After the siege and fall of Belgrade in the Ottoman wars in 1521, many Serbian refugees came to Szentendre, and from 1695 it was the center of the Buda Serbian Orthodox Bishopry. During the 18th century, members of the Serbian Orthodox church could freely practice their religion which was rare at the time because only Catholics could do so.

The church was built on the spot of an earlier one which was built by the first settlers who left Belgrade, hence the name Belgrade Church. The present day church was constructed between 1758 and 1764, designed by an unknown architect. The façade of the church looks West but according to Pravoslavic tradition the shrine looks to the East. The tower of the church is 48 meters tall, the tallest in the city. The Rococo style iron gates are also worth noting.

The interior is divided in three parts: place of the men, the women and the shrine. The latter is not seen as it is detached by the iconostasis (wall of icons) decorated with paintings of an artist from Novi Sad and Rococo carvings. The are no benches in the church. This is in accordance with the orthodox tradition where believers have to listen to the ritual while standing.

Legend says that Arsenije III lived in the building next to the church called Patriarch's Building.