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Orthodox Church
Orthodox Church
As Orthodox grew in numbers, so did the need to build a new church. It took over a decade to build one and it was completed in the last years of the Ottoman rule in 1874.
Location: Old Town
Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz and Serbian Prince Mihailo Obrenovic each gave 500 ducats for the church construction. The entire construction cost 36.000 ducats. The church is a three-nave basilica with five Neo-Byzantine domes on high tambours and a tall Baroque bell tower. At the time it was highest tower of a sacral monument.

The Ottoman rulers granted the dimension, however, they ordered Bey’s Mosque minaret to be reconstructed to be taller than the Church’s bell tower. Iconostas with a golden-plated frame made by Russian artisans was a gift from the Russian Imperial Romanov family. The Austro Hungarian Monarchy replaced the lead roof by a plate roof for the needs of the First World War, and also took off the 33-tone lead bell. The Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos is near all other sacral monuments and completes the multicultural spirit of Sarajevo.
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The Old Orthodox Church and Museum
The Old Orthodox Church and Museum The Old Orthodox Church (Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel) was originally built in 1539. It was severely damaged in several fires Sarajevo went through in the past.