St. Sava Church

Prominent in the city skyline is the immense church dedicated to the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava. The goal, originally conceived in 1895, was to build a temple on the place where St. Sava’s remains occurred. Although groundbreaking of the foundation began in 1935, it still is far from being completed. Numerous wars, bombing, and Communism interrupted the construction process, with resumption finally occurring in 1985.

The dimensions of St. Sava Church are impressive. Although not the largest Orthodox church (Russia holds that title), it is the largest  Orthodox church currently in use. The church is 91 meters (298.5 ft) long from east to west, and 81 meters (265.7 ft) from north to south. Including the massive gold-plated cross, the church stands at 82 meters (269 ft) high. Its domes have 18 more gold-plated crosses of various sizes. The bell towers contain 49 bells, resulting in rich, beautiful tones of an impressive range that can be heard from a distance away. With a surface area of 3,500 square meters on the ground floor, additional galleries on the first and second floors, it can accommodate over 10,000 worshipers.

The exterior is comprised of white marble and granite. Inside, I saw a mixture of various colors of marble, granite, and carved plaster. During one of my visits, I saw glimpse of the mosaics which will cover a large portion of the walls. When finished, this church, funded entirely by donations,  will be a sight to behold.

Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Saint_Sava

St. Sava Church, Belgrade