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.

5 good reasons to support the restoration

  1. Built in 1878, the Church of St. Barbara in Vevey is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Western Europe.
  2. The whole church is classified as a historical monument, and protected by the State of Vaud and the Swiss Confederation.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

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.

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.

Donate

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!

News

Live radio broadcast of the Sunday service

Live radio broadcast of the Sunday service

January 29th, 2023 - 33rd Sunday after Pentecost - Veneration of the precious Chains of the Holy Apostle Peter For the first time in its 145-year history, the Saint Barbara Orthodox Church in Vevey had the honour of broadcasting the Sunday service on January 29th,...

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Priority projects for 2022

Priority projects for 2022

Five years have passed since the restoration of the dome and the facades of the church. Now, six months after the reinstallation of the restored iconostasis and the doubling of downspout capacity to prevent water infiltration, several works still need to be done...

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