St. Sophia Church in Harbin is the largest Eastern Orthodox
Church in the Far East. It is 53.3 meters (175 feet) high and occupies an area
of 721 square meters (0.18 acres). In November, 1996, it was listed as one of
the Key Cultural Relics under State Protection. Half a year later, the city
government repaired it and renamed it as Harbin Art Gallery. It is a
respectable landmark for Harbiners and for tourism.
The church has a complex history. Shortly after the Boxer
Rebellion (1899-1901), the Russian built the church of timber in March, 1907.
Then, the Russian rebuilt it using masonry and timber four years later. The
onset of a second reconstruction by Russian was marked on September 23rd, 1923,
and a ceremony was held to celebrate laying the corner stone. It was completed
on November 25th, 1932, after nine years, and was hailed as a monumental work
of art.
The Byzantine style church is so beautiful, it is said to
look as if it had been made by God's hands. In fact, St. Sophia means 'God's
wisdom'. Having a Latin cross footprint, the church's original shape was
preserved during reconstruction. The church has four floors and is accessible
by a door on each side. Until the 1960's, the bell tower over the entrance
housed 7 bells of different sizes and tones. When there were religious
festivals in the past, a well-trained ringer would play musical progressions,
tolling the bells with ropes tied to his hands and feet. The bells resounded to
the skies.
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