A LITTLE JERUSALEM IN THE HEART OF SARAJEVO: A SACRED PLACE PRESERVING CENTURIES OF HISTORY

In the very heart of Sarajevo, just steps away from the bustling streets of Baščaršija, stands one of the city’s oldest and most treasured sacred sites – the Old Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

For centuries, it has been a place of prayer and gathering, preserving the spiritual and cultural heritage of Sarajevo’s Serbs. This is why it is often referred to as a “Little Jerusalem.”

Archpriest-Stavrophor Velimir Divljanović, head priest of the Old Orthodox Church, told Glas Srpske that this remarkable place should be spoken about only with deep respect and carefully chosen words.

“The Old Orthodox Church at Baščaršija, in the heart of Sarajevo, is a Little Jerusalem for Sarajevo’s Serbs. For centuries, it has been a gathering place for Serbs, but also for people of other communities. Our church is a guardian of faith, history and Orthodoxy,” Divljanović said.

A SACRED PLACE PRESERVING CENTURIES OF HISTORY

The Old Orthodox Church is considered one of Sarajevo’s most important cultural and historical monuments. Its distinctive architecture, valuable iconostasis, church furnishings and rich treasury make it particularly remarkable.

Among the most precious relics kept here is the right hand of Saint Thecla, an early Christian saint and disciple of Saint Paul the Apostle. According to church tradition, Saint Sava brought the relic from Antioch to Serbia, and it was later presented to the Old Orthodox Church in Sarajevo.

A PLACE WORTH VISITING

Over the centuries, the church has witnessed Sarajevo’s turbulent history while remaining an enduring symbol of the Orthodox Christian community’s presence in the city.

It has been designated a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while its treasury preserves valuable relics and works of art known far beyond the country’s borders.

For anyone exploring Baščaršija and Sarajevo’s historic old town, this extraordinary sacred site offers a unique encounter with history, faith, art and culture.