The Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Crkva Svetih apostola Petra i Pavla) is a monument of immense historical and cultural importance, not just for Bijelo Polje, but for the entire region. Built around 1196 by Miroslav, the Prince of Hum and brother of the Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanja, this church is a beautiful example of medieval Raška school architecture. While its simple stone structure and distinctive twin bell towers (a 20th-century addition) are visually appealing, the church's true global significance lies in its connection to a priceless literary treasure. It was for this very church that the Miroslav Gospel (Miroslavljevo jevanđelje) was commissioned and written. This illuminated manuscript, dating from the 1180s, is the most important and beautiful surviving document of Serbian literature and a masterpiece of calligraphy and illustration. Recognizing its universal value, UNESCO has inscribed the Miroslav Gospel on its Memory of the World Register. A visit to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul is therefore a pilgrimage to the birthplace of a national treasure, a place where you can stand in the same space that inspired one of the most significant works of medieval European literature.
- This church is most famous for its connection to the Miroslav Gospel, a UNESCO Memory of the World document and the most important manuscript in Serbian literature.
- Note the two prominent bell towers; they are a much more recent addition (early 20th century) to the original 12th-century church structure.
