It took very little for such a gentle, small town, nestled in the picturesque Šumadija surroundings, to grow from a modest kasaba into the capital of Serbia.

When Miloš decided in 1818 to move from Crnuće to Kragujevac, he had no idea that what he built during his short stay in Kragujevac would remain as a permanent and exceptionally rare treasure of our city. This beautiful era of the renewed Serbian state tried in every possible way to catch up with contemporary Europe. Architecture and art were the best ways for Serbia to approach Europe.

After the Second Serbian Uprising, following 1815, a completely new period began in the history of the Serbian state. Very weak and impoverished, both the government and the people, through joint efforts, started a new chapter, most evident in architecture and art. It was difficult because the Turks were still the main and inseparable link in Miloš’s power.

Thus, it was necessary to satisfy all the existing rules while making the Serbian, Orthodox imprint visible and clear. It was essential for the Serbs to clearly demonstrate their national identity.

The fact that the first building in Kragujevac constructed after Miloš's relocation to the city was the Old Church speaks precisely to this strong need for clearly preserving national identity and faith.