CELEBRATION IN NIS OF 1700 YEARS OF THE EDICT OF MILAN

Abstract

In this paper author is describing and analyzing the project of the celebration of 1700th anniversary of Edict of Milano, which was realized by series of cultural and artistic happenings during 2013 in Nis. The paper is in theoretical sense based on assumptions of contemporary urban sociology, more precisely on an interpretation of position and role of a city in contemporary capitalist society. First, concrete happenings which comprised this celebration are described, and then one goes to the interpretation of answers to the question about celebration within series of interviews conducted with urban actors based on the tipology by Michel Bassand. Namely, Nis is the only „imperial city” (such as Milano, Rome, Trier, York) which have decided to organize the celebration of this jubilee so extensive and voluminous, while its representatives and church actors called Nis „the centre of christianity” with pride. The main question is why Nis decided to approach to the celebration in this manner and has it really succeeded in intention to present itself on world map of cities as „the centre of christianity”.