There can hardly be at least one resident not only of Barnaul, but of the entire Altai Territory, which does not know the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Cathedral. Having survived the long decades of atheism and atheism, he always remained an unshakable stronghold of Orthodoxy and a spiritual support for millions of Russians. Revived in all its greatness, today it has again taken a prominent place among the religious centers of the country.
The spiritual center of the working suburbs
In the middle of the 19th century, active migration of residents to the Altai Territory, rich in undeveloped expanses, began from the low-land Russian provinces. Many of them settled in Barnaul and settled on its western outskirts, which was called the Hare settlement. The Pokrovsky Cathedral of Barnaul did not yet exist, and numerous immigrants nourished themselves in a small wooden church.
In 1863, it was dismantled, and a new church was erected in the vacant place made of bricks made by a local factory. However, by the end of the century, and it was not large enough for a significantly expanded area. Parishioners themselves took the initiative in building a larger church, and thanks to their tireless efforts, the now-existing Pokrovsky Cathedral of Barnaul was built.
The temple, which became the decoration and pride of the city
All work was carried out with funds donated by citizens, among which the local merchants showed particular generosity. The newly built cathedral, which soon received the status of a cathedral, became one of the leading religious centers of the diocese and was an outstanding work of temple architecture.
His project was designed in the then fashionable pseudo-Russian, or, as it is also called, Byzantine style, with a five-domed characteristical in such cases. Built of red brick, with crosses shining in the sun, the Intercession Cathedral of Barnaul contrasted sharply with the dull buildings of the surrounding work area.
The temple is a victim of godless politics
The interior of the cathedral was painted much later, in 1918-1928. Despite the fact that by that time the Bolsheviks had seized power in the country, the cathedral remained active until the end of the thirties, and the local Barnaul artist N.V. Shvarev managed to create a significant number of outstanding paintings on religious topics in it.
He drew plots for his frescoes from the paintings of many illustrious Russian masters, whose names adorned the history of Russian art. Some of the icons included in the iconostasis also belong to his brush.
Pokrovsky Cathedral in Barnaul was closed as a result of a large-scale anti-religious campaign of 1939. The bell tower was demolished, and crosses were dropped from the domes. This act of vandalism is presented in the photo included in the article. However, the building itself survived, and over the next five years, the desecrated, but, fortunately, undestroyed Pokrovsky Cathedral of Barnaul was used as a warehouse.
Revival that began during the war years
It is well known that during the war years, in order to raise the patriotic spirit of the population and for closer unity in the fight against the enemy, the government decided to open a number of Orthodox churches, previously taken from the Church. Among them was the Intercession Cathedral of Barnaul, returned to the faithful in 1943. From this time began its slow but consistent recovery.
It should be noted that from the end of the war until the mid-eighties throughout the Altai Territory there were hardly three or four functioning churches. This circumstance determined the role of the Intercession Cathedral as a leading spiritual center. Believers from a vast territory gathered in it, and all services were held, as a rule, in a crowded room.
Cathedral, which became a national shrine
Today, when parish churches are open in almost all district centers, the inhabitants of the region consider it their sacred duty to visit it every time they are in Barnaul due to various circumstances. A tribute to the memory of previous years and deep veneration of the shrines stored in it make them visit the Intercession Cathedral again and again (Barnaul). His address (137 Nikitin St.) is also well known to those who, having not yet joined religion, are interested in the past of their city and its cultural and historical heritage.