The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is one of the most recognisable buildings in central Banja Luka. It stands on the site of the former Church of the Holy Trinity, built between the two world wars.
The original church was consecrated in 1939. It was severely damaged during the Second World War and subsequently removed, while the present building restores the historic presence of an Orthodox cathedral on the site.
Its location in the pedestrian city centre makes it easy to visit together with Gospodska Street, Banski Dvor and Petar Kočić Park.
Reconstruction of the cathedral
Reconstruction of the cathedral on its historic site took place from 1993 to 2004. The new church was dedicated to Christ the Saviour because another church in Banja Luka had in the meantime been dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
The present building was conceived as an architectural reconstruction of the former cathedral, with distinctive domes and a tall bell tower dominating Trg srpskih vladara. Its completion restored one of the defining silhouettes of Banja Luka’s historic centre.
The cathedral serves both a religious and memorial role and is also an important city landmark. The open square in front connects it with Banski Dvor, Gospodska Street and the surrounding public spaces.
Architecture and materials
The façade is clad in red and yellow travertine originating in the Middle East. Contrasting stone bands, rounded arches, rose windows and multiple domes give the cathedral its distinctive presence in the cityscape.
Carrara marble and granite from Sardinia were used in the interior. The domes are covered with gilded sheet metal treated using specialised Russian technology, while the church bells were made in Innsbruck.
- Red and yellow travertine forms the horizontal bands across the façade.
- Carrara marble and Sardinian granite were used in the cathedral’s representative interior elements.
- The domes and bell tower make the cathedral visible from several parts of central Banja Luka.