The central dome's interior features a Christ Pantocrator mosaic spanning 1,230 square meters, one of the largest depictions of its kind globally.
The mosaic work was primarily funded by the Russian Federation and executed by artists from the Russian Academy of Arts.
The church was built on the exact location where the relics of Saint Sava were reportedly incinerated by Sinan Pasha.
The bell tower contains 49 bells, the largest of which weighs 6,128 kilograms.
The foundation stone was laid in 1935, but work was frozen for nearly 50 years during the socialist period of Yugoslavia.
The church is designed to accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers at a single time.
The interior gold mosaics utilize 24-karat gold leaf for the background areas.
The building was designed by architects Aleksandar Deroko and Bogdan Nestorović following a 1926 competition.
The Church of Saint Sava is one of the largest Orthodox church buildings in the world, constructed in the Serbian-Byzantine style. It occupies a site of approximately 3,500 square meters on the Vračar plateau, where the remains of Saint Sava were burned by Ottoman forces in 1595. The building features a massive central dome reaching 70 meters in height, topped by a 12-meter-tall gold-plated cross. Its interior is almost entirely covered in mosaics consisting of over 50 million individual pieces of glass and gold. The crypt, located below the main nave, contains the burial vault of Serbian patriarchs. Construction began in 1935 but was significantly delayed by World War II and political circumstances, only reaching structural completion in the 21st century. The exterior is clad in white marble and granite. The temple serves as the memorial cathedral for the Serbian Orthodox Church.
From the park paths in front of the main entrance to capture the full scale of the dome against the sky.
Visit the lower crypt level, which features elaborate frescoes and architectural detail distinct from the main floor.
Avoid loud conversation as it is an active house of worship.
Take time to walk around the exterior to view the scale of the marble facade from different angles.
Do not attempt to photograph clergy or worshippers during active liturgical services.
Modest dress is required: shoulders and knees must be covered. Hats should be removed upon entry.
