Church of St. Prophet Elijah

In the very center of Gradačac, as the only Orthodox place of worship in the city, stands the Church of Saint Prophet Elijah, a national monument that bears witness to the long history of the Orthodox community in this area. Before the present church was built, services were held in a private house that also served as the first Serbian school. Thanks to reforms in the Ottoman Empire in the mid-19th century, conditions were created for construction, and the foundations of today’s church were laid in 1882 during Austro-Hungarian rule.

This single-nave building, consecrated in 1887, is recognizable for its tall rectangular tower and architectural harmony. The interior is decorated with an impressive wooden iconostasis with 14 icons on a gold background, while among the most valuable items are the church throne with a composition of Saint Sava and the icon of Elijah’s ascent to heaven in a fiery chariot.