Early Christian Sacral Architecture of the Island of Brač

Na sjevernoj strani otoka Brača nalazi se deset dobro sačuvanih ranokršćanskih crkva nastalih u 6. i 7. stoljeću. Te crkve ne ističu se samo svojom brojnošću već i raznolikošću oblika, a pitanja njihove izvorne funkcije, nastanka i razvoja dolazi u prvi plan zahvaljujući arheološkim istraživanjima koje pokreće Regionalni zavod za zaštitu spomenika u Splitu. Kontinuitet kultnog mjesta potvrđen je razvojnim slijedom villa rutica - ranokršćanska crkva - ranosrednjovjekovni sklop ili pregradnja. Tako su na tri ranokršćanskih lokaliteta pronađeni ostatci koji potvrđuju potonji razvojni slijed (Škrip, Pučišća, Povlja), a na pet ranokršćanska lokaliteta postoje hipoteze o postojanju srednjovjekovnih benediktinskih samostana (Sutivan, Splitska, Mirje, Postira, Lovrečina). Dvije su crkve, crkva sv. Duha u Škripu i crkva sv. Stjepana u Stipanskoj luci, pak u ranom srednjem vijeku doživjele pregradnju. Ne treba zanemariti ni činjenicu da su pored bračkih bazilika dobro sačuvane i krstionice (krstionica u Povljima jedina je uz krstionicu Eufrazijeve baziliku u Poreču do krova sačuvana na istočnoj obali Jadrana) koje se pretpostavljaju i na mjestima na kojima materijalni ostatci nisu pronađeni (Sutivan, Supetar, Pučišća). Krsni zdenci u otkopanim krstionicama redovito su križnog oblika. Sve ranokršćanske crkve na otoku Braču opremljene su kamenim namještajem izrađenim od kamena iz škripskih kamenoloma. Jedinstvo između kulta mučenika i euharistijske liturgije postignuto je postavljanjem mučeničkog groba ispod oltara što na otoku Braču nalazimo u Lovrečini, Postirama i Povljima. Bogati materijalni ostatci svjedočanstvo su povijesti kršćanstva na tlu Hrvatske, a koji su izazvali interes šire društvene zajednice i probudili želju za očuvanjem i turističkom promocijom kulturne baštine otoka Brača.On the northern side of the island of Brač, there are ten well-preserved early Christian churches built in the 6th and 7th century. These churches stand out not only for their number, but also for the variety of forms, and the question of their original function, origin and development comes to the fore thanks to the archaeological research initiated by the Regional Institute for the Protection of Monuments in Split. The continuity of the cult place is confirmed by the development sequence of villa rutica - early Christian church - early medieval complex or reconstruction. Thus, at three early Christian sites, remains were found that confirm the latter development sequence (Škrip, Pučišća, Povlja), and at five early Christian sites, there are hypotheses about the existence of medieval Benedictine monasteries (Sutivan, Splitska, Mirje, Postira, Lovrečina). There are two churches, the church of the Holy Ghost in Škrip and the church of St. Stephen in Stipanska luka that underwent reconstruction in the early Middle Ages. We should not ignore the fact that, in addition to the basilicas on island Brač, there are also well-preserved baptisteries (the baptistery in Povlja is the only one, along with the baptistery of the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, preserved up to the roof on the eastern coast of the Adriatic), which are assumed to be in places where material remains have not been found (Sutivan, Supetar, Pučišća). The baptismal font in the excavated baptisteries is regularly in a cruciform. All early Christian churches on the island of Brač are equipped with stone furniture made of stone from the quarries in Škrip. The unity between the cult of the martyr and the Eucharistic liturgy was achieved by placing the martyr is grave under the altar, which is found on the island of Brač in Lovrečina, Postira and Povlja. The rich material remains are a testimony of the history of Christianity on the soil of Croatia, which aroused the interest of the wider social community and awakened the desire for the preservation and tourist promotion of the cultural heritage of the island of Brač