The Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God church in Kom Monastery is simple building with nave, and, with muffled roofs above its small chapels, it looks as if it merged into the surrounding rocky ground. The church is small, together with the apse it is 7 m 12 cm long, and 4 m 57cm wide. The vault height is 3 m 90 cm, and total height of the building is 4m 10cm.
The church has longitudinal vault strengthened with two pairs of pilasters. They divide the interior space into three bays of approximately same size. Pilasters have cantilevers, and the vault grows out of the wall, without garland. The vault is in the shape of characteristic soft pointed arch. There is the same soft pointed gothic form in the semi calotte in the apse which is broader than the base on which it lies. In the middle bay, in the north wall there is deep niche with arch vault. In the altar, instead of the table of Oblation, is built a salient of stone in the shape of a table. In the middle of apse is rectangular niche, the bigger window being moved to the south side of the apse. In the altar south wall there is a sort of triangular niche with curved sides under which is low entrance to the south chapel. Above the semi calotte of apse is small rectangular niche. The altar table made of stone is positioned in the middle of the altar, which is on the higher level than naos and paved with irregularly shaped plates.
The church was built with special square shaped lime stone, (of which are made stalactite and stalagmite), arranged in symmetrical lines. They are tightly connected with narrow connections which are made of lime mortar. To make them stronger occasionally was used tiny pieces of stone. The church was completely plastered outside, and the remains of plaster on the south facade prove it. The main west facade has modest architectural ornament, the arch vaulted niche above the door. On both sides of the door are built seats of stone – a place to rest.
Soon after the erection, in the middle of the fifteenth century, the church got two small chapels. North chapel has shallow apse vaulted in gothic style like the one in the main church. On the north wall is narrow rectangular window under which is deep niche. South chapel is simpler, without apse, and with the window on the east wall. Similarly to the monasteries founded by the Balsic family, in which small chapels were used for burying family members, it may be assumed that chapels in Kom Monastery had at one time the same purpose.
With the erection of small chapels the church got the wide porch which covered both chapels, and thus formed the new three aisle entirety. The function of the porch is very important because it compensates for the limited space of the church. Wooden porch, 8 m long and 4 m wide, is standing on two pillars, and the part of the north pillar with spreading branches is still preserved. Tomb stones in the porch show that the monastic brotherhood was numbered.
Small chapels were built of different material and in rough technique. Roughly cut squares of ordinary limestone were used instead of the special one. For connections were used small pieces of special lime stone and tile in lime mortar. The south chapel was built in especially rustic style. Chapels and church are covered with special kind of tile.
The appearance of the monastery was completed when chapels, the porch, lodgings, bell - tower and the defense wall were connected to make one entirety.
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THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH
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