Of the many Catholic churches in Kotor, and there were 30 of them along with 7 monasteries in the second half of the 18th century, the one standing out for its beauty and antiquity is the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon. According to the testimony of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, it was built on the remains of the former temple from the beginning of the ninth century (809), dedicated to the same saint – the patron saint of the town. It is the oldest one among the monumental cathedrals in the Eastern Adriatic coast. The cathedral is located on one of the main squares in Kotor which was the venue of the overall social life of the medieval commune of Kotor. Until 1361, the assembly of all citizens was convened on this square. At times, as recorded in 1387 and in 1388 by the Statute of Kotor, the Kotor Grand Chamber held its sessions in the Cathedral itself. Under its porch or under the town loggia, the church court and the civil court had their sessions and announced the judicial and administrative decisions with the sound of drums and trumpet. This was also the seat of the religious and civil authorities. The cathedral was built over several decades. It was finally completed and consecrated in 1166, which was documented in a written testimony preserved to this day. At the initiative of the Kotor diocese, the Montenegro Post is publishing a commemorative postage stamp and a First Day envelope. The author of the conceptual design is Zoran Popović, a graphic designer from Podgorica.
