The Church (today Monastery) of St. Nicholas of Mirli on Pelevo Brijeg is the main spiritual and historical center of the Bratonožić tribe.
Basic features and history:
Location and importance: It is located in Pelevo Brijeg (Podgorica municipality), the historical and geographical center of Bratonožić, located under the Vjeternik mountain.
History and tradition: According to folklore and historical sources, the church was built in the 15th century by the ancestor of the Brato tribe (after whom the Bratonožići got their name). During the centuries of Turkish occupation, it was demolished, burned and rebuilt several times by the Bratonožići nobles.
Restorations throughout history: The great restoration of the temple was done in 1878, after the liberation of these regions and their annexation to Montenegro. In recent times, the temple and the entire complex have been thoroughly renovated and decorated, so an active women's monastery was founded next to the church.
Architecture: It was built of hewn stone in the spirit of traditional Montenegrin rural sacral architecture. It is a one-nave building with a belfry "on a horsetail". Around the temple there is a spacious gate and an old tribal cemetery.
Holidays and assemblies: It is dedicated to St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker of Mirli. It is gathered and celebrated both on the winter Nicholas Day (December 19) and on the summer Nicholas Day (Transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas — May 22), when Bratonožići from all over the world and their guests traditionally gather on Pelevo Brijeg.
Affiliation: Belongs to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.
