A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Rosa Khutor resort to mark the beginning of construction of a new church,the Church of the Nativity of Christ.
His Grace Herman, Bishop of Sochi and Tuapse, conducted a liturgy and a ceremony to consecrate the site and lay the foundation stone, thus initiating the next stage of construction.
The new church is being built within the "My Russia" cultural and ethnographic complex, a unique ensemble created in preparation for the 2014 Olympics. The architectural design of the structure is based on the image of the Savior Transfiguration Cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky, built in the 12th century.
The urban planning goal of the project is to create a recognizable architectural and artistic environment of a Russian settlement on the territory of the ethno-park, with a traditional dominant feature - the image of an Orthodox church.
The cross-domed church will be a one-story building with a vaulted dome in the center and a three-part apse on the eastern side, typical of church architecture. It will be made of light-colored brick and adorned with a gilded dome. Inside,there will be a large, unified, and bright space with a narthex, a choir entrance, an altar, and a choir on a mezzanine.
"Our resort is located in a unique place - among the majestic mountain peaks. And it is very understandable the desire of people to build chapels, churches, and monasteries at such a height. We also believe it is important to have an Orthodox church here, and everyone should always be able to come here," said Alexander Belokobylsky, the general director of the Rosa Khutor resort.
The foundation of the Church of the Nativity of Christ was officially laid at the Rosa Khutor resort in November 2020.
