Gradinje, Church of All Saints

The cemetery church of All Saints in Gradinje is dated to the early twelfth century. Originally dedicated to St Lawrence, it acquired a side altar of All Saints in the seventeenth century, after which its titular dedication was changed accordingly. Typologically, it belongs to the Romanesque tradition of single-nave sacred buildings with an inscribed apse. The façade is crowned by a bell gable with two bells and a later-added porch (lopica) enclosing the western front.

Recent conservation work in the sanctuary of the church has revealed three chronologically distinct layers of wall painting. The earliest layer consists of fragments of monochrome decoration and belongs to the initial construction phase of the church in the early twelfth century. The subsequent layer, dating to the thirteenth century, occupies the lower right section of the apse and depicts two registers of standing figures. The upper register shows the Apostles, while the lower row is interpreted as representing orants or angelic figures. The most recent painted phase covers the apse conch and depicts Christ Enthroned accompanied by St Lawrence and Pope Sixtus II. Based on iconographic motifs and the formal treatment of the figures, these wall paintings are dated to the second half of the fifteenth century.

The wall paintings were discovered by Branko Fučić, who subsequently analysed and published them in 1982 in the book Glagoljski natpisi.

Iconographic programme:

East wall: 1. Apostles, 2. Christ Enthroned, 3. St Lawrence, 4. Pope St Sixtus II.