SS Peter and Paul, Slavonia, Croatia

4wayne m 5:00 PM Sep 19, 2019

Beautiful Old Church
Striking landmark in the city . The organ is currently being refurbished so there's lots of construction materials inside . Beautiful inside but does needs other refurbishing.

4periandro 5:00 PM Dec 23, 2017

neogothic treasurre
The co-cathedral of Osijek is dedicated to the saints Peter and Paul (crkva svetog Petra i Pavla). It was built at the very end of the nineteenth century under the aegis of Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer. The church is in neogothic style made outside basically of deep reddish bricks with some grey elements, such as the entrance doors arches and the window frames. The spire, changing its shape from the base to the top, above the belfry, is ninety meters high and one of the Osijek landmarks. The main portal consists of a set of pointed arches with gradually decreased width up to the size of the door. Some semidetached columns on both sides of the entrance are topped by elaborate capitals. On the pediment above the door there is a beautiful carving depicting the coronation of the virgin, including the Holy Trinity. The shape of the temple, as seen from outside, lets one realize that it’s a Latin cross church for the part appertaining to the transept is wider than the rest of the building body, thus protruding outside thereof. The interior is somehow imposing especially on account of the height of the vault and therefore the length of the pillars. It’s a three aisle church the central nave being taller than the side aisles except on the transept where the latters attain the same height as that of the central nave. Beyond the transept, towards the chancel, the side aisles regain the same height as that they had before. The highest part of the central nave above the arcade is richly decorated with frescoes depicting some scenes of Christ’s life. On the vault and on some parts of the walls there are also some mural frescoes of a great beauty and fine stroke thus inviting the attenders to recollection. All those paintings are the work of the Croatian painter Mirko Rački. They were made between 1938 and 1942 and illustrate episodes from the Old and New Testaments. Special mention deserves that depicting the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist located on the wall pan behind the font above it. The pillars are lobe structures their contours consisting of semidetached little columns of different sizes. The capitals topping them are very elaborate. Besides, the church has other elements which are spectacular; among them one can count the exuberant stained glass windows and the rose window, which is really superb. The high altar is also magnificent. Above the table there is a fabulous tabernacle which is a filigree work. Three vaulted niches at its lowest part contain one statue each of them respectively. That in the center represents the image of Christ and the other niches contain each the figure of a saint. In addition the figure of one angel smaller in size than the other stated sculptures is located by each one of the aforesaid ones representing saints a bit further back. The glowing luminosity of the apse is an outstanding feature of that church which somehow contrasts with the lower brightness of the other parts. The said luminosity is due to the light coming through the two windows behind the high altar, one at each side of the tabernacle. There are in that temple some side altars which are also very nice such as those dedicated to St. Joseph and the Virgin. The organ is imposing. The church concerned is thus very interesting from any point of view. Therefore its visit is highly recommended while in Osijek.