Holy Trinity Monastery Appeals for Funding as Cupola and Mosaic Restoration Faces Major Setbacks
Unexpected engineering complications and soaring installation costs stall long-planned preservation projects; monastery seeks $150,000 to complete essential work.
JORDANVILLE — Holy Trinity Monastery is urgently appealing for financial assistance after significant construction setbacks derailed its multi-year effort to restore five church cupolas and replace two fading outdoor frescoes with long-lasting mosaics.
In a release from the monastery, leadership said both projects were hit with unforeseen engineering requirements, contractor errors, and installation costs that now exceed initial estimates by $150,000.
“We could not have expected that three years of time would pass until the cupolas were finally installed,” the monastery noted, citing delays, shortages of qualified contractors, and surprise equipment fees.
Aging Cupolas and Failing Frescoes Trigger Emergency Repairs
The monastery began the restoration after inspections revealed severe internal decay in five of its 70-year-old wooden cupolas, with one cross leaning so dangerously that it risked falling. Fiberglass replacements were commissioned in 2022, but the installation was delayed for 18 months due to gilding issues and the availability of specialized cranes — equipment that added an unexpected $15,000 to the bill.
When contractors finally arrived this summer, they mistakenly removed a sixth cupola — located above the altar — that also proved to be structurally compromised. Its replacement added another $20,000 in costs, though the installer agreed to complete the work without charging for labor.
The fading mosaic of the Resurrection. Photo: Holy Trinity Monastery
Simultaneously, two large exterior frescoes — the Hospitality of Abraham above the church entrance and the Resurrection of Christ on the bell tower — were rapidly fading from harsh Upstate New York weather. The monastery opted to replace them with mosaics, which can last centuries, but engineers determined that the existing structures could not bear their weight. Reinforcement with steel and concrete, in multiple phases, is expected to cost $115,000.
Monastery Says Architectural Beauty Is Integral to Worship
Monastery leaders stressed that the tented-roof architecture, onion-shaped cupolas, and outdoor iconography are integral to the spiritual role of the church.
“Everything related to the church building is meant to inspire and elevate the spiritual feelings of worshippers,” they wrote, noting that the domes symbolize candle flames rising toward heaven.
Costs Rising Faster Than Donations
The monastery said basic operating income from weekly offerings and product sales is insufficient to absorb the unexpected expenses. Monthly collection-plate donations only cover one filling of the church’s heating oil tank — one building among nearly 40 on the grounds.
In total, the monastery now needs to raise $150,000 to complete the cupola installations and fund the engineering and structural reinforcement necessary for the new mosaics.
Donors are invited to contribute any amount; sponsorships of $5,000 per cupola or $25,000 per mosaic are available, with lifetime commemorations offered as thanks.
To give to the project, visit here.
Previously, UOJ reported that Holy Trinity Monastery warned about a wind farm project that threatened its grounds.
