Two centuries have passed since the foundation of the stone church, consecrated in honor of the Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem. Could our ancestors have imagined that the temple would be systematically destroyed in the 21st century, and believers would hear an indifferent answer from the authorities: "There is no money for restoration."
Short story
As described above, the Church of the Entrance Jerusalem, which now lies in ruins, was built at the beginning of the 19th century. The exact date is unknown, but mention is made of the laying of stone made in 1801. The final construction was completed in 1804 or in 1805.
Funding for the construction was allocated by a local merchant, Grigory Ivanovich Dunaev, who lives near the place where the stone church grew. Judging by the description of past years, the entrance Jerusalem church was amazingly beautiful, in the photo you can see its splendor. Stone building with the same bell tower. A fence was built on the eastern side. There were three thrones in the church at that time: in honor of the Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem, in honor of which the church was named the Church of the Entry of Jerusalem, in honor of the three Moscow saints - Alexy, Peter and Jonah, and also in honor of the holy Great Martyr Paraskeva Friday.
In 1808, the building was badly damaged by a city fire, but through the efforts of parishioners and donors, it was quickly restored. After several decades, in the middle of the XIX century, an almshouse appeared at the temple.
Soviet years
The new government, which replaced Tsar Nicholas II, was monstrous. Temples and monasteries were closing everywhere, marauders did not hesitate to rob them, taking all the most valuable. Soligalich (Kostroma region) with its temple splendor, the Soviet government did not pass by.
The church in honor of the Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem was closed; a cultural house was located in its premises. He stayed there until 1988, then moved to a new building, leaving the church. The entrance Jerusalem church, built more than a century ago at that time, remained in a deplorable state.
Local looters did not hesitate to make forays into an empty temple. Everything that was possible to destroy and destroy was carried out by them. Local authorities did not pay attention to the quietly dying temple. Until today, the situation has not changed. The building continues to collapse, it has long turned into a place where the population drinks alcohol, here they relieve the need and leave obscene notes on the walls.
Appearance from the outside (today)
It is difficult for an Orthodox Christian to calmly look at the current state of the church. The entrance Jerusalem church is slowly dying, but no one cares about the crumbling monument of a bygone era.
The remnants of the temple are striking from afar, it stands in silent silence, surrounded by unpretentious village houses. On the faded dome, of course, there is no cross. Enormous cracks ran across the bell tower wall, crossing the barely noticeable finish left over from past years. The bell tower was numb a hundred years ago, and still has remained so.
Outside the altar of the church, a large piece of the wall almost fell off, three windows tightly boarded up by old boards. Under one of them flaunts an inscription clearly made by teenagers. There are large cracks outside the entire surface of the building. in some places the walls are falling apart.
Inside the temple: ground floor
But the fact that inside the church is the real abomination of desolation is impossible to watch without tears. It is worth starting with the fact that there is no entrance to the temple as such, but there is an impressive gap in the wall leading into the room.
On the ground floor the scene catches the eye, or rather, its remains. The steps almost fell apart from decay, everywhere is dirty and dusty. Part of the walls is painted white-green, the paint has peeled off in some places and bricks are visible. The windows are boarded up by boards, thin rays of light make their way through them. On the floor are numerous beer bottles, which are described above, bags of chips and other food. In some places dirty rags that were once human clothes. Wooden doors are broken, once they were white. In the corner, the remains of a Dutch stove are preserved.
Inside the temple: second floor
On the second floor of the church of the Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem, the picture is no less sad. Here the walls are painted blue and white, peeling in places, brown-gray bricks are visible. White color has long turned into gray-black, but in places its original appearance has still been preserved. The wooden ceiling still retained its appearance, but was already wiped off in some places. The windows here are partially boarded up, there are no glasses on them. Penetrating dim light casts glare on wall inscriptions and drawings. Paul is almost rotten; walking on it is dangerous for his own life.
Prospects
Nobody is going to restore the church. The entrance Jerusalem church continues to collapse, authorities say that they have no funds for its restoration.
The Russian Orthodox Church does not comment on the situation, perhaps the time will come when she will pay attention to the perishing temple. Unfortunately, the Church of the Entrance Jerusalem (the church is located in the city of Soligalich) is not the only one perishing in these places.
Local attitude
It is worth going around the temple, when a look stumbles upon a well-groomed bright yellow two-story house, designed for several apartments. Its inhabitants are indifferent to the fate of the temple, as well as the rest of the city.
Judging by what appears to be inside the church, the local youth and the older generation who are fond of drinking use the premises as an interest club. More precisely, for the only interest called alcoholic beverages.
Indifference is the misfortune of modern people. In the cycle of life, the most important thing is forgotten - the Lord, who gives us every day. Instead of expressing gratitude to the Creator for this gift, people pass by the ruined temple, and it’s okay - they just walked, so it’s also necessary to arrange a dump in the place where their ancestors once prayed.
Address
The collapsing temple is located at: Kostroma region, Soligalich, Karl Liebknecht street, 8. For those who want to visit it, make sure with our own eyes that we have read, we publish the map:
A bar is displayed on the map next to the collapsing temple, the question is brewing: why turn the monument of the past into a drinking establishment, if there is one nearby?
Conclusion
Among the Orthodox, there is an opinion that every church has an angel given to it at the consecration of the throne. And whatever happens, the angel always remains at his post, even when the church is destroyed. The Church of the Entrance of Jerusalem is protected by the same angel, he stands at the ruined throne, among the spat upon walls and beer bottles, crying with bitter tears. No one hears his moan, does not see tears, but only continue to aggravate the situation.
How many of them are crying over the wreckage of the shrines of angels? As many as destroyed churches remain in Russia. If you managed to be in Soligalich, visit the dying church. Just as a sign of memory of the past.