St. Sophia Church to undergo repairs

St. Sophia Church in Harbin, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province will undergo its second batch of repair work since 1997, lasting from July 3, 2018 to August 31, 2019.

Repair work includes external wall reinforcement, red brick masonry protection, mural repairs, dome maintenance, as well as wooden structure protection and reinforcement.

St. Sophia Church is the best-preserved example of Byzantine architecture in China.

It was built in 1907 and was once the largest church made of brick and wood in the Far East. It is a combination of all kinds of architectural styles with a Russian dome and Roman clerestory. 

The church is 53.25 meters high, and has a total construction area of 721 square meters. It can accommodate up to 2,000 people. In November 1996, the State Council listed it in the fourth batch of Key National Heritage Conservation Units. In 2007, it was selected as a national 4A-level scenic site.

Preparations are made to repair St. Sophia Church in Harbin. [Photo/MY399.COM]