The Church of the Holy Transfiguration is located in the Village of Žabari near Topola, in close proximity to the main road passing through the village. Built in the mid-19th century, with a height of 36 meters, it is one of the tallest sacral structures in the Šumadija Diocese. The church is surrounded by a fenced churchyard, which also includes the priest's residence. The main entrance to the complex is on the eastern side, where an access path leads to the building. It is believed that the church’s patron, who built the temple with the blessing of Miloš Obrenović, is buried on the southeastern side under a tombstone with the initials M.G. The church is a single-nave structure with a triconchal layout, featuring architectural elements of the Baroque-Classicist style, giving it a cathedral-like appearance. The altar area on the eastern side ends in a semicircular apse, with choir apses of the same shape on either side. The nave is vaulted with a barrel vault and covered by a gable roof. On the western side, there is a small narthex with a gallery, vaulted with cross vaults, above which rises a dominant Baroque bell tower. The bell tower is covered with a characteristic ‘Baroque dome’ on a square base, clad in copper sheeting. Another dome once stood above the altar area until it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1909. The same earthquake also brought down the upper part of the church—the original vault with its supporting brick arches, portions of the walls above the vault, and the roof structure. The church interior was plastered and repainted in 1971, and the existing inadequate wooden vault was painted. The floor consists of glazed, multicolored concrete tiles.
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRANSFIGURATION IN ŽABARI
The Church of the Holy Transfiguration in Žabari was designated as an immovable cultural heritage – cultural monument, by the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, No. 633-2850/2010, dated April 22, 2010.
The modest façade decoration consists of a series of blind arcades executed in plaster, positioned above six arched openings, as well as a roof cornice on the northern and southern sides.
All portals are framed with red sandstone, while the inner side of the lintel bears multiple inscriptions in Church Slavonic. The wooden iconostasis is carved in a Neoclassical style, featuring a series of stylized floral interlaces and eight white Corinthian columns. It houses nineteen icons painted by the Serbian artist Steva Todorović. The icons were created using oil painting techniques and show a clear influence of the Nazarene school of painting.
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