Serbia: Orthodox Church's giant steel cross stirs debate

Image source, Milos Djordjevic/YouTube

Image caption, The hills around Kraljevo where the cross will stand are popular with hikers and hang-gliders
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A plan by the Orthodox Church to build an enormous steel cross on top of a mountain in central Serbia is dividing opinion in the country, it's reported.

The 33.5m-tall (110ft) cross will stand atop Mount Stolovi, near the town of Kraljevo, and will be visible from far and wide in Serbia, . Weighing a hefty 40 tonnes, it will be lit up at night by solar power or a small wind turbine, according to Ljubinko Kostic, the priest in charge of the project. "The cross will be 33.5m tall, because that is how old Jesus was when he was crucified," he tells the paper. "It's hard to say how much it will cost, certainly over 100,000 euros (拢70,000)."

The cash is being raised through donations, and construction is due to begin in the next few days, the priest says. But the cost of the project has raised eyebrows among some Serbians. Many people commenting on the Blic article feel the money could be better spent elsewhere, and one user suggests that restoring homes in Kraljevo that suffered flood and earthquake damage in recent years may be a better idea. Others support the project, however, pointing out that it isn't taxpayer-funded. "What's wrong with the cross? It is a symbol of love and peace," Belgrade resident Filip Maric . "People have the right to donate money and build what they want to be built."

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