New Church Construction Overview
- The Temple

The Fellowship Hall and Ministry Center & The assisted Living Facility

Architectural model of new St. Mark Church.

Size - 6,400 square feet would house 2 chapels that would serve a double function of fellowship space and classroom/teaching space; 2 fully handicapped accessible bathrooms, 3 regular bathrooms and a kitchen, a multipurpose workroom/library and a pastor's office.

Based on architectural advice and county occupancy guidelines, the entire worship space would be able to accommodate up to 225 people (chairs). This size may seem large based upon current liturgical attendance, however, for any significant event (e.g. wedding, funeral, baptism, ordination), the space needed for components such as processions, entrances, and special staging would not negatively impact the congregation as it does presently, while allowing for future growth of the community.

Based upon the rapid and increasing attendance over the last two years, as well as the demographics of the location of the church property, we have been advised by architects, engineers, construction and other clergy to avoid "adding on" new elements to the church building if at all possible. This would compromise both structure and consistency of design as well as be a cost prohibitive factor. In essence, It makes more sense to construct something you can grow in to - as the parishioners would contribute to increasing the size and length of a mortgage as opposed to paying for additional construction, design, engineering, preparation, permitting costs.

Shape - a cross-form plan was chosen, that includes a functional central dome and four smaller . exterior towers on the corners. Design elements from a variety of ethnic traditions represented in the community were selected and combined to achieve the overall final design.

Floor Plan:

1. Altar
2. Nave
3. Narthex
4. Chapel of St. James/Church school
5. Chapel of St. Irene/Fellowship Hall
6. Sacristy/Storage
7. Vestry
8. Pastor's Office/Workroom
9. Kitchen/Bathrooms

Style - Exterior elements include - a rounded cupola, similar to the Our Lady of Kazan Church in Red Square (Moscow, Russia); rounded apses on the East, North and South sides, similar to the churches in Ukraine and Vladimir, Russia; a centralized dome, which is consistent with Byzantine style; a double tiered central cupola, which is unique to Russian architecture; the windows are reminiscent of Serbian and Romanian churches, the roof lines and materials are consistent with traditional European building materials, the crosses are a combined Slavic (three-bar crosses) superimposed on a more Byzantine, Arabic Serbian stylized background. Covered drive through drop off area, which is common to many local Florida churches and requested by the majority of the parishioners responding to the building survey.

Interior elements include - Nartex - wooden plank, pitched ceiling, similar to a Romanian design; stone/tile floor, found in traditional European churches. Nave - high, arched plastered ceilings that support natural acoustic and provide a clean space for future iconography. Chandeliers and sconces that are more European in design. Byzantine stylized, mahogany iconostasis and icon stands. Brass candle stands from a more Slavic tradition. Burgundy colored carpet in the altar and central runner, which is common to many Orthodox traditions.

The architects, together with the engineers and construction company, provided the basic site improvement and landscaping packages - this includes lighting, parking, shrubs, bushes and trees, signage and walkways.