10:00 h
2 hours
3-16
Explore the Temple of Saint Sava and see why it’s a beacon of faith and culture in Serbia!
Starting with the grand entrance, you’ll learn about Saint Sava and why this temple means so much to many.
We’ll take you underground to the crypt, where stories from the Bible and Serbian history come alive in beautiful mosaics.
You’ll see the impressive main area of the church, learn about the unique mosaics, and the global journey of the marble under your feet.
Don’t miss our Temple of Saint Sava tour that offers a unique glimpse into Serbian heritage and the architectural wonder that honors it!
Private tours
The Temple of Saint Sava, positioned on a hill above Slavija Square, stands as the most significant Orthodox temple in the Balkans, drawing inspiration from Hagia Sophia, the paramount sanctuary of the Byzantine Empire. Legend holds that the site of the current temple (Vračar hill) was where Sinan Pasha, in the 16th century, burned the relics of Serbia’s most revered saint and enlightener in an act of retribution for a Serbian uprising attempt against Turkish rule. Far from intimidating the Serbs, this act only fueled their aspirations for freedom.
Following liberation from Turkish dominion in the 19th century, Serbs erected a grand temple in the capital that would serve as a spiritual gathering center for the nation. The temple was finally consecrated and officially opened for worship and visitation in 2020, marking the culmination of a construction journey deeply intertwined with the turbulent history of Belgrade and the Serbian people.
Our Temple of Saint Sava Tour begins at the church’s plateau at noon, where a brief story unfolds about Serbia’s greatest saint and enlightener, alongside the temple’s construction chronicles. The plateau is adorned with monuments to Saint Sava and the progenitor of the Karađorđević royal dynasty, Vožd Karađorđe, as well as the National Library of Serbia and the parish home. The central entrance of the temple is graced by massive bronze doors, inscribed with fundamental Christian prayers in 24 different languages, symbolizing the Christian virtue of openness and acceptance of all people, irrespective of their differences.
As we enter inside, the tour descends into the crypt, eight meters beneath the earth, adorned with Biblical and Serbian historical scenes, making it unique worldwide. The church, dedicated to Saint Prince Lazar, features vivid depictions of his life and martyrdom, including the tomb of the last Serbian Patriarch Irinej.
The main church interior, with the potential of accommodating around 10,000 people, showcases the temple’s vast dimensions, ranking it as the fifth-largest Orthodox temple globally and the largest in the Balkans. Notably, the iconostasis, stretching 22 meters wide and weighing 100 tons, is crafted from the same stone Michelangelo used for his David sculpture. The temple’s interior mosaic, created using a technique employed in Russia over the last 15 years, stands out with 53 shades of blue symbolizing heavenly eternity and gold reflecting Divine light and the Kingdom of Heaven. Among the numerous icons is the mosaic of Elder Dana, a rare iconography depicting the Lord Jesus Christ as the second face of the Holy Trinity, portrayed as an elderly man with white hair.
Another jewel of the temple is the marble floor, taking up 5,000 square meters of marble from around the world, traveling 80,000 km to Serbia. Yellow marble from India, green from the Urals, red from Africa, bardiglio from Italy, and grey from Brazil and Iran were acquired at the largest exchange in Verona, then shipped to China for processing, and finally transported to Belgrade.
Our tour through the Temple of Saint Sava, enriched with stories and insights, promises a complete and special experience, making it a profound journey through the spiritual and architectural heritage of Serbia.
10:00 - we start our tour
10:00-12:00 - walking tour around temple of Saint Sava, visit church (crypt is included in visitation)
If you cancel the tour up to 24 hrs before, you’ll get a 100% refund.
If you cancel the tour less than 24 hrs before the trip, you will not receive any refund.
There is a possibility that some of the photos in this tour were taken from the following publications (books):
– Vujović M., 2020. Rimska civilizacija na tlu Srbije. Beograd: HERAedu.
– Popović M., 2006. Beogradska tvrđava. Beograd: Javno preduzeće “Beogradska tvrđava”
– Trišić D., 2017. Kulturno blago Srbije u 1000 slika. Beograd: Vulkan izdavaštvo d.o.o.