At a city church where Russians and Ukrainians have gathered to celebrate Orthodox Christmas, the guiding ideals are peace, love, and harmony.
Built by Serbian refugees in the 1960s on property the Cadbury family sold them for £1, the Serbian Church of Holy Prince Lazar in Bournville, Birmingham, has since welcomed individuals of many ethnicities.
The church has been at risk in recent years of the tensions and feelings that have poured into its services in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Thankfully, however, worshipers leave politics at the door, according to Father Nenad Popović. “In here we have one leader, Jesus Christ, nobody else,” he stated.
Raisa, a churchgoer, concurred that worship was the main focus.
“We try because we’re here for God.”
