Church of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery
Why it's listed
Built in 1925 north of Libertyville, this small Serbian Orthodox church sits at the center of the Serbian National Cemetery, with paths laid out in the shape of a landscaped cross. It is roughly square, built of reddish Roman brick trimmed with white limestone, with four stepped gables facing the cardinal points. A copper roof carries onion domes: one large dome for Jesus Christ surrounded by twelve smaller ones for the apostles, all topped with filigree crosses. Inside, the altar, with elements dating to the fifteenth century, was given by King Peter of Yugoslavia in 1926. The church is used mainly by the monks and bishops of the monastery, which serves as the headquarters of the Serbian Orthodox faith in North America. King Peter, who lived and died at the monastery, is buried in the church, and a nearby monument honors resistance leader Mikhalovich. The building remains unaltered and in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the best midwestern examples of Russian and Eastern European church architecture, built of brick and stone rather than the wood common in Slavic settlers' churches. It also houses a medieval altar and serves as headquarters of the Serbian Orthodox faith in North America, with King Peter of Yugoslavia buried within.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000850, listed September 6, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Libertyville on N. Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | September 6, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000850 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Eastern European (Russian and Eastern European church architecture) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent shape, unaltered from its original condition, and occupied by monks and bishops living at the monastery. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.33344, -87.95096 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000850.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1562832
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.