Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church (Berlin, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
|
|
The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
|
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 20 Petrograd St., Berlin, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1915 |
| Architectural style | Orthodox Church |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000196 |
| Added to NRHP | May 16, 1979 |
The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church is a special old church building located on Petrograd Street in Berlin, New Hampshire. Many people in the area call it "The Russian Church." This is because it was built in 1915 by people who had moved to America from the Russian Empire. These immigrants mostly came from areas that are now part of Belarus and Ukraine.
The church was closed for a while in 1963. However, it opened again in 1974 for a funeral. In 1979, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. It is also part of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
Church Design and Look
The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church was designed by an architect named John Bergesen. He was from New York City. The church has six special dome shapes on its roof. These domes look like onions and were very common in Russian architecture at that time.
The church building is about 36 feet wide and 63 feet long. This measurement does not include the main entrance. The church stands very tall, reaching about 100 feet high. Inside, the church is divided into three main parts. These parts are the entrance area, called the vestibule, the main seating area, known as the nave, and the special area near the altar, called the sanctuary. The beautiful religious paintings, called icons, inside the church were some of the last ones to leave Russia. This happened before Czar Nicholas II was removed from power in 1917.
A Look Back at History
In 1915, a religious leader named Reverend Arcady Piotrowsky came to Berlin. He traveled from Cleveland, Ohio. His goal was to start an Orthodox church for the many Russian immigrants living in Berlin. At that time, about 500 Russian people lived there.
At first, church services were held in another church building. Later, they moved to an old garage owned by the city. A good spot was chosen at the bottom of Mt. Forest for a new church. Construction of the church began on May 1, 1915. The building was finished quickly, by October 1 of the same year.
Special Holy Items
The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church holds two very special items called reliquary icons. These are icons that contain a small piece of something holy. One icon is dedicated to Saint Herman of Alaska. The other is for Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
The relic of Saint Herman of Alaska was given to the church by Metropolitan Theodosius. He presented it during a visit to the church. In the icon of Saint Nicholas, the saint is shown holding the city of Berlin in his hand. The relic of Saint Nicholas was discovered in the altar area in late summer of 2003. It had originally been moved from Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Richmond, Maine. Bishop Nikon then placed it into the icon on December 6, 2003.
See also
- History of the Eastern Orthodox Church in North America
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Coos County, New Hampshire
- Orthodox Church in America
