City Center, Skopje, North Macedonia
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Catholic cathedral of Skopje, a modern church in the hometown of Mother Teresa, rebuilt after the devastating 1963 earthquake that destroyed much of the city.
Skopje's Catholic cathedral sits in the city center, a modern building that replaced the older church destroyed in the catastrophic 1963 earthquake that leveled most of the Macedonian capital. The current structure is functional and well-maintained, with a bright interior, simple lines, and a prominent crucifix above the altar. Catholics are a small minority in North Macedonia, a country with an Orthodox majority and a large Muslim population, but the parish is active and serves a mixed community of ethnic Albanians, Croats, and others. The city's most famous Catholic was Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu — Mother Teresa — who was born here in 1910 and baptized in the old Sacred Heart church the day after her birth. A memorial house dedicated to her stands nearby.
Diocese: Diocese of Skopje
Style: Modern
What to See
The church itself is modest, but the connection to Mother Teresa gives it real significance. Look for the baptismal records and commemorative markers. The Mother Teresa Memorial House across the square has exhibits on her early life. The cathedral is a working parish, not a museum, which is as it should be.
Pilgrim Notes
The cathedral is in central Skopje, near the Stone Bridge and the main square. The Mother Teresa Memorial House is a short walk away. Skopje is well connected by bus and rail to other Balkan cities.