Mathematical-geographical analysis of the orientation of St John’s church of the Studenica monastery
Considering the fact that ecclesiastical rules do not precisely say that a church must be directed “to the East” or “to sunrise”, it should always be checked if there is a connection between the orientation of a church and geometry of the Sun. In this paper, such examination is performed on the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijić" SASA
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Zbornik Radova: Geografski institut "Jovan Cvijić" |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7599/2011/0350-75991101001T.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797430582640115712 |
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| author | Tadić Milutin Petrović Aleksandar |
| author_facet | Tadić Milutin Petrović Aleksandar |
| author_sort | Tadić Milutin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Considering the fact that ecclesiastical rules do not precisely say that a church must be directed “to the East” or “to sunrise”, it should always be checked if there is a connection between the orientation of a church and geometry of the Sun. In this paper, such examination is performed on the example of the church of St. John (the 13th century), one of four churches of the Studenica monastery, in the following way: 1) using gnomon method, the azimuth of the main longitudinal axis of the church is measured; 2) the altitude above the horizon of the point in which the extended axis of the church touches the true horizon is determined by cartometry; 3) the most probable dates when the Sun rises at that point are determined: May 7th according to Gregorian calendar, or April 30th according to Julian calendar, in the 13th century. The applied method is described in details and it can be applied for the analysis of the orientation of any other medieval church. This method can determine the time when the church was founded, as well as the fact if the church is original, or possibly erected on the foundations of some older sacral object. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:29:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16fd9343b3d7466bbed7279d031b87f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0350-7599 1821-2808 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:29:41Z |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijić" SASA |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zbornik Radova: Geografski institut "Jovan Cvijić" |
| spelling | doaj.art-16fd9343b3d7466bbed7279d031b87f82023-12-02T04:06:33ZengGeographical Institute "Jovan Cvijić" SASAZbornik Radova: Geografski institut "Jovan Cvijić"0350-75991821-28082011-01-0161111110.2298/IJGI1101001TMathematical-geographical analysis of the orientation of St John’s church of the Studenica monasteryTadić MilutinPetrović AleksandarConsidering the fact that ecclesiastical rules do not precisely say that a church must be directed “to the East” or “to sunrise”, it should always be checked if there is a connection between the orientation of a church and geometry of the Sun. In this paper, such examination is performed on the example of the church of St. John (the 13th century), one of four churches of the Studenica monastery, in the following way: 1) using gnomon method, the azimuth of the main longitudinal axis of the church is measured; 2) the altitude above the horizon of the point in which the extended axis of the church touches the true horizon is determined by cartometry; 3) the most probable dates when the Sun rises at that point are determined: May 7th according to Gregorian calendar, or April 30th according to Julian calendar, in the 13th century. The applied method is described in details and it can be applied for the analysis of the orientation of any other medieval church. This method can determine the time when the church was founded, as well as the fact if the church is original, or possibly erected on the foundations of some older sacral object.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7599/2011/0350-75991101001T.pdfmathematical geographyarcheoastronomychurch orientationthe Studenica monastery |
| spellingShingle | Tadić Milutin Petrović Aleksandar Mathematical-geographical analysis of the orientation of St John’s church of the Studenica monastery Zbornik Radova: Geografski institut "Jovan Cvijić" mathematical geography archeoastronomy church orientation the Studenica monastery |
| title | Mathematical-geographical analysis of the orientation of St John’s church of the Studenica monastery |
| title_full | Mathematical-geographical analysis of the orientation of St John’s church of the Studenica monastery |
| title_fullStr | Mathematical-geographical analysis of the orientation of St John’s church of the Studenica monastery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mathematical-geographical analysis of the orientation of St John’s church of the Studenica monastery |
| title_short | Mathematical-geographical analysis of the orientation of St John’s church of the Studenica monastery |
| title_sort | mathematical geographical analysis of the orientation of st john s church of the studenica monastery |
| topic | mathematical geography archeoastronomy church orientation the Studenica monastery |
| url | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7599/2011/0350-75991101001T.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tadicmilutin mathematicalgeographicalanalysisoftheorientationofstjohnschurchofthestudenicamonastery AT petrovicaleksandar mathematicalgeographicalanalysisoftheorientationofstjohnschurchofthestudenicamonastery |