Euphrasian

Euphrasian, also known as Euphrasius of Salona, was a 6th-century bishop of Salona (near the modern city of Solin in Dalmatia). He is venerated as a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Euphrasian is chiefly remembered for his association with the construction of an episcopal complex at Parenzo (Poreč) on the Istrian peninsula, where a church would become known as the Euphrasian Basilica.

The Euphrasian Basilica, built in the mid-6th century, is one of the best-preserved examples of early Byzantine architecture in the western Balkans. The church features a central nave and side aisles with an early mosaics program decorating the walls and floors. The mosaics, dating to or shortly after Euphrasian’s time, are regarded as among the finest surviving examples of late antique Christian art in the region, illustrating the fusion of Roman and Byzantine artistic traditions that characterizes Dalmatian religious architecture. The basilica remains a prime reference for studies of early medieval liturgy and art in Istria.

In 1997, the Euphrasian Basilica was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Centre of Poreč (Parenzo), recognizing its historical and artistic significance and its role in the diffusion of Christian worship and visual culture in the region.