Serbian officials from the Orthodox Church reported that estimates suggest more than 1.1 million people attended the church during this exhibition period. “She made it by hand and wore it while she was pregnant with the baby Jesus,” noted Nemanja Stavolić, Serbia’s Minister of European Integration. Bojdar Rijesic, a church official, emphasized the significance of the event, saying, “This belt hasn’t been in Serbia for 650 years. It’s certainly one of the most revered relics from Mount Athos.”
During a private tour of St. Sava Church, connected to an interview with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, it was remarked that the church is a magnificent structure, conceived over a century ago as a Serbian response to Hagia Sophia, which was transformed into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire’s rise.
The church’s grand exterior is adorned with welcoming prayers in 24 languages. “When anyone approaches the church, they first notice prayers in a language they understand,” Rijesic explained, adding that this creates an immediate sense of warmth.
Rijesic described St. Sava as a pivotal figure for the Serbian people, emphasizing his importance as a saint in their spiritual history. Born into royalty in 1175, his father unified Serbian territories, and while St. Sava initially seemed inclined towards royalty, he found a calling in the Church. At 17, he joined Russian Orthodox monks heading to Mount Athos and ultimately chose to live there, signaling a break from the wealth of his royal lineage.
After his father died, tensions rose within Serbia regarding succession, but St. Sava returned with his father’s relics to mediate between his brothers, helping to avert civil conflict. “The second son, given leadership, became the first king of Serbia,” Rijesic shared. St. Sava didn’t just build churches but also established schools and hospitals, fundamentally shaping the Serbian educational landscape. This is why he is regarded as a great enlightener of the people.
Furthermore, in 1219, St. Sava declared the Serbian Church independent from Constantinople, becoming its first archbishop. “Essentially, we honor him with this church as he is the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church,” Rijesic said.
Construction on the fourth largest Orthodox church worldwide began in 1935 and took decades to finish. Work was sporadic, especially during the communist era, with the exterior completed in 2004 and the interior in 2020. Rijesic noted that it now features extensive mosaics, which are the largest single piece of artwork globally.
“This is the biggest mosaic work in the world,” he mentioned, highlighting that it covers over 17,000 square meters. Remarkably, the art incorporates materials such as volcanic glass and lapis lazuli, with millions of pieces of gold and stone portraying images of Jesus Christ and various saints throughout the church.
