The Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynsky field in recent years has often become the subject of controversy and even land scandals. But worldly affairs calmed down, and now, at Christmas 2017, the first liturgy was held in the church, which had not yet completed construction. The authorities promise that the temple will be completely restored by the fall of this year. All this causes increased interest in the church on the Khodynka field. When was it built and why? When and why was it demolished? Does the current temple correspond to its original form? We will talk about this in our article. We will also give general information on how to get to the temple complex, and on the schedule of services. Briefly we will touch on the ups and downs associated with the restoration of the church.
Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynsky field: history
To understand the purpose of the original church, it is necessary to understand that earlier chaplains served without fail at military units. Even in the open field, before the battle, they laid out a marching altar in front of the assembled soldiers and held a liturgy. In the nineteenth century, the Khodynka field was located outside the city. In warm time, soldiers were transferred there for drill. So-called summer barracks were built there. But what about soldiers without worship? Therefore, every summer a tent was erected in which an altar was installed. Near this camp chapel a column with bells was driven into the ground.
The need to build a full-fledged church appeared in the eighties of the century before last, when the number of soldiers reached thirty thousand. The tent could no longer accommodate everyone to listen to the liturgy. In May 1883, a parade was held on the Khodynka field, which was received by the emperor. After that, the military command decided in honor of this event to build a church, consecrating it in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh. The honorary citizen of Moscow , the merchant Nikolai Kaverin, took the money to build a wooden church. But the provincial government did not like the drawing of the structure presented, and it sent it for revision.
Start of construction of the original temple
There were no funds for the construction of a more expensive project, and they forgot about it for a while. In 1891, an event shocked Russian citizens: an attempt was made on the heir to the throne, Nikolai Alexandrovich, in the Japanese city of Otsu. Tsesarevich miraculously remained intact, and in honor of this memorable date, General A. Kostanda, commander of the Moscow military garrison, gave the order to erect a temple of Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynsky field.
Construction was supported by all loyal subjects. Merchants and wealthy citizens began to donate to the church. In the spring of 1892, the building project was finally approved, which was finalized by the architect Ivan Khorodinov. And in the summer, the ceremony of laying the first stone took place, which was attended by Moscow Metropolitan Leonty, archimandrites of the Znamensky and Chudov monasteries and another higher clergy.
Subsequently, construction was carried out at a very fast pace to coincide with the opening of the church on the fiftieth anniversary of the death of St. Sergius of Radonezh, in whose honor the church was named (September 25, 1892).
Description of the church building
By the indicated date they managed to complete the construction of the walls. But there was still finishing work, the installation of bells and the erection of crosses. Thus, the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynka field was fully ready only in the following, 1893. The consecration ceremony was held on May 23 and was held by the bishops of Dmitrov and Mozhaisk, as well as the governor of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
In general, construction cost sixty thousand royal rubles. The temple, made in the pseudo-Russian style, was designed for a capacity of 1000 people. In the first draft, he was conceived as a single-throne. Subsequently, the architect laid two side chapels. The main throne is dedicated to Sergius of Radonezh. The aisles were named after St. Nicholas (in honor of the miraculous salvation of the Tsarevich) and Mary Magdalene and Alexander Nevsky (to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the marriage of the imperial couple - Alexander III and Maria Fedorovna).
In winter, services were carried out in one of the naves, since only in a wooden building it was heated. Next to the church were built houses for a priest, deacon and guardhouse. The whole complex was surrounded by a metal fence.
Revolutionary period
The irony of fate was that even after the October Revolution, the Khodynka Field was used as a location for military camps. Of course, there was no question of worship. The temple complex of St. Sergius of Radonezh on Khodynka was closed in 1919. The commandants of the camps thought how to adapt the church to new, revolutionary needs. It was supposed to organize a party school, a reading room and even a stage for concerts in it. But that was all in the memos.
In fact, the church was plundered by unknowns. The 1921 inventory shows in what deplorable state the temple was then. Broken icons, banners, broken glass, parts of chandeliers and candlesticks lay mixed up on the floor. In the mid-1920s, what survived was transferred to the courtyard of the Ufa Mikhail-Arkhangelsk monastery and the parish church in the village of the White Tver province. But even the ragged walls without crosses and domes corrupted the eyes of the new government. Since "the presence of the church adversely affects political work with the Red Army," the building was completely demolished.
What was at this place in the Soviet period
The temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynsky field, together with the adjacent buildings, occupied an area of about a hectare and was located in the middle of a military camp. It was visible from the Petersburg highway. But since then a lot of water has flowed, and the place where the temple complex once stood was built up. Firstly, the Birch Grove Park was laid out. And secondly, the Frunze Central Airfield was built. Houses and streets once filled the empty field.
