MUSEUM OF THE OLD ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAINTS MICHAEL AND GABRIEL IN SARAJEVO, AMONG THE WORLD'S TOP FIVE

“The museum was opened thanks to donations from Serbian artisan and merchant families of the time, such as the Jeftanović, Despić, and Ceković families, among many others who had well-developed businesses,” Kajević said to Srna. He explained that these families traveled across Europe, visiting cultural institutions, and modeled on them, they helped establish similar institutions in Sarajevo – such as this museum, the National Theatre, gusle societies, and the “Evropa” hotel, which still exists today.

Kajević explains that the museum's exhibition is divided into two sections. The first section, located at the entrance, consists of silver and bronze handcrafted items from the 16th and 17th centuries, which were gifts to the church, and some items were used in religious ceremonies. The second section features a highly esteemed gallery exhibition, focusing on icons from the Cretan school of iconography.

“The icon gallery, which developed after the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the relocation of iconographers and clergy to the island of Crete, reflects a fusion of Eastern spirituality and Western Renaissance influences, creating a unique artistic style known as the Cretan school,” Kajević explained.

Of particular importance is an icon from the Cretan school dating back to 1600, created by Georgios Klontzas, the teacher of the famous painter El Greco. This icon, titled "The Liturgy of the Righteous and the Torments of the Wicked," was exhibited four years ago at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens, marking 400 years since El Greco’s birth.

Kajević explains that icons from the Cretan school arrived in Sarajevo thanks to local Serbs who, despite their hardships, raised money with the clergy to commission traders to bring these valuable artworks, knowing that it might take five to ten years, or they might never arrive at all.

The museum also preserves the oldest manuscript from 1307 – the Sarajevo Krmčija, a medieval church law book organized by Saint Sava. “The Krmčija was written on parchment in Old Serbian Cyrillic, and it holds immeasurable spiritual and cultural value,” Kajević emphasized.

The museum’s collection also includes the Siloan Gospel from the 14th century, Teodosije’s “Life of Saint Sava,” as well as two Cetinje Octoechoes by Đurđe Crnojević from 1493/94.

In 2006, the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared the Old Orthodox Church a national monument, which includes the church, churchyard, museum building, parish house, and a rich collection of movable heritage. Among the exhibits, the collection of 140 icons, metal objects, manuscripts, and liturgical textiles stands out.