The first church in the village of Banya, which today bears the name “St. Great Martyr George the Victorious” was built and consecrated in 1835. The history of this temple still arouses interest among both local residents and tourists of the spa village.
There is a legend that the foundations of the church were built back in 1811, but for unknown reasons the construction was stopped. The three-nave church was completed in 1835, when it was consecrated. For the first time it was burned down in 1840. at the time when the liberation movements began in Serbia and Montenegro. The Turks, who set out to suppress the uprisings there, passed through Banya and burned down the church. The vigilant people of the village managed to restore the church in a very short time.
During the Kresna-Razloj Uprising (1878-1879), the church was burned down for the second time and was almost completely destroyed. Then the whole of Banya was burned down, over 70 people were killed, 600 residents of the village left it. The remaining population in the village of Banya set about restoring the church of God. Even today it is clear where the church was built during those difficult times. The current appearance of the church was made precisely after the Kresna-Razloj Uprising. The iconostasis in the church was made years later, in 1889.
It is interesting that on the south side of the church there is a fresco painted in 1866. The fresco, illustrating gospel parables, remained intact during the burning of the church. In 1912. During the War of Independence, the church was shelled, and in their anger the Turks gouged out the eyes of the saints. Every visitor will see the bullet marks and the disfigured saints.
The poignant picture captivates you and you cannot take your eyes off it for a long time. Silence and tranquility reign today in the churchyard.
