The Temple of Saint Sava, stands as the most significant Orthodox temple in the Balkans, drawing inspiration from Hagia Sophia, the paramount sanctuary of the Byzantine Empire. Legend holds that the site of the current temple (Vračar hill) was where Sinan Pasha, in the 16th century, burned the relics of Serbia’s most revered saint and enlightener in an act of retribution for a Serbian uprising attempt against Turkish rule. Far from intimidating the Serbs, this act only fueled their aspirations for freedom.
Following liberation from Turkish dominion in the 19th century, Serbs erected a grand temple in the capital that would serve as a spiritual gathering center for the nation. The temple was finally consecrated and officially opened for worship and visitation in 2020, marking the culmination of a construction journey deeply intertwined with the turbulent history of Belgrade and the Serbian people.
Our Temple of Saint Sava Tour begins at the church’s plateau, where a brief story unfolds about Serbia’s greatest saint and enlightener, alongside the temple’s construction chronicles. The central entrance of the temple is graced by massive bronze doors, inscribed with fundamental Christian prayers in 24 different languages, symbolizing the Christian virtue of openness and acceptance of all people, irrespective of their differences.
As we enter inside, the tour descends into the crypt, eight meters beneath the earth, adorned with Biblical and Serbian historical scenes, making it unique worldwide. The church, dedicated to Saint Prince Lazar, features vivid depictions of his life and martyrdom, including the tomb of the last Serbian Patriarch Irinej.
The main church interior, with the potential of accommodating around 10,000 people, showcases the temple’s vast dimensions, ranking it as the fifth-largest Orthodox temple globally and the largest in the Balkans. Notably, the iconostasis, stretching 22 meters wide, is crafted from the same stone Michelangelo used for his David sculpture. The temple’s interior mosaic, created using a technique employed in Russia over the last 15 years, stands out with 53 shades of blue symbolizing heavenly eternity and gold reflecting Divine light and the Kingdom of Heaven. Among the numerous icons is the mosaic of Elder Dana, a rare iconography depicting the Lord Jesus Christ, portrayed as an elderly man with white hair.
Another jewel of the temple is the marble floor, taking up 5,000 square meters of marble from around the world, traveling 80,000 km to Serbia. Yellow marble from India, green from the Urals, red from Africa, bardiglio from Italy, and grey from Brazil and Iran were acquired at the largest exchange in Verona, then shipped to China for processing, and finally transported to Belgrade.
Our tour through the Temple of Saint Sava, enriched with stories and insights, promises a complete and special experience, making it a profound journey through the spiritual and architectural heritage of Serbia.
