Church of the Holy Heart of Jesus

What it is

The Church of the Holy Heart of Jesus is Podgorica’s only Roman Catholic church, located in the Konik neighborhood. Built in 1969 to replace the wartime-destroyed city church, it is a rare Brutalist sacred building in Montenegro.

Key features

• Brutalist architecture – monolithic concrete, ship-like massing, minimal ornament.
• Designed by Zagreb architect Zvonimir Vrkljan – the “church-as-ship” concept.
• Consecrated on 29 June 1969 by the Archbishop of Bar, Aleksandar Tokić.
• A freestanding bell tower about 40 m tall with concrete spiral stairs.
• A ~25 m vertical light shaft directs daylight onto the main altar – the exterior façade remains unfinished.

What to see

• The sculptural exterior with the detached bell tower and “ship” silhouette.
• The stark concrete interior with a dramatic top light over the altar.
• Parish yard and elements reflecting the Albanian- and Croatian-speaking community.

History

Podgorica’s prewar Catholic church was destroyed in WWII; the parish was re-established in 1966. The new Konik church, designed by Zvonimir Vrkljan, was completed in 1969 in the then-fashionable Brutalist style.

It was consecrated on 29 June 1969. The bell tower and vertical light “mast” define the profile, while the façade cladding was never finished. Today it serves the city’s only Catholic congregation, with Mass in Albanian and Croatian.

Practical information

Location: Konik district, southeast of central Podgorica.
Getting there: 10–15 min by taxi or car from Nova Varoš; city buses to Konik plus a 5–10 min walk.
Access: grounds open by day; interior during Mass or by arrangement.
Visiting hours: exterior by daylight; Mass schedule published by the parish (Albanian and Croatian).
Visit duration: 15–30 min for exterior and a brief interior visit.
Best time: year-round; morning and late-afternoon light flatters the concrete forms.
Notes: modest dress; ask before photographing inside; bell-tower stairs are not public.