The Church of St. John the Baptist in Mijoljica (Gornja Morača, municipality of Kolašin) is an important shrine for the Moračani tribe and the entire Upper Morača region.
Here are the key details about this church:
Location and environment: It is located in the hamlet of Mijoljica in Gornja Morača, located on the picturesque slopes above the Morača river, in the direction towards the source of the river and Mount Semolj. It is surrounded by the village cemetery and traditional houses of this hilly region.
History and construction: It was built at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century (during the reign of Prince/King Nikola I Petrović) with the efforts, voluntary work and contributions of the residents of Mijoljica and the surrounding upper sea fraternities.
Architecture: It was built in the spirit of traditional folk architecture from hewn stone. It is a single-nave building with a semicircular altar apse on the east side and a characteristic stone belfry above the entrance. With its modest and solid construction, it is adapted to the harsh mountain climate.
Significance and composition: It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The temple is a spiritual center of gathering for the inhabitants of Mijoljica and the surrounding villages of Gornja Morača. The central annual assembly at the church is held on the feast of Midsummer (July 7) or on the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (September 11), when locals, descendants of old brotherhoods and guests from the entire Morača region gather.
