On 18 June 2026, the Institute for the Monuments’ Protection carried out a professional inspection of the courtyard of the Old Orthodox Church (Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel) in Sarajevo, following a request submitted by the Serbian Orthodox Parish of Sarajevo for expert opinion regarding maintenance works in the courtyard of this significant cultural and historical site.

The architectural ensemble of the Old Orthodox Church in Sarajevo was proclaimed a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Decision of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted at the session held from September 4 to 11, 2006. The National Monument includes the church, the church courtyard, the Museum building, the surrounding wall, entrance gates, the parish house, and movable heritage, and is subject to the prescribed protection measures established by the Decision of Proclamation.

According to the submitted documentation, the planned works concern the arrangement of the parcel adjacent to the Old Orthodox Church complex. The project foresees the dismantling of unstable remains of a dilapidated structure in the courtyard, removal of self-seeded vegetation growing uncontrollably on the site, including shrubs and undergrowth, as well as repair and restoration of the eastern and western walls of the parcel. The project also envisages the installation of urban furniture, including benches and waste bins, as well as the arrangement of the entrance gate. The aim of the works is to protect and improve the condition of the complex and to create a more orderly and safer space for use.

During the on-site inspection, it was noted that the remains of the structure located on the parcel are in extremely poor condition. Most of the structure was dismantled in 2023 by order of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs due to the assessed danger to passers-by. It was also established that the parcel is overgrown with vegetation, shrubs, undergrowth, and a larger number of trees, while significant damage is visible on the eastern and western walls.

Following the inspection, it was concluded that the proposed works are justified and that the planned interventions are in line with the protection measures of the National Monument and general standards of preservation of cultural and historical heritage. The implementation of these activities will contribute to the protection and preservation of one of the most important sacral and cultural-historical monuments in Sarajevo, as well as to the improvement of conditions for its use and public presentation.