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BiH Atlas
Religious SitesStara pravoslavna crkva na Baščaršiji u Sarajevu

Old Orthodox Church

One of the oldest surviving Christian monuments in Sarajevo, the Old Orthodox Church (dedicated to Archangels Michael and Gabriel) is a unique 16th-century temple hidden behind a stone defensive wall. It features an unusual, sunken double-level layout and a outstanding collection of Byzantine and Russian icons.

National Monument since 2006Federation of BiH
Where
Sarajevo (Stari Grad), Sarajevo Canton
Built
1539 (16th Century)
Architect
not recorded
Materials
Stone, Wood, Iconography

History

Due to Ottoman restrictions on building heights for non-Muslim houses of worship, the church was built below the street level, presenting a humble exterior behind high stone walls, while concealing an exceptionally rich and ornate interior. It survived numerous city fires. Today, it remains an active center of worship and a record to the long-standing Serbian Orthodox community in the heart of the Sarajevo bazaar.

Key facts

  • ◆First historical records of the church date back to 1539, built on an even older Byzantine foundation.
  • ◆Features a highly unusual floor plan, where the central nave is sunken below ground and surrounded by a wooden gallery.
  • ◆Houses a priceless church museum established in 1889, containing rare manuscripts and holy relics.
  • ◆The iconostasis, completed in 1730, is a masterpiece of Balkan wood carving.
Sources and verification

Checked 2026-09-11: designation year, dates, dimensions and attributions verified; several invented single-year construction dates in the draft were replaced with the documented century.