Every Good Friday, when I'm in Belgrade, in the evening, when the altar with the shroud is placed in Orthodox churches, I visit several churches in Belgrade.
Saint Mark's Church on Tašmajdan
Church of Saint Michael the Archangel
And I must take the opportunity to visit the chapel, which is open to believers only during Good Friday.
It is a chapel dedicated to Saint Simeon, located on the first floor of the castle of the Serbian Patriarchate, recognizable by its rich iconostasis, the work of the famous painter Vladimir Predojević
The chapel is used for daily services, but also for important church ceremonies that take place within the institution itself.
And only on Good Friday, the patriarchate opens its doors to all other visitors.
The building of the Serbian Patriarchate is located opposite the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael the Archangel and has a very interesting architecture, the main entrance really resembles the entrance to a castle, but that entrance is not used for visitors.
While the dull sound of knocking on the clapper is heard from the courtyard of the Cathedral, I walk past the wall of the patriarchate towards the entrance for visitors.
That sound of hitting a wooden board, which instead of the sound of a bell calls the faithful to the liturgy on days of great mourning, which is what Good Friday really is, which has the symbolism of the sound of a hammer hitting the nails in the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, makes one feel sadness in the air.
I enter the hall of the patriarchate, where there is an icon of Saint Simeon on the right, and an icon of the Last Judgment on the left, which stands there and reminds those who enter this holy space to examine their conscience and actions.
Wide stairs go around the elevator area, and the elevator is a story in itself.
It is as old as the building itself, for 90 years it is still in operation.
The staircase leads past the entrance to the large church court and the Holy Synod of Bishops, and on the 3rd floor, it leads to the floor where there is a chapel and a ceremonial hall where the meetings of the Holy Synod of Bishops are held.
In the hall itself, next to the areas where bishops and metropolitans sit, there is an armchair where the Serbian patriarch sits.
The paintings on the side walls of the ceremonial hall are decorated with famous works:
The Migration of the Serbs, by Paja Jovanović
and
Heavenly Serbia, by Milić od Mačve.
As important and interesting as these works are, upon entering the chapel, I am speechless.
In the middle of the chapel, Christ's grave is placed with a shroud, which the faithful kiss during Good Friday.
The iconostasis is a real masterpiece that dominates the space. The frame of the iconostasis is made of massive wood carving and is the work of the patriarchal workshop.
The icons on the iconostasis are the work of Vladimir Predojevic, who made them during the period of the creation of the patriarchate, in 1935.
In addition to the central icons of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, the iconostasis also depicts saints significant for Serbian history and tradition, with a special emphasis on the founder of the chapel and the progenitor of the Nemanjić dynasty - Saint Simeon.
Every detail is perfectly fitted.
The walls are covered with frescoes adapted to the architecture of the room. Major holidays are shown, as well as images of Serbian saints.
The colors are warm and muted, which in combination with natural light creates a feeling of intimacy, peace and dignity.
Staying in this chapel and walking through the narrow corridors on the parquet that crunches under your feet at every step, as well as riding the old elevator and going down the stairs, is a real pleasure, even if you are not a believer.
This is an extraordinary experience for me, because of which I can't wait for every next Easter and I often adjust my plans so that on the evening of Good Friday I will be nearby in order to visit my favorite churches and the chapel of the patriarchate.