Church of Saint Sava: The Power of Silence

As a result of its strategic position, Belgrade was able to obtain such an honoured name of the Key of Balkan. As one of the oldest cities in Europe, Belgrade is located at the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, situated at the junction of Danube and the Sava River. North of Belgrade is the Vojvodina Plains, and to the south the Schumadia Hills which extend into the mountain range. As a major water and land transport route, the junction of the Danube River and the Balkan Peninsula is an important point of contact between Europe and the Near East and also has a very important strategic significance.

Belgrade is also known as the powder keg of Europe due to the devastating aftermaths brought unto the beautiful city by the intense and frequent wars. During World War II, the city of Belgrade suffered multiple bombings that left the whole city paralyzed. After World War II had come to an end, more than one third of the city’s houses had turned to ruins. In 1999 the modernized city of Belgrade once again fell victim to war tactics and was the object of air strikes initiated by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Caught in the explosions were three Chinese martyrs, all of whom had made heroic sacrifices.

Before coming to Belgrade, I had prepared myself to deal with a war-torn place; however, instead I was met with tranquility of the early morning.

Under the dome of the sapphire blue sky, the calm Church of Saint Sava quietly stands in the dawn, silent and reserved, yet boasting strength from every corner. The church utilizes the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine design, the main roof is covered with a huge bronze dome, and the four bell towers which are elegantly distributed around the main hall are all covered with correspondingly sized bronze domes at the top, echoing the appearance of the main roof. At the top of the dome stands a crucifix which symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus. Shining with golden light, it is as if the savior is overlooking the world. The whole outer body of the building is made of pure white marble, whose solid texture ensures support for the church’s tall stature, and crystal-like transparent

color to symbolize the dignity and holiness of the church. Around the church is a north-south park with lush flowers and trees, from afar it looks like the church is decorated with a jade necklace. There is also a group of fountains which spray out streams of cool water. People flock to the park in small groups, they come to go for a walk or take a breather; everything looks so quiet. Only when the bell of the clock tower sounds is the silence broken:

The bells of Church of Saint Sava gently sound

like winged angels they fly

Returning to Heaven

right above the city

A huge bronze statue stands to the southwest of the church at the west entrance of the park. The statue has both hands raised, in one hand he holds the Bible, and in the other he holds the cross. This is the statue of Saint Sava, whom the church is named after.

At the insistence of Saint Sava, Serbia received its first orders to establish its own archdiocese, which was not only an important advance in the history of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, but also a crucial change in the history of Serbia. In the following several hundred years, Serbia once again fell under the rule of countries such as Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. However, no matter how harsh the oppression was, the entire Serbian nation has always been a strong cohesive force. By virtue of this cohesion, their unremitting struggle for independence finally resulted in a win. As a result of this, Saint Sava became even more respected by the people.

Three hundred years later, in order to commemorate their national hero, the Serbians decided to build a church in Belgrade in 1895. However, because of war and other reasons, the construction was interrupted and until today the church still has not been completed. Like the troubled nation and the country, for more than half a century the Saint Sava Church has been slowly taking steps forward amidst its difficulties. Rising from the ashes, it has endured torment and stood strong, silent and reserved yet brimming with strength.