Day 09 Stillness Beneath the Dome

Today’s included excursion brought us to the magnificent Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade. They say we shouldn’t talk about religion or politics—yet here we are, standing inside one of the most powerful expressions of faith in Serbia. And honestly, once you step through the doors, you understand why travelers keep walking into churches wherever we go.

The Church of Saint Sava is impossible to ignore. Its enormous white marble exterior rises over the city, built on the very spot where the Ottomans burned the relics of Saint Sava—the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church and one of the most important cultural figures in the country’s history. The church itself has taken decades to build; construction began in 1935 and has stopped and restarted through wars, changing governments, and shifting priorities. Even now, the interior mosaics—some of the largest in the world—continue to be installed piece by piece.

Inside, the atmosphere softens. We watched locals line up quietly to have images of saints blessed—a simple ritual that somehow carries centuries of meaning. The echo of footsteps, the shimmer of gold tiles catching the light, the sense of being held inside something far bigger than yourself… it all invites a moment of pause.

Whenever we step into places like this, Donna and I find ourselves reflecting on our own beliefs. These houses of worship—no matter the faith—always nudge me back to humility. I’m reminded how limitless the universe is, how small I often feel, and yet how astonishing it is that you and I are part of this vast mystery. I don’t claim to know what truth is—but I’m continually in awe that we get to exist at all, spinning on this fragile blue planet we call home.

A brief stop on an excursion, a quiet moment under a dome, and a chance to feel the weight and wonder of being alive. Sometimes that’s all you need.

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