Serbian Orthodox Church raises funds for second church in Ireland

The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland has initiated a fundraising campaign to acquire the former Church of Ireland chapel in West Cork, Ireland. The campaign aims to establish a second permanent Serbian Orthodox place of worship in the country, responding to the growing needs of the Orthodox community and efforts to provide spiritual care.

The campaign, launched on the GoFundMe campaign platform, has so far raised 19% of the required amount of €90,000. The funds are earmarked for the purchase of the former St. Mary’s Church in Knockmacool, located about 40 kilometers from Cork city center and 80 kilometers from Killarney. The initiative has received the blessing of His Eminence Bishop Nektarije of London, Great Britain and Ireland.

The only Serbian Orthodox priest in Ireland, Father Mladen Gardovic, has to travel about 1,500 kilometers a week from his parish in County Meath to conduct services in eight Irish towns. In Cork, he feeds about 100 Serbian families, using a room in the Ascension parish house in Gurranabraher for services.

Last year the Serbian Orthodox Church had already purchased its first Irish chapel in Mornington, County Meath, for €135,000. Father Gardovic emphasizes that the acquisition of a second parish in Cork will be a significant step forward and its doors will be open to all the faithful. He also noted that 20 people in Dublin are currently preparing to embrace Orthodoxy, indicating the growth of the community.

In his address, Fr. Gardovich wrote that «every contribution, whether small or large, represents a stone in the foundation of our common spiritual home.» He also mentioned that monetary donations can help lower the overall cost of the purchase. If the purchase of the second church is successful, a second Serbian Orthodox priest will come to Ireland.

This initiative follows a similar move by the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland, which in September purchased the former Anglican church in Dublin that now serves as their cathedral.

As a reminder, on February 8, 2026, a significant charitable event took place in the Serbian capital, Belgrade: Patriarch Porphyrius of Serbia blessed a voluntary blood donation at the Hierarchical Church of St. Sava. This event emphasized the social and humanitarian dimension of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s ministry, uniting the faithful in an act of charity.