Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor

The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon is a rare gem of the Balkan Peninsula, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Montenegro, the main shrine of Kotor, and a magnificent monument of medieval temple architecture.

This striking example of Romanesque style was erected in the middle of the 12th century and consecrated in honor of the patron saint of the city, Saint Tryphon. After the restoration, the cathedral got some baroque elements and two bell towers, that were almost destroyed by the strongest earthquake in 1667. Today, Kotor Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of two cathedrals in Montenegro revered by both Montenegrins and Croats.

The construction of the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor is associated with an ancient legend about how merchants transported the relics of the saint from Constantinople to Venice at the beginning of the 9th century. A sudden storm forced their ship to take refuge in one of Montenegro's bays. While the merchants thanked luck for their salvation, the locals were busy trying to buy the relics from them. They succeed as the relics are still kept in the Kotor shrine.

Not only the relics of Saint Tryphon attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world to the cathedral. Its interior can impress even those who are not fans of sacred architecture. To the right of the main entrance, you can see a huge sarcophagus of Andrija Saracenis, the citizen who bought the relics in the 9th century. The relics of Saint Tryphon can be found in the old cathedral chapel, dating back to the 14th century, along with another church relic – an ancient wooden crucifix. The cathedral's hallmark is a Gothic pyx. Four marble columns support an octagonal three-tiered canopy topped with a statue of an angel. Fine, elegant stone carvings depicting scenes from the life of Saint Tryphon adorn each tier. This magnificent sculptural composition makes a strong impression on every visitor, leaving no one cold.