The Church of St. Matthew in Vilusi (near Nikšić) is an important sacred and historical object of this region, closely related to the past of the Grahovo tribe and the famous fraternal history.
History and origin
Endowment of the Vujacići brotherhood: The church was built by the famous Vujacići brotherhood from Grahov. It was built in the place where there used to be a cemetery and an older church.
Construction period: The construction of the church began in the second half of the 19th century (around 1860), immediately after the famous Battle of Grahovac (1858), at a time when this region was being liberated and united with Montenegro.
Priestly tradition: The church has a long tradition of the priestly lineage of Vujacić, who served in this temple for decades and played a significant role in the folk and political life of Grahov and its surroundings.
Architecture and appearance
The church was built in the traditional style typical of western and central Montenegro at that time — as a single-nave building with a semicircular apse on the eastern side.
It is built of hewn stone. Above the western entrance there is a characteristic belfry "on a horseshoe" with three bell openings.
Around the church there is an old village cemetery where many meritorious locals, warriors and priests from this region are buried.
Significance
The Church of St. Matthew is not only the religious center of the inhabitants of Vilus and its surroundings, but also an important monument of folk architecture and historical memory of the Grahovo region, which was the scene of important liberation struggles throughout the centuries.
