Beginnings of Monasticism on Central Dalmatian Islands - Problems and perspectives

Abstract

Despite early references to hermits and monasteries on the Dalmatian islands, it is not easy to confirm their existence in the area of Central Dalmatia during the Early Christian period and the Early Middle Ages. This article attempts to highlight the issue of monasticism on the islands of Central Dalmatia from several aspects: 1. establishing a connection between monasteries and caves which, after local tradition, late medieval sources and toponyms were inhabited by hermits; 2. defining certain characteristic features of island monasteries; 3. problems of continuity from earlier Roman sites to monasteries, and from Early Christian basilicas to medieval monasteries. This does not give the whole picture of the early phases of island monasticism but gives some insight into the absence of reliable documents for some locations, and of wider archaeological investigations which could chronologically place and define those locations in the context of monasticism.