# Church of St. Demetrius, Dalj

The Church of St. Demetrius (Croatian: Crkva svetog Dimitrija, Serbian Cyrillic: Црква светог Димитрија) is a Serbian Orthodox cathedral in Dalj, eastern Croatia, serving as the seat of the Eparchy of Osječko polje and Baranja. Originally established in 1715, the current church was completed in 1799, combining of Baroque and Classicist architectural styles. It is the largest Serbian Orthodox cathedral in Croatia and an protected cultural and historical monument. Over the years, the church has been a central place of worship for the Serbian Orthodox community in the Podunavlje region, enduring multiple restorations and reconstructions, particularly after damage sustained during both World Wars. The church's iconostasis, crafted in 1824, adds to its cultural prominence. The building is located next to the Patriarchal Court, historically used as a summer residence for Serbian patriarchs.

## Dedication

The church is dedicated to Demetrius of Thessaloniki, a Christian martyr from the early 4th century. Over time, he became widely venerated as one of the most significant Orthodox military saints, often associated with Saint George. His feast day is observed on 26 October by those following the Gregorian calendar and on 8 November by those using the Julian calendar.

## Architecture

The height of church bell tower is 50 metres, church width is 16 metres and length 36 metres.

## History

The church was built in the period after the Great Migration of the Serbs in 1690. The first church on the site was a small wooden structure built in 1715. The current, more substantial church was completed in 1799, with its interior decoration and iconostasis added later, in 1824. The church's iconostasis was completed in 1824, and the church was consecrated in 1840. It has undergone several renovations throughout its history, including in 1837, 1866, 1901, 1931, 1949, and 2004.
During World War II in Yugoslavia, the church suffered severe damage under the quisling Ustaše regime of the Independent State of Croatia. It was closed on 12 July 1941, after which the church bells were removed, the iconostasis was demolished (although most of the icons were preserved), the roof tiles were taken off, the tower was dynamited, and parts of the church walls were destroyed.
The church in Dalj became the cathedral of the newly established Eparchy of Osječko polje and Baranja in 1991. Prior to this, the area was part of the Eparchy of Srem, headquartered in Sremski Karlovci, Serbia.
On March 25, 1997, at the time when a short-lived Serb parallel entity of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia was still governed by the United Nations UNTAES administration in the immediate aftermath of the Croatian War of Independence, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church organized its regular gathering in Dalj. During this gathering, Serbian Patriarch Pavle addressed the clergy and faithful, acknowledging the new reality by stating, "This is now the state of Croatia," and emphasized the importance of respecting this fact. Both Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Synod urged the Serb community to remain in their homes, encouraging them to stay in the region. Patriarch Pavle expressed optimism for the future but acknowledged the complex situation, encouraging the Serb community to stay and contribute positively despite the challenging circumstances. Following the Synod's meeting, Vojislav Stanimirović conveyed the Patriarch's greetings and blessings to the members of the Regional Assembly, along with a message encouraging the Serb community to obtain Croatian personal documents and to participate in the upcoming elections.
On April 8, 2005, the bells of the Cathedral of St. Demetrius rang in unison with Roman Catholic churches of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Đakovo–Osijek and around the world to mark the death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, reflecting a moment of global remembrance.

## Patriarchal Palace

The Patriarchal Palace in Dalj, also known as the Summer Residence of Serbian Patriarchs, is a historical building constructed in 1754 under the patronage of Metropolitan Pavle Nenadović. Originally, the palace served as the administrative center for the Lordship of Dalj, which managed 25,000 acres of arable land, meadows, pastures, forests, and fishponds. This extensive estate, established in 1706, included the villages of Borovo and Bijelo Brdo, in addition to Dalj. Following World War II, the palace was temporarily repurposed for various functions, including a school, a cooperative, and as the residence of the managers of patriarchal properties. However, by the 1980s, the building had significantly deteriorated. In 1991, the palace became the seat of the Osječko-Polje and Baranja Eparchy. Under the efforts of Bishop Lukijan, the Patriarchal Palace underwent a complete restoration between 1994 and 2004.