Church of St. Sava, Gaborone
| Church of St. Sava | |
|---|---|
Црква светог Саве | |
| Location | Gaborone, South-East District |
| Country |  Botswana |
| Denomination | Serbian Orthodox |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | St. Sava |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Years built | 2015[1] |
The Church of St. Sava (Serbian: Црква светог Саве) is a Serbian Orthodox Church in Gaborone, capital of Botswana. Built by the Serbian diaspora since 2015, it is the second Serbian Orthodox church in Africa, following the one in Johannesburg, South Africa.[1] The Church of St. Sava is one of the tallest buildings in Gaborone, contrasting with the city’s traditionally low-rise architecture.[2] The interior was decorated by Vladimir Skerlić, a Serbian mosaic and fresco artist from Belgrade.[2] Architecturally, it resembles Serbian churches from the late 19th and early 20th century.[3]
History
[edit]Serbs began immigrating to Botswana in the 1970s, facilitated by a visa-free regime for Yugoslav citizens.[2] The Serbian community in Botswana, consisting of about 30 families, has been organized within the Serbian Society since 2011.[2]
The project was initiated by the Serbian community, predominantly comprising families who immigrated during the 1990s due to Yugoslav Wars.[1] The land was donated by Milivoje Nikolić, a Serbian entrepreneur, and construction received support from various local and international donors, including contributions from Greece, China, and the United States.[1] The church, consecrated by Irinej, Serbian Patriarch in 2018.[1] The church was completed in 2021.[2]
See also
[edit]- Yugoslavia and the Organisation of African Unity
- Yugoslavia and the Non-Aligned Movement
- Serbs in South Africa
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Jovana Georgievski (1 May 2021). "Srbija, Afrika i pravoslavlje: Kako je izgrađena druga srpska pravoslavna crkva u Africi". BBC Serbian. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e n.a. (10 November 2024). "U Bocvani se nalazi prva srpska pravoslavna crkva, druga u Africi". TRT Balkan. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ Ksenija Stojiljković (2 May 2021). "Kako je izgrađena druga srpska pravoslavna crkva u Africi". Nova (Serbia). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
