Metropolitan cathedral in Sarajevo is one of the biggest Orthodox churches in Balkan. The cathedral is located in the centre of the city, beside Faculty of Economy, on the right side of Miljacka river. Before the war, the cathedral was a seat of Dabar Bosna Metropolis. Decision on its construction was made by the beginning of 1859, thus the construction began in 1863 and lasted 11 years.The construction works were completed on May 1, 1974 and the cathedral was consecrated by Dabar Bosna
Metropolitan Pajsije in 1972. Building permit was issued by Sultan Abdul Aziz in order to alleviate critics from Europe for religious intolerance. Construction of the cathedral itself was financed by voluntary contributions of citizens from Sarajevo and eighboring settlements, as well as Ragusan, Belgrade, Trieste and Vienna traders. There is a document that Sultan was also one of those who gave a contribution. Today, the cathedral does not differ too much from its original appearance. It was built of stone. The cathedral is constructed as a three section basilica inscribed in a cross shaped plan, and has five domes. The cathedral is 37 meters long and 22,5
meters wide. Walls are 15,5 meters high, a middle dome is 34 meters high and other four small domes are 20 meters high. Originally, the cathedral was roofed with lead, but during the World War Second, Austrians took it off , including bells, and roofed the cathedral with sheet metal. Afterwards, the cathedral was reconstructed in 1921 for the first time, when electric power was installed in it, as well as new bells, which are 2,800, 1,600 and 750 kilograms heavy, and it was roofed with cooper. Interior of the building was also renewed in 1873. Archimandrite Sava Kostanovic brought from Russia icons for iconostasis, which still exists in the cathedral. Alter and space in front of it were lifted up in relation with remaining part of the cathedral for three stairways. There are three domes on the alter and five bigger in other parts of the church. Gilded metropolitan's throne is settled beside right pillar. The interior walls are decorated by painted ornaments. Arches, vaults and apse of the church are decorated with ornamentation as well. During the war, the church was damaged, but it was reconstructed after the war with donation of Greek Republic. In a post-war period, Serb Orthodox Church has been constantly trying to return their property, Faculty of Economy in Sarajevo. This case has not been resolved yet.
Old Orthodox Church
We do not know for sure when the Old Orthodox Church was built, because it is mentioned in 1539 for the first time. The fact is that this is one of the oldest sacral objects in this region. The Church is an exceptional architectural complex and its interior is a treasury of splendid samples of wood-engraving and icon-painting art.
Interesting ground-plan solution, where the width is larger than the length, inventory, iconostasis from 1734, collection of old icons and museum, which was made by the church's stone-mason Jeftan Despic, represent significant object of our heritage.
