Fulfinum Mirine

The Fulfinum Mirine basilica has been preserved up to the roof level. It is the only preserved sacral building of this type not only on the island of Krk, but on the entire Croatian Littoral.

The construction of this church on the remains of the Roman town of Fulfinum marked the beginning of a new Christian town. However, its secrets are yet to be discovered by experts. Local tradition associates this church with the Glagolitic Benedictine abbey of St Nicholas, which was abandoned in the 15th century and relocated closer to Omišalj.

In its original construction phase, this impressive single-nave church had an entrance area in the front (called the narthex or vestibule), a porch on its south side, and two smaller side rooms which could be defined as early examples of a sacristy and which were connected to the wall of the presbytery. The presbytery itself has a simple layout: its rear is flat and features a freestanding bench for the clergy. In front of the bench there is part of the presbytery enclosed with an altar balustrade with a cross-shaped altar tomb at its centre. The entrance area contains a sarcophagus dug into solid rock and covered with mortar. A privileged tomb with two deceased was later placed alongside the sarcophagus. It has been dated to the period between the 7th and 8th century.

The atrium at the south porch, which also features several privileged tombs, was probably added at the same time. Over the centuries that followed, this community developed into a well-organised religious community that eventually took on the teachings of St. Benedictine, as suggested by later sources that mention the Abbey of St. Nicholas at the foot of Omišalj. Inside this monastery complex, on the eastern side of the church which also underwent changes in its interior, there are smaller spaces of a memorial and commercial character.

References:

• Općine Omišalj

Address

Unnamed Road, Omišalj, Croatia

Details

Founded: 7th century
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Croatia