The delegation of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage, headed by Executive Director Egor Skopenko, together with representatives of the Predslava Construction and Restoration company and the Moscow Architectural Institute (MARKHI), paid a working visit to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina from May 26 to 30, 2024.
As part of the trip, on May 27, the joint delegation visited the monastery in honor of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky in Uglevik (Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina), where they discussed with the abbess of the monastery, Nun Filofeya (Kazantseva), plans for future landscaping, namely, the construction of a summer altar on the territory of the monastery for divine services. The need to build an altar is due to the small size of the monastery church and the inability to accommodate all parishioners in it during festive services.
Additionally, the parties discussed the possibility of financial support for the Foundation in the implementation of missionary and educational activities at the monastery and the spiritual and cultural center. After the discussion, a festive meal was held for the guests of the monastery.
On the same day, the delegation visited two other monasteries – the monastery in honor of the Blessed Matron of Moscow in the village of Ritesic and the restored monastery of Milosevac, dedicated to the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where in a warm atmosphere the guests of the monastery talked with the vicar of the Banja Luka diocese, Bishop Savva of Marchansk.
The next day, on May 28, representatives of the Foundation, Predslava Company and MARKHI together with the rector of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Banja Luka (Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina) Archpriest Dragan visited the construction site of the Transfiguration of the Russian-Serbian Church and the Spiritual and Cultural Center in Banja Luka.
Russian Russian-Serbian temple specialists and representatives of the Predslava company paid special attention to the discussion of technical issues related to future work on the manufacture of roofs and domes for the Russian-Serbian temple, as well as shared their own experience on similar projects.
In the afternoon, a meeting of the joint delegation with Bishop Efrem of Banja Luka and Bishop Savva of Marchansk took place, during which the parties discussed current issues related to the construction of the Russian-Serbian church, a list of future works and the timing of their completion.
In addition, during a working visit to the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 28, representatives of the Foundation visited the office of the future educational organization to discuss issues related to the opening of a Russian language school in Banja Luka.
Help
The Transfiguration Russian-Serbian Church in Banja Luka and the Spiritual and Cultural Center of the Banja Luka Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church are being built according to a project prepared in 2017-2018 by specialists of the MARCHI based on architectural solutions of the Chudov Monastery in Moscow. The church will be dedicated to the memory of St. Tsar Nicholas II and his family and will have three chapels: in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Royal Passion-Bearers and the Holy Cross. Simeon and Savva of Serbia, the founders of the Nemanich dynasty.
The construction of the temple began in 2018. Work on the construction of the temple complex (exterior) is planned to be completed by the end of 2024. It will be possible to start work on the interior of the temple in the summer of 2024.
In early 2024, the Banja Luka diocese received 11 crosses for the Russian-Serbian church, which were made by the Predslava construction and restoration company. The work on the manufacture and transportation of crosses was funded by the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage.