Church of the Holy Prince Lazar, Birmingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Holy Prince Lazar |
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Church of the Holy Prince Lazar
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Serbian Orthodoxy |
| Leadership | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Location | |
| Location | Bournville, Birmingham, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Dragomir Tadić |
| Architectural style | Serbo-Byzantine |
| Completed | 1968 |
| Materials | Brick, Stone |
| Website | |
| http://lazarica.co.uk/ | |
The Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar, also known as Lazarica, is a special church in Bournville, Birmingham, England. It is a Serbian Orthodox church. It was built for people who had to leave their homes in Yugoslavia after World War II. These people were called refugees. Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia helped them build this church.
Serbian people have had a connection with Bournville for a long time. This started when Dame Elizabeth Cadbury helped thirteen Serbian children who were refugees from World War I.
Contents
The Church of Holy Prince Lazar
The Church of the Holy Prince Lazar was finished in 1968. It was designed by a Yugoslavian architect named Dr Dragomir Tadic. The church looks like traditional churches from the 14th century in a style called Byzantine. It is a copy of a church in Serbia. The builders used the same kinds of materials that were used for old, sacred buildings.
Building and Design
The church is made of brick and stone. It has three sets of doors made of bronze. Inside, there is a large candelabrum (a fancy candle holder) that came from Serbia.
Unlike many churches you might know, this church does not have seats. This is normal for traditional Orthodox churches, where people usually stand during services.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is beautifully decorated. It has many traditional Byzantine paintings called murals. These paintings cover the walls and ceiling.
In the main dome, there is a painting of Christ Pantocrator. This shows Jesus as the ruler of all. In the half-dome of the apse (a rounded part at the end of the church), there is a painting of the Virgin Mary.
Lower down on the walls, you can see paintings of warrior saints. Above them are paintings of patriarchs and priestly saints. At the very top, there are paintings of the apostles and scenes from important Christian holidays.
What is a Fresco?
These murals were painted using a special method called fresco. This means the paint was carefully put onto wet walls. As the walls dried, the paint became a permanent part of the plaster.
The Cultural Centre
Next to the church is a cultural centre. This building is considered a Grade C locally listed building. This means it is an important building because of its history or special design.
See also
- Serbian Orthodox Church
- Lazar of Serbia
- Serbs in the United Kingdom
- Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Osijek
