Die kirchliche Architektur in Serbien 4-10. Jh. - Überblick der Forschungsgeschichte und des Forschungsstandes

First Christian traces in today’s Serbia date from the time of Diocletian (Martyrs). Bishops are mentioned in towns from the 4^thcent. onwards. The North Illyrian provinces collapsed as well as its churches at the beginning of the 7^thcent. due to the Barbarian invasions and the Slav settlement. Following the written sources, the Serbs have been baptized at first 610-641 and again in the 2^ndhalf of the 9^thcent. The traces consist of around 90 archaeologically investigated Early Christian churches remains, although the number will be much higher, considering the amount of unexplored settlements dating from the 4^th-6^th/beginning of 7^thcent. The churches are divided by place of their erection (village, town) and type of plan. The number of known Early Medieval churches (9-10^thcent.) is much lower; St. Peter and Paul’s rotunda near Novi Pazar and St. Procopius’ church in Prokuplje are mentioned as examples. A short history of investigation and research methods is given, regarding the period from the 19^thcent. till the present time.