Let us restore the church of St. Barbara in Vevey!

The church of St. Barbara in Vevey is a true emblem of the Orthodox presence in French-speaking Switzerland. There is now an urgent need to restore its interior.

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5 good reasons to support the restoration

Built in 1878, the Church of St. Barbara in Vevey is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Western Europe.
The whole church is classified as a historical monument, and protected by the State of Vaud and the Swiss Confederation.
The church is fully part of the cultural life of the region. Its rich history and unique style give our church a special place in the religious architecture in Western Europe.
Apart from some makeshift repair, the church has never benefited from any complete restoration of its interior since its construction. This heritage is today in a worrying state of dilapidation.
The State of Vaud is supporting this project, which is implemented under the high patronage of both the General Directorate of Buildings and Heritage (DGIP) and the Department of Cultural Affairs.

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Urgent works

Restoring the interior decoration of the church as well as more than 500 liturgical objects of great value, which are in very bad condition, has now become necessary to ensure the preservation of this heritage. Technical installations (e.g. heating, lighting, and electricity systems) must also be brought up to standard quickly to avoid any incident, guarantee safety and ensure optimal preservation of this heritage. The total estimated cost of the restoration works amounts to 5.63 million francs.

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A Foundation to take care of the restoration process

The Foundation for the Restoration of the Church of St. Barbara in Vevey was created in early 2020, in order to carry out the fundraising campaign. The Foundation is recognised as a public interest entity, which is independent of the parish. The statute of the Foundation guarantees that the collected funds will be used only for their stated purpose.

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The church of St. Barbara in Vevey is an important heritage treasure. Its interior is now in a serious state of dilapidation. Help us restore it!

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News

The Church of Saint Barbara celebrates historical figures of Orthodoxy in ‘Helvetia’

30 September 2025 | Church life

To mark the start of the new liturgical year, on 14 September the Church of Saint Barbara in Vevey took part in a national celebration dedicated to all the saints who have left their mark on the history of Orthodoxy in 'Helvetia'. Established in 1983 by Bishop...

Restoration of the Great Epitaphios / Plashchanitsa

17 September 2025 | Works

The Great Epitaphios/Plashchanitsa of St. Barbara's Church, a piece of great historical and spiritual value, is currently undergoing urgent restoration. Very old and delicate, this sacred textile requires specialised intervention to ensure its preservation for future...

Cleaning the sanctuary’s painted decorations

25 February 2025 | Works

Work to illuminate the church is continuing. The sanctuary will now be restored to its original colours. The first phase of the restoration will involve cleaning the vaults and the painted decoration. During this initial stage, scheduled for 2025, the dusty and filthy...