Church of St. Nikole is located at an altitude of 572 m above sea level, on the Prirovac hill. It is assumed that it was made in pre-Turkish times between 1200-1500. It was first mentioned by the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenet in his work "De administrando imperio" - "On the administration of the empire". It is the oldest church in Brela.
It was made with a single nave in the Gothic style. The church nave is 11.50 m long and 5.30 m wide. It is made of stone, irregularly hewn blocks covered with plaster. In the eastern part of the church, there is a presbytery, i.e. a niche measuring 1.30 x 2.70 m, where there is an altar, in front of which there is supposedly a priest's grave. The interior is vaulted with a Gothic broken vault under which a simple stone cornice flows, and its walls are divided by blind arcades.
Two stone crosses with equal arms are preserved on the inner rocks, signs of the consecration of the church, which took place on May 26 of an unknown year.
In 1933, the people of Brel, under the leadership of pastor Soljanić, carried out the repair of the cemetery and the church "from the ground up", but unfortunately inexpertly. From 1952 to 1990, the Yugoslav army did not allow anyone to approach the church, so even St. Mass. Since then, the church was in a very neglected state.
Incentive for the restoration of the Church of St. Nikole started from Dr. Darko Šošić in 1998. When they reached the church, they found it in a decaying state. The restoration was carried out in cooperation with conservators. The church was completely renovated. New windows and a new front door were installed.
Water was brought from the spring from Bukovačka draga at a distance of 1000 m, which reaches the church by free fall. The Croatian army greatly helped in the restoration of the church.
In less than two years, the restoration of the church was brought to an end. A project estimated at around 500,000 kuna was renovated for only 162,000 kuna.
After the renovation, the bell was returned to the church, on which the dedication from 1933 was written.
On May 28, 2000, the church was ceremoniously blessed.
Nada Marušić
Translated by Google •
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