Updates
16. July 2026.
Exceptional importance – Exceptional beauty
During 2026, the expert team of the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments carried out conservation and restoration work on the architrave beam with its cherubs and stylized capitals, of the iconostasis of the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangel Gabriel in Molovin. Woodcarving and gilding work was also carried out on the cartouches above the doors and the throne icons. The project managers of the conservation and restoration works on the iconostasis are Lazar Čurčić, sculptor-conservator, and Maja Velicković, painter-conservator, and the expert team that carried out this year's conservation works consisted of Zorana Matković, painter-conservator, Lazar Čurčić, sculptor-conservator, Miloš Vujaklija, sculptor-conservator, and Goran Radaković, conservator-technician. The iconostasis of the Molovina church, designated as a cultural asset of exceptional importance, was created in one of the Vojvodina woodcarving workshops at the end of the 18th century, but it is believed to be the work of a master from the south, probably from Macedonia. Carved in deep relief, it is distinguished by its wealth of floral, zoomorphic and figurative motifs, while on its twisted columns snakes and birds intertwine and devour each other, vines and bunches of grapes with branches, leaves and floral motifs intertwine, and they are also decorated with vases with flowers, masks and sirens. The lintels above the throne icons depict the victory of a lion over a dragon, griffins and birds. The panels with figural motifs of warriors – Saint Demetrius killing the Bulgarian emperor and Saint George killing the dragon, as well as depictions of scenes from the Bible – are particularly noteworthy. Icons with standing figures of the apostles are placed in a series of arcades, the lintels of which are filled with seraphim. The iconostasis is completed by a cross with a painted crucifix placed on dragons – symbols of defeated evil. The iconostasis of the Molovina church resembles the iconostases of Mount Athos in terms of its architectural structure and concept. 17. and 18th century. The masterfully executed lace carving of the iconostasis of the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangel Gabriel in Molovin, with scenes of animal fights and figures of fantastic creatures, is one of the most representative woodcarving achievements of the second half of the 18th century and has been designated a cultural monument of exceptional importance. Photography: Maria Erdelji
