- Address: Josipa Štadlera, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Year of construction: 1895 year.
Speaking about the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, many draw an analogy with the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rome. How true this is, to judge you if you are not too lazy and find a church that is not so easy to discover because of its interesting and unusual location - in the center of an isosceles cross.
What is interesting?
This is a rare case where two significant buildings, built by one architect, are very close and completely different. It's about the church and the cathedral, the distance between them is less than two hundred meters, and, with the difference in age not more than 10 years, hardly anyone will be able to guess that they were designed by one person.
Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius - not for every tourist. You can walk by and not even notice it. All because the facade of the church merged with neighboring buildings, which hide and a huge dome. Such an unremarkable location can be called a feature of this landmark.
And if you are interested, why the Catholic Church was named after the saints, especially revered in Orthodoxy, then this is explained by the fact that at that time there was a tendency of rapprochement between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. And it was such a beautiful gesture.
It is worth noting and spectacular dome of the building, with a diameter of 16 meters. It is he who immediately causes association with the cathedral in Rome.
During the war of 1992-1995. The basement of the church was used as a shelter, where residents were saved during shelling and bombing.
Description of the building
In fact, the project of architect Josip Vantsas is not only a church, but an entire architectural ensemble. The church in terms of is a Greek cross. On both sides it is adjoined by two wings, which at different times were used in different ways (originally there the students of the first Bosnian seminary studied and lived, and during the Second World War there was a hospital).
If you pay attention to the statues that are installed on both sides of the bell tower, then these are not Cyril and Methodius statues (they are depicted in bas-reliefs on the facade of the building), but of Saint Peter and Paul. And on the facade you will see bas-reliefs of the founder of the orders of the Jesuits and his companion - the saints Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier.
In the interior of the church you can distinguish five covered with gold leaf, carved, richly decorated with floral motifs and angels altars from oak, made by special order in the famous Tyrolean workshop Ferdinanda Staflessera.
In addition, pay attention to the historical murals written by the artist Oton Ivekovic and Ivan Kobiltz. But the floral and geometric patterns were written by Anastas Bocarić and Carl Richter.
And do not forget to sit on the bench, they have been preserved since the time of the consecration of the church.
Dates and numbers
The construction of the ensemble began in 1892, by September 1, 1893, the construction of a part of the building intended for the seminary was completed, and the professors and students from Travnik moved there. The construction of the church itself ended in 1895, and on September 8, 1896, it was consecrated. The painting of the church was completed by 1900. And in 1904 in the church established an organ created in the Czech workshop Gebryder Rieger.
The top of the huge dome that crowns the building is at a height of 40 m from the floor.
On 11 March 2011, the Commission for the Protection of National Monuments appropriated the status of the National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the architectural ensemble of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius with the seminary in Sarajevo .
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How to find?
The architectural ensemble with the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius is located in the Old Grad district, on Josip Stadler Street, 5, at a distance of 30 meters from the Academy of Music and 140 meters from the Cathedral.