Temple of Saint Sava

The Temple of Saint Sava of the 20th and 21st centuries is one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches. It was built in honour of Saint Sava, the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on the site where, as the legend says, the Turks burned his relics in the late 16th century.

The temple was built in the Serbian-Byzantine style and can accommodate more than 10,000 worshipers at a time. Its grand mosaic of almost 15,000 square metres leaves a special impression and is one of the most impressive achievements of contemporary church art. The large church mosaic with its dominant golden tone reflects the Byzantine mosaic tradition, while bright-coloured crypt mosaics have a freer and more modern form.

The temple dome with an internal diameter of 30.5 metres and an external circular gallery deserves special attention. This gallery offers a beautiful view of the city.

Saint Sava was a teacher and educator, founder, writer, diplomat and first archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church. Saint Sava enlightened Serbian monasticism, thus increasing interest in literacy and literature among our people.

The Temple of Saint Sava is not only a symbol of faith, but a significant cultural and historical landmark of Serbia, which attracts visitors from all over the world.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Novi Pazar

The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, also known as Peter’s Church, is located on a hill above Novi Pazar. History says that the church has existed since the 6th century, as well as that in the 13th century, it was the church centre of the Serbian medieval state.

The place where the church was built has been a cult place and sanctuary for centuries, as numerous Roman and Byzantine historical traces show.

There is no exact information about when the church came into being. However, 10th-century data mentions it as an episcopal seat. This temple has a special significance for Serbian history. The key events in the life of Stefan Nemanja, the founder of the medieval Nemanjić dynasty, happened there.

The circular structure with a dome and a Christian place of worship got new elements over the centuries, a semicircular apse and a gallery. The preserved fragments of several layers of the church’s painting cover three periods: the 9th, 12th and 13th centuries.

The architecture of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as frescoes from various eras, make this building not only the oldest Serbian Orthodox temple, but also one of the most significant testimonies to the synthesis of Eastern and Western art.

As part of the Stari Ras with Sopoćani complex, the church got its place in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.