Old Orthodox Church
Description
The Old Orthodox Church in Sarajevo is one of the oldest and most valuable cultural and historical monuments in the city, dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Located not far from Baščaršija, at the beginning of Titova ulica, it belongs stylistically to medieval Serbo-Byzantine architecture, and in terms of its interior richness it has no equal in this part of Bosnia. The first written mention dates back to 1539, but it is believed to have been built on the foundations of an older church, possibly from the 15th century.
The church has an unusual floor plan: it is wider than it is long, and the central part is surrounded by arches and a gallery. Its interior is a true treasury of woodcarving and icon painting – from the 17th-century carved wooden iconostasis to icons by the icon painters Radul, Maksim Tujković, and unknown Baroque masters. Next to the church is a museum with an exceptional collection of 140 icons. It has been declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Treasury of Icon Painting
The interior of the Old Church is breathtaking at first glance. The carved wooden iconostasis from the 17th century is the central decorative element, featuring icons by several generations of masters: the icon painter Radul or Avesalom Vujičić (1674), Maksim Tujković (1734), and an unknown Baroque painter from the 18th century. The upper row of the iconostasis was donated by Sarajevo native Jovan Miletić from Trieste in the second half of the 18th century. On the interior and exterior walls of the nave, above the columns and arches, icons by local and foreign masters from the 16th to the 18th century have also been preserved. The museum next to the church houses 140 icons, four iconostasis fragments, a rich collection of metal objects, books, and liturgical textiles.
Collections and contents of the complex
