Hello everyone. Today I'm going to continue my tour through Kalemegdan, Belgrade's park and fortress. Kalemegdan is divided into the Lower and Upper town, and today we will take a look at another monument in the Lower town that deserves special attention.
It is Ruzica church. When we talk about this object, we cannot say that it is only a church, because it is much more than that. In one of the previous posts, I wrote about the St.Petka church. From it, the stairs lead you to the Ruzica church, which is right above it.
These two churches are very special places that give you peace and pleasant feelings even if you are not very religious, which is the case with me.
The Ruzica church has been demolished and rebuilt throughout history and it is the oldest church in Belgrade. It is located within the Belgrade Fortress and is dedicated to the Mother of God, and because of its history, many consider it the most unusual church in the world. It is made of stone and looks like a castle.
This church was originally an Austrian gunpowder warehouse, and then in the 19th century it was turned into a military church, where soldiers hid during the First World War. It was damaged during the war, so it was rebuilt after the war, but what is particularly interesting is that war materials were used for its reconstruction.
In front of it are statues made of cannon shells. One represents a Serbian soldier during World War I, and the other a medieval knight.
An interesting detail is that the church contains icons from the African camp of Nador and two have been preserved until today. And the most unusual detail that fascinated me when I first entered this church is the large decorative chandelier made of Austrian shells and bullets from the First World War and the sabers of soldiers from that time.
It is a unique and rare item, which bears witness to the past because it keeps the original pieces of ammunition that damaged the church during the war.
Another special part of the church is the room where the relics of Serbian soldiers killed during the First World War are kept.
I took photos through the gate because you can't go in there. It seems kind of mysterious place.
Today, this church is one of the favorite spots for weddings.
During our visit, a wedding was being prepared. I photographed the crowns and wine used in the traditional wedding ceremony.
And in front we saw the bride and the guests in a good mood. 😊
When there is no crowd due to weddings, this place is very quiet and there are benches in front where you can enjoy the beautiful view of the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and the lower town of the Belgrade Fortress.
I love this place and I'm always happy to come back.
Thank you very much for reading.
The images and writing are original and mine.
Greetings!
Jelena