Saint George Cathedral (Novi Sad)

Template:Short description Template:Template otherTemplate:Wikidata image The Cathedral Church of the Holy Great-Martyr George (Template:Lang-sr-Cyrl-Latn) is the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Bačka, located in Novi Sad, northern Serbia. The present-day church was completed in 1905, on the ruins of a church built in 1734 and destroyed in 1849. It is located next to the Eparchy offices in the Bishop's Palace, in Nikola Pašić Street. It is commonly known as Saborna crkva ('Cathedral Church') among the city residents.

History

An older church in the baroque style began building in 1720, and extended in 1734, during the time of Empress Maria Theresia, Patriarch Arsenije IV Jovanović and Archpriest Visarion Pavlović. It was burnt down in a bombing in 1849, during the Revolutions in the Habsburg areas. The planning of the present-day church began in 1851, and it was built between 1860 and 1880 on the ruins of the old one, with further renovations and completion by 1905 under design by architect Milan Michal Harminc, during the office of Mitrofan Šević. A new tower with new bells from Budapest was added during the rebuilding.

Characteristics

The cathedral is dedicated to Saint George. The church interior includes an iconostasis with 33 icons, historical pictures above both choirs (coronation of Stefan the First-Crowned and Saint Sava pacifying his brothers Stefan and Vukan), as well as two large throne icons of Saint Sava and Virgin Mary, painted by renowned academic Paja Jovanović, which are considered to be his best ecclesiastical works. The wall paintings were made by Stevan Aleksić. It is one of the foremost monuments of the religious architecture in Novi Sad.

The Theophany Cross (Template:Lang-sr-Cyrl-Latn), also known as the Cross of the Holy vow (Template:Lang-sr-Cyrl-Latn), located in the church's courtyard is the oldest surviving monuments in Novi Sad, dating back to the 18th century. The monument was damaged during the Hungarian revolution of 1848 and was repaired with the financial aid of Marija Trandafil in 1867. The monument was originally located at the corner of modern day Zmaj Jovina and Miletićeve streets, before it was moved to its current location in 1956. It is made of rose colored marble, with a half a meter tall cross.

Gallery

• Saint George Cathedral, 1902
  Saint George Cathedral, 1902
• Saint George Cathedral side profile
  Saint George Cathedral side profile
• Church bell tower, built in 1905
  Church bell tower, built in 1905
• The Theophany Cross monument in the church's courtyard
  The Theophany Cross monument in the church's courtyard
• Interior of the church
  Interior of the church
• Iconostasis of the church, painted by Paja Jovanović
  Iconostasis of the church, painted by Paja Jovanović
• Ceiling fresco, painted by Stevan Aleksić
  Ceiling fresco, painted by Stevan Aleksić
• Stained glass of Saint George, done by Kantinka Pera Popadić
  Stained glass of Saint George, done by Kantinka Pera Popadić
• Saint George Cathedral from Nikole Pašića street
  Saint George Cathedral from Nikole Pašića street
• Saint George Cathedral behind the Bishop's Palace viewed from Zmaj Jovine street
  Saint George Cathedral behind the Bishop's Palace viewed from Zmaj Jovine street
• Saint George Cathedral from Republic Square
  Saint George Cathedral from Republic Square

See also

• Religion in Vojvodina