Before the arrival on the Austro-Hungarian rule, in Sarajevo there were several dozens of follwers of Evangelist church, who were gathering in the German Consulate.

After the 1878, the number of Evangelists in Sarajevo increased to more than 1000 members, so there was a need to build first Evangelistic church. Construction of the church on the Miljacka coast began in 1898, and was opened and dedicated the next year – 19 November of 1899.

The main initiator of the construction was Styrian Austrian, Philip Balif, and design was entrusted to Karl Paržik. Amongst the 160 buildings, what the famous Czech architect designed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this, Evangelist Church in Sarajevo, is amongst the most beautiful ones.

Evangelist Church, 1904

This building represented a step forward from his (Paržik) traditional architectural expression. It was built in the Romanesque-Byzantine style as a central sub-domed building. It was projected horizontally, so as to align to Miljacka, while the central part, by its height emphasized the importance of the building. Ten years later, in 1911, from the sides of the church were built the “wings”, or the buildings that were used for the purposes of Evangelist church administration.

After the fallout of Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the church has slowly lost its function, so during the time the number of Evangelists in Sarajevo has drastically decreased. After the World War II, in 1945 the church has been completely abandoned, and the new government nationalized the residential facilities located in the wings part of the building.

Completely forgotten, cast aside and left to decay Evangelist church was standing in the ruins on the right side of Miljacka coast. In 1981 the city authorities have decided to allocate object to the Academy of Fine Arts. The building was completely renovated. It was the great solution for which the most credit goes to Academy Professor Muhamed Karamehmedović.

Beautiful, previously Evangelist church now has a new function.

The beauty of renovated building on the Obala Maka Dizdara was in accordance with the golden years of fine arts in our country. As in the last years emerged a need for building the bridge to the front entrance of the Academy of Fine Arts, recently was selected and preliminary designed the bridge, which would in the near future connect the old Evangelist church with Radićeva Street, from where the observer gets the most amazing view on this beautiful building.