Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Bijelo Polje

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Serbian: Црква светих апостола Петра и Павла, Crkva svetih apostola Petra i Pavla) in Bijelo Polje is a medieval Serbian Orthodox church in Montenegro. The building is renowned for its unusual architectural composition, combining a relatively small main body with a towering six-story belfry.^[1]

Constructed in multiple phases from the 6th to the 14th century, the church reflects a blend of pre-Romanesque and Byzantine architectural influences and demonstrates historical connections between Medieval Serbia’s hinterlands and the Adriatic coast.^[1] It is notable as the place where Miroslav Gospel, a key work of Serbian literature included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World register of Serbia, was written.^[2]

Archaeological evidence suggests the site originally hosted a single-aisled church from the 6th century, later rebuilt in the late 11th or early 12th century.^[1] According to an inscription above its entrance, the church was built in 1196 by Prince Miroslav of Hum, brother of Stefan Nemanja.^[2] The building's role in the medieval church hierarchy is evidenced by the relocation of the bishopric seat from Ston to Bijelo Polje in 1254.^[3] It served for many years as the seat of the Hum bishopric, with the first bishop being Sava, the second son of King Stefan the First-Crowned.^[2] During Ottoman Empire rule, the church was converted into a mosque in 1691, remaining so until the liberation of Bijelo Polje in 1912.^[2]

• Eparchy of Budimlja and Nikšić
• Raška architectural school