, with painted pillars that carry capitals. The roof of the belfry on all four sides is covered with sheet metal, on top of which there is a cross.
The interior of the church is divided into the altar area on the east, the nave of the church and the nathex on the west side, which is located under the bell tower. In the narthex, north of the entrance, there are steps leading to the gallery and bell tower, and to the south is a smaller baptistery. The narthex is separated from the nave of the church by a simple massive arch. The space of the soleas on the east side is raised by one step and separated from the nave of the church by an altar partition.
The decoration of the external facades is reduced. The church is divided horizontally by a double cordon wreath at the height of the lower edge of the single window openings. There are three window openings on each side of the church, and one on the apse, all framed by double blind arcades that are placed in blind niches. The profiled attic cornice, which has three outlets in the form of capitals on the apse, and the architectural elements on the bell tower, are plastered and painted white. Above the biforas of the belfry, arches are made with a cordon wreath, which horizontally divides it into two parts.
On the western facade, above the entrance to the church, there is a lunette with a badly damaged icon on sheet metal, on which the Virgin Mary is wider than the heavens with Christ in her arms. Above this lunette is a large, circular window decorated with lead bands.
The altar partition is of smaller dimensions. It is made of wood and decorated with wooden painted and gilded applications. The horizontal division into three zones is emphasized by architrave beams supported by blind columns with capitals. The central part of the iconostasis was protruded out. In the lowest zone, there are parapets decorated with appliqués in the form of a Greek cross, and imperial doors with a representation of the Annunciation.
The second zone includes representations of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the northern doors, enthroned icons of the Mother of Mercy with the baby Christ and Jesus Christ, and the representation of Saint John the Baptist on the southern doors. Above the second row of icons are gilded applications in the form of vines. In the upper zone, there are performances of the Nativity of Christ, the Baptism of Christ, the Last Supper, the Resurrection and the Transfiguration. In the upper zone is the Crucifixion, next to which in medallions are the Holy Mother of God and Saint John the Theologian. To the north and south of them are gilded winged dragons carved in wood.
The church in Gornje Zuniče is partially painted with icons. Painted geometric ornaments mark the architectural complex and the liturgical space of the church. The plinth zone is painted gray, while in the higher zones there are rows of geometric, cross-shaped ornaments bordered in gold.
Representations of standing figures of the Evangelist St. John and St. Matthew, St. Luke and St. Mark, are located on the north and south walls, between the windows. On the vault there is a representation of Christ Pantocrator. The vault is painted light blue and decorated with stars.
