126 studies in History & Theory of Architecture 1870-2018. Russia and the Balkans. The Case of the Unbuilt Orthodox Church in Cetinje, Montenegro Miloš Stanković Art Historian - Research Assistant, Educons University, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
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[email protected] Keywords: Montenegro; Russia; Prince Nikola Petrović; Nikolay II Romanov; Serbian-Montenegrin identity; visual culture The process of the creation of the national states in the Balkans in the 19th century was followed by the political reforms and revitalization of church life, that had been suppressed in the Ottoman period. During the 19th century, Serbs, Greeks and Bulgarians, in different periods, have staged uprisings, waged independence wars, gained autonomy, then sovereignty, and were internationally recognized. During their liberation fight, these countries have been supported by the great European powers, above all by Russia, whose assistance was particularly directed towards Bulgaria, the Principality of Serbia and the Principality of Montenegro, aiming to emancipate the Balkan Christians. Following the 1876 – 1878 wars, the 1878 San Stefano Treaty and the Berlin Treaty, the Balkan countries were recognized as fully sovereign states. The contacts between the region’s Orthodox communities, including Montenegrins, and Russia were already long established by the 19th century, having begun in the Middle Ages. During the centuries of Ottoman occupation, these contacts were limited to the aid sent by the Russian emperor, following these churches envoys’ plea for help. At the beginning of the 18th century, at the time of the theocratic ruler Bishop Danilo (the founder of the Petrović-Njegoš1 dynasty), Montenegro established tighter relations with the Russian Empire.