HIstory

Going west from Benkovac the road leads through the villages of Kula Atlagića and KOrlat, after which you arrive in Biljane Gornje. A little above the road you can see the Orthodox church of St. George. As in many other similar cases, it is an older church that the Orthodox Christians started to use in the 17th or 18th century. It was recorded as a Catholic church of St. George for the first time in 1324. It belonged to the village that was at the time called Draginići, which was the home of the Nozdronja family of distinguished nobles from Zadar. They were active in the 14th century dispute for the possession of Zadar between the HUngarian King Louis I Anjou and Venice, in which they sided with Louis.

Facade

Approach

Description

The church has the characteristics of the Gothic style. It has a single nave with a pointed ribbed vault. There is a simple "preslica" type belfry and a rosette window above the entrance. The original apse was destroyed when the sanctuary was significantly extended in the 18th century. Around the church there is a graveyard.

North wall and facade

Extension

Info

  • Nikola Jakšić: Benkovac i okolica u srednjem vijeku