Emperor Јustiniаn

Emperor Јustiniаn (527–565) was the last great ruler of the Roman Empire who tried to restore  the unity of the Ancient Roman world, at the time torn by inner unrests and by the attacks from outside. As an exceptional Christian ruler, he looked after the Church and the Orthodox faith, trying to make order of the church life. He made new laws and reaffirmed the Roman Law as we know it today and which poses a basis of the modern civil rights and the civilisation in general.

Јustiniаn was born in Tauresium, near present town of Lebane, some 30 km from Lеskоvac. On that place, to show he was devoted to his birthplace, he built an antiquity town of Јustiniаnа Primа, where he established a Church seat for the northern Illyricum region.

Emperor Јustiniаn built two most important Christian churches – the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and san Vitale in Ravenna. He restored many ancient cities, like Rоmuliаna, Sirmium, Singidunumа. His last ten years, pressured by the Presian and Slavic attacks, he gives up his ambitions of conquer and turns to building strong fortifications.

HISTORY

Cаričin grаd, a popular name for Јustiniаna Primа, today is an archaeological site.  In the remains dating mostly from the 6th century, one of the most significant Byzantine cities in the Balkan inland region can be recognised. The city was surrounded by ramparts, with a central square and streets paved with square limestone flags. The streets were framed by covered porches. Six churches were discovered in the city complex. The great cathedral church is among the most monumental ones in the Balkan Byzantine architecture.