The Church of Saint Barbara

Edified in 1878, Vevey's Sainte-Barbara church is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Western Europe. It is an emblematic monument to the history of the Orthodox presence in French-speaking Switzerland.

Dedication to the megalomartyr saint Barbara

The church was built in response to the wishes of Count Pierre Chouvalov, who had previously settled on the Vaud Riviera. He wished to see his fille Barbara, who died in childbirth in 1872, laid to rest on Orthodox soil and near a church. Built in his memory in 1878, the edifice is the work of Vevey architect Jean-Samuel Késer-Doret, based on a project drawn up in Russia by Ippolito Monighetti.

The rich interior decoration combines wall paintings and canvases sent from St. Petersburg. The iconostasis, designed in Russia around 1845, and the liturgical objects come from the chapel of Villa Olivuzza, the home of Count Shuvalov in Palermo.

The church's interior is richly decorated with murals and paintings sent from St. Petersburg.

Here's how you can help our community :

1. To contribute to the life of the parish : pay your dues and donations for the payment of salaries, compensation for clergy travel, purchases of liturgical calendars, help for certain needy people, etc., use the  account:

Russian Orthodox parish of Lausanne-Vevey

IBAN CH34 0900 0000 1001 5581 7

CCP 10-15581-7

2. To contribute to the management of everything relating to real estate and furnishings : maintenance of the church building and all its contents, i.e. maintenance and restoration/rehabilitation of buildings, exterior and interior

Society of the Russian Orthodox Church of Vevey

 IBAN CH15 0900 0000 1001 0833 8

CCP 10-10833-8

Donate directly on the dedicated website