Saint George Orthodox Cathedral, Novi Sad, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Saint George Orthodox Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Bačka in Novi Sad, standing beside the Bishop's Palace on Nikole Pašića street. Its story runs from an early eighteenth-century church through destruction in the 1849 bombardment to the rebuilding that gave it the look it has today. It is a calm, quiet stop just off the busy centre of the city.

The story behind it

The first church on this spot was built between 1734 and 1740, when Novi Sad was a young settlement on the Danube. Like most of the town, it was destroyed in the bombardment of 1849 during the revolutionary war.

The people of Novi Sad rebuilt it between 1851 and 1853, and it was renewed again between 1902 and 1905. The iconostasis is credited to Paja Jovanović, one of the best known Serbian painters of his era. The church stands next to the Bishop's Palace, which underlines its role as the seat of the local eparchy.

What to look for

• The iconostasis inside, linked to the painter Paja Jovanović, is the artistic centrepiece of the church, so look at the painted icons closely if you step in.
• The Bishop's Palace stands right beside the church, and seeing the two together shows how the cathedral grew into the religious centre of the city.
• The exterior shows the layers of rebuilding after 1849, so take a moment to look at the tower and the facade from the street.
• The calm of the church grounds contrasts with the nearby pedestrian streets, which makes it a good place to pause between stops.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the exterior and a short look inside, if the church is open to visitors.
• This is a working church, so dress modestly, keep your voice low and avoid disturbing services. Check current opening hours and service times before you go.
• The cathedral is a short walk from the main square and the old town, so it combines easily with the other sights in the centre.
• Morning or late afternoon light is gentler for photographs, and the streets around are quieter than at midday.

See it on a quest

You can reach the cathedral on foot as one stop of Highlights of Novi Sad: Find the Cure., a self-guided walk through the centre of the city. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the building properly instead of walking past. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.