Saint Seraphim of Sarov church in Minsk

This interior of the upper church was designed for a large church in honor of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. It will be the center of the parish complex of the same name in Minsk.

The interior is designed in neo-Byzantine style. The prototype of the iconostasis was the one from the Russian Saint Andrew Skete on Mount Athos.

The entire surface of the walls of the first tier is finished with marble. The icon cases are highlighted. The marble is richly carved. Doorways are framed by pilasters with arches and moldings.

Stained-glass windows are inserted above the carved wooden doors in transoms. The central door is almost completely made of stained-glass. It is framed with carved marble.

The floors are made with a reference to Byzantine designs.

An iconographic program has been designed for the project. It is assumed that the images on the walls above the level of the choir lofts will be made in mosaic. The entire volume of the sanctuary to the floor will also be made in mosaic. There will also be ornamental inserts. The image of Christ Pantocrator is presented in the dome. On the southern, northern and western sides of the main volume of the church, gospel scenes are depicted. Above the altar there is the image of Hetoimasia, the Prepared Throne.

The apse conch is designed in the form of a symbolic open shell, which can also be interpreted as an open vault of heaven. In the sanctuary apse, the Mother of God with the Child is depicted above. Below it there is an ornamental belt with the face icons of the holy hierarchs. Below it there is the icon of the Eucharist. At the lowest level, slightly above the bishop's throne, there is a large cross in the center and full-height images of holy hierarchs.

All over the church, the mosaics portray an image of the Garden of Paradise with decorative flowering trees. Beamed ceilings will be installed under the choir lofts. They will be decorated with molding or composite material.

Liturgical furniture was designed for the project, too. There is a carved stone altar and above it a large ciborium with four symbolic candelabra at the corners. This is a reference to the ciborium above the altar of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The top of the ciborium is gilded, the cross is installed on top. A seven-branched candlestick, an altar, a synthronon, liturgical carved analogions (lecterns), carved benches, a case for censers, icon cases, floor candlesticks are also designed. On the southern and northern sides, large candleholders with an extractor hood are built-in. They are also made in a form of ciboria.

The lighting system was designed with all individually made lighting fixtures. There is a large central three-tiered choros (corona lucis), and also medium and small choros. The project includes the use of built-in factory spotlights and wall sconces. The railings of the choir lofts have been designed in detail. They represent a combination of metal and carved stone. The railings of stairs, decorative inserts in the walls and other interior elements have been designed, too. At the base of the vaults and arches there will be a carved decorative frieze with mosaic inserts. A similar frieze is designed at the base of the tholobate.