Cathedral ravaged in massive fire will rise again

Source: New York Post

November 1, 2016

Firefighters battle flames at an historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava. Photo: Anindya Ghose via AP Firefighters battle flames at an historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava. Photo: Anindya Ghose via AP
    

Manhattan church officials are attempting to resurrect the 160-year-old Serbian Orthodox cathedral that was gutted by a massive fire last spring.

“We are definitely planning to restore the building, because it’s a place of prayer that has been here for almost two centuries and a place that has welcomed so many of our people,” the Rev. Zivojin Jakovljevic said.

“It’s a place we dearly respect and we really cherish in our hearts.”

All that currently remains of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava — located on West 25th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues — is a charred shell of a church following the four-alarm fire on May. 1.

Photo: G.N. Miller Photo: G.N. Miller
    

While the scorched roof beams have been torn down and replaced with metal ones following a request from the city, the smell of burnt wood remains — serving as an eerie reminder of what unfolded that day.

It was Orthodox Easter Sunday. The parishioners had just cleared out from morning services when the church’s 69-year-old caretaker, Slobodan Ljubenko, accidentally left a box of candles burning underneath a pew, according to sources.

Police said the candles eventually sparked a massive blaze that sent fireballs and plumes of smoke billowing into the sky for hours.

Photo: G.N. Miller Photo: G.N. Miller
    

Photo: Peter Gerber Photo: Peter Gerber
    

New York Post

11/1/2016

See also
Benefit on Eve of US Open Seeks to Save Saint Sava Cathedral Benefit on Eve of US Open Seeks to Save Saint Sava Cathedral Benefit on Eve of US Open Seeks to Save Saint Sava Cathedral Benefit on Eve of US Open Seeks to Save Saint Sava Cathedral
The event is a fundraiser for the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava which was destroyed by a fire on Orthodox Easter Sunday, May 1st of this year. Archbishop Demetrios Visits Fire Ravaged St. Sava Cathedral Archbishop Demetrios Visits Fire Ravaged St. Sava Cathedral Archbishop Demetrios Visits Fire Ravaged St. Sava Cathedral Archbishop Demetrios Visits Fire Ravaged St. Sava Cathedral
The Dean of the St. Savas Cathedral, the V. Reverend Fr. Djokan Majstovic, who was on location to receive the Archbishop said: “I was so blessed today to have His Eminence visiting with all of you. It means so much to me and to my community and I am going to pass the message through. His Eminence was always very supportive of us, very kind and very helpful. So thank you very much.” Donate to New York's St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral gutted by fire on Pascha Donate to New York's St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral gutted by fire on Pascha Donate to New York's St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral gutted by fire on Pascha Donate to New York's St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral gutted by fire on Pascha
St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in New York was tragically gutted by fire on Pascha Sunday. The parish has set up a donation fund.
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