St. Michael’s Cathedral, Belgrade

The Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel is a Serbian Orthodox cathedral located in the heart of Belgrade, Serbia. It stands at the intersection of Kralja Petra and Kneza Sime Markovića streets in the city’s old quarter. Built between 1837 and 1840, it replaced an older church dedicated to Archangel Michael. The cathedral is one of the most significant places of worship in Serbia and is commonly referred to as “Saborna crkva” (The Cathedral) by local residents. It was declared a Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance in 1979.

Historical Significance

The Cathedral of St. Michael is one of the few surviving landmarks in Belgrade from the early 19th century. It played a key role in supporting Serbia’s struggle for independence, particularly during the transition from Ottoman rule.

An earlier church dedicated to St. Michael stood on the same site. Travel writer Stjepan Gerlach described the church in the 16th century, noting that it was spacious but not large enough to accommodate all the Christian citizens of Belgrade.

Over the centuries, the church faced multiple destructions and restorations. It was severely damaged during the Austro-Turkish conflicts in the early 18th century, and later by the Ottoman Turks after the Treaty of Belgrade in 1739. The church was robbed, and its roof was torn off. After the First Serbian Uprising in 1813, the church was desecrated once again, and repairs were made after the Second Serbian Uprising.

In 1830, following the Sultan’s Hatisheriff, which granted Serbs the right to conduct religious services, a wooden bell tower was erected beside the church. The casting of the bells became a symbol of Serbia’s long-awaited victory. The process involved a large fire where people threw silver objects into the molten bronze to give the bells a “silvery” sound. The event was seen as a major triumph for the people of Belgrade, despite opposition from the Ottoman authorities.

Construction of the New Cathedral

By 1836, after years of damage, Prince Miloš Obrenović ordered the old church to be demolished and a new one built. Construction began in 1837, and the church’s foundations were consecrated in July 1837. The completed cathedral was consecrated on 8 November 1845, the feast day of St. Archangel Michael.

The church was designed by architects Franz Jancke and Friedrich Adam Querfeld, with builders from Pančevo. The new cathedral featured a neoclassical style with a baroque tower, inspired by contemporary churches in Austria.

Architecture and Interior

The Cathedral is a large, single-nave building with a semi-circular apse on the east side and a narthex on the west side, above which rises a tall bell tower. The interior is divided into the altar space, nave, and narthex, which contains the baptistery and stairs leading to the bell tower. The exterior is simple but striking, with a distinct portal and wide entrance stairs on the west façade.

The gold-plated iconostasis was crafted by sculptor Dimitrije Petrović, while the icons were painted by the renowned Serbian artist Dimitrije Avramović. Avramović, influenced by the historical school of Vienna and German Nazarenes, created vivid religious scenes that contribute to the unique style of Serbian painting.

Cultural and Religious Significance

The Cathedral is not only an architectural masterpiece but also a repository of Serbian cultural history. It houses a treasury of valuable religious artifacts, including golden items from the 18th and 19th centuries, priests’ garments, crosses, and icons.

In the churchyard, which was originally an old Serbian cemetery, notable figures such as Prince Miloš Obrenović, Prince Mihailo Obrenović, and writers Dositej Obradović and Vuk Karadžić are buried. The skull of Duke Karađorđe was also kept here until it was moved to Topola in 1837.

The Cathedral was also the birthplace of the Belgrade Singers Society in 1853, which performs Serbian sacred music to this day. The choir has been led by distinguished Serbian composers, including Josif Marinković, Stevan Mokranjac, and Kornelije Stanković.

In 1961, during the First Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, the President of Cyprus and Archbishop Makarios III led a liturgical service at the Cathedral in conjunction with the conference.