Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Merrillville, Indiana)
| Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church-School Congregation | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| 41°27′07″N 87°18′53″W / 41.4519°N 87.3147°WCoordinates: 41°27′07″N 87°18′53″W / 41.4519°N 87.3147°W | |
| Location | 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, Indiana |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Website | saintsava |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Gary, Indiana |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Dedication | Saint Sava |
| Consecrated | May 18, 1991 |
| Events | Former church at 13th and Connecticut Street in Gary, Indiana destroyed by fire in 1978; Current church at 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, Indiana consecrated in 1991. |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Milojko Perisich; Radovan Pejovic |
| Architectural type | Byzantine Style |
| Years built | 1985-1991 |
| Groundbreaking | July 31, 1985 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | Seats about 400, additional 100 standing |
| Length | Overall 376 feet (115 m) |
| Nave length | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Nave width | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Height | Cross on the center cupola rests 97 feet (30 m) above the ground |
| Number of domes | 5 |
| Materials | American steel, Indiana limestone, and Appalachian oak wood |
| Bells | Located in the western cupola |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of New Gracanica – Midwestern America |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | His Grace Bishop Longin |
| Priest(s) | Very Reverend Stavrofor Marko Matic |
| Laity | |
| Music group(s) | Karageorge Choir, Children's Choir of St. Sava Church |
Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Serbian: Црква светог Саве; Crkva svetog Save) was originally established February 14, 1914 in Gary, Indiana and is now located in Merrillville, Indiana since the consecration of the new church building in 1991. It is the church-school congregation where Saint Varnava, the first American-born Serbian to be proclaimed an Orthodox saint, was baptized, served as altar boy, and was first recognized as a youthful prodigy in reciting Serbian folklore and old ballads.
It is recognized as being among "10 Beautiful Region Cathedrals and Churches" in Northwest Indiana and one of the Midwest's oldest parishes, founded in Gary, Indiana, by early Serbian settlers in the United States seeking to establish their local community with the building of a church to help maintain their traditional customs.
Through its religious and nationalistic endeavors, it earned the renowned name of "Srpska Gera." It is now among the churches in the Northwest Indiana region that enjoy the status of institutional landmarks.
The architectural design of the exterior central portion of the current St. Sava church building was modeled in the Byzantine architecture style after the Oplenac, a Serbian Orthodox Church located in Topola, Serbia. The central part of the church structure shares many similarities in its physical features and likeness to the Oplenac.
Upon completion of construction of the main structure in 1990, the Illinois Indiana Masonry Council honored St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church with the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Masonry Design citing the work of Architect Radovan Pejovic and Mason Contractor Gacesa Masonry Construction.
...
Wikipedia