The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius is a neo-Renaissance Catholic place of worship within the Higher Theological School of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna. It is located in the Sarajevo municipality of Stari Grad. The school began operating in 1890. [1] Construction of this sacral, partly educational, building began in 1892 after the acceptance of Josip Vancaš's blueprints, presented in 1892 and finalized in 1895. The project was completed in 1896, when the church was blessed.[2]
Architecture
In line with his previous architectural designs, Vancaš, who is largely responsible for the current appearance of Sarajevo, introduced some Baroque elements into the neo-Renaissance structure, noticeable on the facade, bell tower and sculptures. The overall impression is strongly reminiscent of St. Peter's Basilica, which likely served as a model for him.
The artwork in the interior was done by various artists, including Austrian painter Josip Krikler,[3] the Croatian painter Oton Iveković, and the Austrian painter Franz Schmidt.
National-monument designation
On March 11, 2011, the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments (Zeynep Ahunbay, Martin Cherry, Amra Hadžimuhamedović, Dubravko Lovrenović and Ljiljana Ševo) adopted a decision declaring the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius with the Seminary in Sarajevo a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[3]
References
- 1."Zbornik radova". Vrhbosna Catholic Seminary, 1890-1990: proceedings of a scientific symposium held in Sarajevo on May 3 and 4, 1991, on the occasion of the centenary of the Seminary's existence
- 2.Snježana Mutapčić: Sarajevo Churches through Art History, Croatian Thought, Sarajevo, 2000.
- 3.[3.2]"Odluka o proglašenju graditeljske cjeline – Crkve Svetog Ćirila i Metoda sa Bogoslovijom u Sarajevu nacionalnim spomenikom Bosne i Hercegovine, Komisija za očuvanje nacionalnih spomenika". Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2012.