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Towering feat for Macedonian monastery
BY GREG ELLIS
14 Feb, 2011 04:00 AM
The dome of what's thought to be the largest bell tower of its kind in the world has been lowered into place on a hillside overlooking Kembla Grange.
The gold-coloured dome now sits atop a seven-storey-high bell tower at the St Petka chapel and monastery, the first Macedonian Orthodox monastery in NSW.
The monastery has been built by members of the St Kliment Ohridski Macedonian Orthodox Church at Port Kembla.
Three men took 10 weeks to complete the gold-coloured dome.
Crosses on top of the monastery's eight domes will include LED lights that will shine on important dates in the Macedonian Orthodox calendar.
Bishop Peter, head of the Macedonian church in Macedonia, Australia and New Zealand, blessed the dome before it was lifted into place.
For many who have supported the monastery's construction over such a long period, it symbolises the retention of an important part of Macedonian culture.
His Excellency Bishop Peter said it was also meant to provide an opportunity to share Macedonian culture with a broader Illawarra community that had so openly welcomed people from many parts of the world during the past century.
He said the monastery would soon house three nuns and was just as important to the many Macedonians in Sydney as those in the Illawarra.
On January 9, more than 10,000 Macedonians came to St Petka, mostly from Sydney, to mark another important day in the Orthodox calendar.
Nick Ristevski, of Ryde regional radio station 2RRR, said "it is very good for Sydney people".
"They can come just two hours out of Sydney, have peace and quietness and go back recharged," he said.
"This is exciting for Macedonian people throughout the state."
The monastery is expected to be a major tourism drawcard for Wollongong.
Many in the Macedonian community believe it will have similar pulling power to the Hindu temple at Helensburgh and Nan Tien Temple at Berkeley.
Bishop Peter said the Port Kembla congregation was helping bring Macedonians from the Illawarra, NSW and the rest of Australia together.
The man who has driven much of that, with the help of many businesspeople, is George "Gocei" Petkovski.
Nun Mon Paraskeva, who was visiting from Macedonia, said she was deeply impressed by the beauty of the monastery.
It includes a large function room for conferencing, accommodation for three nuns, 17 large guest rooms and the largest Macedonian Orthodox chapel of its type in Australia, with stained-glass windows and frescoes on walls throughout its rendered interior.
Just thought that i'd post this article as I'm sure many people who live in New South Wales, specifically, and Australia more generally, have been to the monastery and may be interested in seeing how far construction has gotten.
BY GREG ELLIS
14 Feb, 2011 04:00 AM
The dome of what's thought to be the largest bell tower of its kind in the world has been lowered into place on a hillside overlooking Kembla Grange.
The gold-coloured dome now sits atop a seven-storey-high bell tower at the St Petka chapel and monastery, the first Macedonian Orthodox monastery in NSW.
The monastery has been built by members of the St Kliment Ohridski Macedonian Orthodox Church at Port Kembla.
Three men took 10 weeks to complete the gold-coloured dome.
Crosses on top of the monastery's eight domes will include LED lights that will shine on important dates in the Macedonian Orthodox calendar.
Bishop Peter, head of the Macedonian church in Macedonia, Australia and New Zealand, blessed the dome before it was lifted into place.
For many who have supported the monastery's construction over such a long period, it symbolises the retention of an important part of Macedonian culture.
His Excellency Bishop Peter said it was also meant to provide an opportunity to share Macedonian culture with a broader Illawarra community that had so openly welcomed people from many parts of the world during the past century.
He said the monastery would soon house three nuns and was just as important to the many Macedonians in Sydney as those in the Illawarra.
On January 9, more than 10,000 Macedonians came to St Petka, mostly from Sydney, to mark another important day in the Orthodox calendar.
Nick Ristevski, of Ryde regional radio station 2RRR, said "it is very good for Sydney people".
"They can come just two hours out of Sydney, have peace and quietness and go back recharged," he said.
"This is exciting for Macedonian people throughout the state."
The monastery is expected to be a major tourism drawcard for Wollongong.
Many in the Macedonian community believe it will have similar pulling power to the Hindu temple at Helensburgh and Nan Tien Temple at Berkeley.
Bishop Peter said the Port Kembla congregation was helping bring Macedonians from the Illawarra, NSW and the rest of Australia together.
The man who has driven much of that, with the help of many businesspeople, is George "Gocei" Petkovski.
Nun Mon Paraskeva, who was visiting from Macedonia, said she was deeply impressed by the beauty of the monastery.
It includes a large function room for conferencing, accommodation for three nuns, 17 large guest rooms and the largest Macedonian Orthodox chapel of its type in Australia, with stained-glass windows and frescoes on walls throughout its rendered interior.
Just thought that i'd post this article as I'm sure many people who live in New South Wales, specifically, and Australia more generally, have been to the monastery and may be interested in seeing how far construction has gotten.
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