Therefore, when plans for the restoration of the church appeared in the 1990s, certain difficulties arose. The original drawings were not preserved. But at the disposal of the Moscow authorities were many old photographs of the temple. The main difficulty was choosing a place to build a new church. Where she once stood, now there is a park fence (near ul. Kuusinen, 6).
Construction of a church and establishment of a parish
The new history of the complex "Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh" dates back to 2000. Then the Patriarch of Moscow Alexy II blessed the creation of the eponymous parish. It is noteworthy that at that time not only did not exist any church, but even a plot of land for its construction was not allocated. Nevertheless, in 2012, Patriarch Kirill combined the parish with the chapel of the Archangel Gabriel, which is now located at 2 Khodynsky Boulevard.
The clergyman of the Church of St. George in Koptev, Vasily Biksey, was appointed rector of the new complex. Then it was decided to build the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh several hundred meters north-west of the old place. A site was chosen at the end of the runway of the airdrome closed in 2003, on the corner of the boulevard, next to the passage of the Birch Grove park. Based on the visual data obtained from the archive, a building project was developed.
Land scandals
The cross on the site where it was decided to erect a new church in honor of the Monk Sergius of Radonezh was established in the summer of 2012. At the same time, the first service was held - so far under the open sky.
But the land on which the construction was planned belonged to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. It challenged in court the construction of the temple. There was a conflict. Residents of neighboring houses also opposed the construction.
In the end, the court acknowledged the correctness of the Ministry of Defense. The construction that was started was declared illegal.
Then in the spring of 2014, it was decided to look for a new place for the construction of the temple. It was conceived to build at the beginning of the former runway. Nearby, a chapel was almost erected in honor of the archangel Gabriel, dedicated to the fallen test pilots. It was consecrated in October 2014. And in December, all documents were issued for a small plot of 0.5 hectares for the construction of the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh. It is located opposite the sports palace.
New project
The creators wanted the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynka field to fit into the surrounding urban landscape. The neighborhood of the sports complex and skyscrapers did not allow the construction of a “wooden church in the fields”. Therefore, the architect, professor of the Moscow Architectural Institute Sergey Yakovlevich Kuznetsov developed a new project, significantly different from the old one, designed in a pseudo-Russian style. The basis for this building was Pskov architecture of the XII-XIII centuries.
This is a large stone structure, crowned with a five dome and complemented by a belfry. The mixture of old Russian architecture and modern architecture perfectly introduced the church into the surrounding landscape. It does not look like a discordant stain, which would inevitably have happened if the temple had been built from old photographs.
What the church looks like now
Construction began in 2015. During this time, walls were erected, a roof was laid, five domes were installed. All services of the parish will be located under one roof: a children's art school, a refectory, vestries, etc. The last finishing work is now underway in the church complex of St. Sergius of Radonezh on Khodynka. Divine services are celebrated since Christmas this year. The rector of the church took part in the first festive liturgy, who thanked all the gathered believers for their help and donations to the church. Among other things, he assured that the interior paintings would be completed by the fall of this year.
How to get to the church complex
The Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynsky field and the chapel of the archangel Gabriel are located at Moscow, Khodynsky Boulevard, 2. The metro stations Polezhaevskaya and Dynamo are closest to the complex. But from them on foot to the temple will be far away. A shuttle bus No. 18 runs from two metro stations. You need to get out on Kuusinen Street, near the Megasport d / S. Bus number 48 also runs from Polezhaevskaya metro station. You need to get off at the Sukhoi Aircraft Designer stop. Then you should cross the street and go a bit across the field diagonally. The temple will be on the right, it stands opposite the sports palace. You can get to the complex by buses Nos. 12C and 207. They depart from the Dynamo metro station. You should also get off the bus at the stop of Sukhoi Aircraft Designer.
Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynsky field: schedule of services
The church celebrates two patronal feasts. One (July 18) is dedicated to the miraculous acquisition of the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh. The second holiday falls on October 8th. On this day, the whole Orthodox Church honors the memory of the miracle worker, Father Superior of Radonezh and All Russia, St. Sergius. Since the temple complex includes a chapel dedicated to the Archangel Gabriel, the holidays are celebrated on April 8 and July 26 in a new style. But even on ordinary Sunday you can come to the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on the Khodynsky field. The rector, Vasily Biksey, in the rank of priest, serves at 3:30 pm a prayer service with the reading of an akathist.