Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church (Berlin, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
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The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 20 Petrograd St., Berlin, New Hampshire |
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| 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. It is located on Petrograd Street in Berlin, New Hampshire. People often call it "The Russian Church." This is because it was built in 1915 by people who came from the Russian Empire. Many of these immigrants were from areas that are now part of Belarus and Ukraine.
The church closed in 1963. But it opened again in 1974 for a funeral. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it is an important historical site. The church is part of the Orthodox Church in America.
Church Design and Look
The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church was designed by John Bergesen. He was an architect from New York City. The church has six special dome shapes on its roof. These are called onion domes. This style was 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. It stands about 100 feet tall. Inside, the church has three main parts. These are the vestibule (entrance area), the nave (where people sit), and the sanctuary (the main altar area). The beautiful religious paintings inside, called icons, were some of the last ones to leave Russia. This happened before Czar Nicholas II was removed from power.
Church History
In 1915, Reverend Arcady Piotrowsky came to Berlin. He traveled from Cleveland, Ohio. His goal was to start an Orthodox church for the many Russian people living in Berlin. About 500 Russians lived there at that time.
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 to build a new church. It was at the bottom of Mt. Forest. Construction of the church began on May 1, 1915. The church was finished quickly, by October 1 of the same year.
Special Relics
The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church holds two special items. These are called reliquary icons. They contain small parts of holy people. One is for Saint Herman of Alaska. The other is for Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
The relic of Saint Herman of Alaska was given to the church. Metropolitan Theodosius brought it during a visit. In the icon of Saint Nicholas, the saint is shown holding the city of Berlin. The relic of Saint Nicholas was found in the altar in 2003. It had been moved from another church in Richmond, Maine. Bishop Nikon 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
