The Church of Saint Alexander Nevsky

This church is important as an example of what might be called a Russian-Serbian spiritual dialogue. Its history began even before the First World War: the church was founded in 1912 according to the design of the architect Jelisaveta Načić, but because of the war, construction continued until 1929. The architect Vasily Androsov took part in the completion of the works — the very same name we have already mentioned at the stop devoted to Saint George.

Architecturally, the church was conceived in the traditions of the Morava school of Serbian medieval monuments. Its plan is a triconch: one altar apse to the east and two lateral apses. An octagonal dome rises above the central part, while a bell tower stands above the narthex. The façade decoration is treated with particular care: vegetal interlaces, decorative cornices, and rosettes create an enlivening surface layer that makes the stone speak.

In the northern side chapel, there is a marble altar-monument dedicated to the soldiers who fell in the wars of liberation of 1876–1878, 1912–1913, and 1914–1918. In the southern side chapel, there is a marble monument dedicated to the Russian Emperor Nicholas II and King Alexander I Karađorđević; above the inscription are icons of the patron saints of these rulers: Saint Nicholas and Saint Alexander Nevsky. Here the church quite literally performs the function of “public memory,” preserving political and military narratives inscribed into sacred space.

And now we are approaching the final point, where the sacred finds itself inside the fortress, within the military fabric of the city.