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Tomislav Nikolić, Aleksandr Chepurin, Aleksandr Dybal, Kiril Kravchenko and Manana Popova on the ceremony The ceremony was graced by Serbia’s President Tomislav Nikolić, who is the chairman of the Principal Committee of the Association for the Construction of the Cathedral, as well as Aleksandr Chepurin, Russia’s Ambassador to Serbia, Aleksandr Dybal, member of the Board of “Gazprom Neft” Company, Arsenije, the Bishop of Toplica, as well as Lyubov Glebova, director of Russia’s Federal State Agency „Rossotrudnichestvo“. St. Sava Cathedral dome scale model Scale model has been completed in a 1:10 scale and is made of the mosaic composition of the future look of the dome. The visitors of the “Russian House” will be able to see the scale model, which will be exhibited throughout the work completion period planned to end by the end of 2017. Serbia’s President Tomislav Nikolić, who is the chairman of the Principal Committee of the Association for the Construction of the Cathedral Late this August, the “Gazprom Neft” Company entered into a donation contract according to which four million euros in total is allocated to fund the interior decoration of St. Sava Cathedral dome scale model. The surface of 1.230 square metres will be covered in mosaic compositions made of painted and golden pieces of specially processed glass, as well as of natural stone. The artistic works to decorate the Cathedral will be overseen by the academician Nikolai Muhin, a member of Russia’s Academy of Arts and Russia’s People’s Artist. Russia’s Federal State Agency „Rossotrudnichestvo“is in charge of the overall coordination of the project. Aleksandr Chepurin, Russia’s Ambassador to Serbia „Today, we demonstrate to both Serbia and the world a centuries-long bond between Russian and Serbian people that is now depicted in this scale model, and following that it will be represented in the dome of St. Sava Cathedral. This bond has come into being long before our time and will last long after it“, said Serbia’s President Tomislav Nikolić at the ceremonial presentation of the scale model. Aleksandr Dybal, member of the Board of “Gazprom Neft” Company Russia’s Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Chepurin pointed out that St. Sava Cathedral will emerge as a centre of Orthodox Christianity of the contemporary world and a hallmark of Belgrade and essence of Serbian spirit. He also said that each Orthodox Christian visiting Belgrade invariably drops by St. Sava Cathedral. The Ambassador gave credit to the “Gazprom Neft” Company for its contribution to the construction of St. Sava Cathedral and expressed his confidence that the 1230 square metres of the dome will come to shine as in a fairy tale before the end of 2017. Arsenije, the Bishop of Toplica Member of the Board of “Gazprom Neft” Aleksandr Dybal pointed out that the Cathedral symbolises the friendship of Russian and Serbian people. He also conveyed congratulations to all those involved in this project for everything they have so far achieved and said we will all very soon enjoy the complete mosaic that every Orthodox Christian will take pride in. Arsenije, the Bishop of Toplica, on behalf of Serbia’s Patriarch Iriney, conveyed congratulations and benediction on the occasion of this great event. Lyubov Glebova, head of Russia’s Federal Agency Rossotrudnichestvo „Our assembly today on the occasion of St. Sava Cathedral dome scale model presentation is of great importance. All denizens of this country, as well as its visitors will be able to appreciate the future appearance of the decorated dome of the Cathedral“, stated Lyubov Glebova, head of Russia’s Federal Agency Rossotrudnichestvo. St. Sava Cathedral, located in Belgrade’s Vračar borough, is Serbia’s most important architectural monument and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. It has been erected on the place, where in 1594 the Ottoman Empire authorities had burned the relics of St. Sava. The project for the Cathedral has been complete in late 19th century, its construction started only in 1935, only to be postponed at the outbreak of World War Two. The dome was complete in 1989, and the opening ceremony took place in 2004.
