Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Jackson, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church |
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| Pravoslavna crkva svetog Save Православна црква светог Саве |
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Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church
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| Location | Jackson, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Serbian Orthodox |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Sava |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Western America |
The Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church is a special church located in Jackson, California. It was built in 1894 and holds the important title of being the very first Serbian Orthodox church in all of America.
In the late 1800s, many Serbian-American families moved to Amador County, California. They came because of the California Gold Rush, hoping to find gold and build new lives. These Serbian families in the county decided to create their own church. In 1886–87, they formed the St. Sava Church Organization. This group worked hard to buy land and build the church, with Sevastijan Dabović leading the effort.
The church's first design looked like traditional Eastern Orthodox churches. It even had a round "onion dome" on top! Later, the dome was changed to a bell tower. However, the church still has beautiful stained glass windows and special religious pictures called icons. These features give it a unique Eastern Orthodox feel. Since it opened, the church has been a central place for Serbian-American religious services and community events. Today, it is part of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Western America.
The Church Cemetery
Right next to the church is the Saint Sava Cemetery. This cemetery is a resting place for many early California Gold Rush prospectors. It also holds the graves of the church's first members and their families.
Remembering the Miners
In 1922, a sad event happened in Jackson. A mining accident deeply affected the whole town, especially the Italian and Serbian communities. At Saint Sava's Cemetery, there is a monument to eleven miners from the Argonaut Mine who lost their lives.
On September 22, 1922, a large burial service was held for 47 miners. These miners had come from many different countries. Seventeen were from Italy, and eleven were from Serbian lands in the Balkans. Others came from places like Spain, Sardinia, Austria, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Years later, in 1947, another mining disaster happened far away in Montana. This was the Smith Mine disaster, where 74 miners died. Several Serbian miners were among those who passed away in that tragedy as well.
A Historic Landmark
Because of its important history and unique architecture, the Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 6, 1986. This means it is recognized as a special place that is important to the history of the United States.
See also
- Smith Mine disaster
- Monongah mining disaster
- Argonaut Mine
- Coal mining disasters in United States
- Treadwell Gold Mine
