33.5-meter cross to be raised above Serbian town

The locals are building a cross on Mt. Stolovi, above the town of Kraljevo, in central Serbia, the daily Vecernje Novosti is reporting.

The 33.5-meter cross - this number was chosen to commemorate the age of Jesus Christ when he was crucified - will be raised above an area where the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Zica, Mataruska Banja (Spa), the Ibar Gorge, and the medieval town of Maglic are all located.

The mountain will soon have another landmark - a 40-ton Orthodox cross, that will be installed on Mt. Stolovi's highest peak, Usovica, rising 1,375 meters above sea level.

Priest Ljubinko Kostic told Vecernje Novosti that the hope is to finish the job next year, in time to make it a contribution of this generation of Kraljevo residents to the marking of 800 years since the Serbian Orthodox Church became autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent).

"The installing of the cross is financed exclusively from donations made by individuals, institutions, and private companies. Whether we will succeed in our intention depends on that," Kostic said.