In 2002, the majestic Assumption Cathedral was erected in Khabarovsk . He rose at the very spot where, seventy years earlier, in the Godless fervor, the crowd had ruined the former temple, which was the largest and most famous spiritual center of the region. Our story is about this lost and newly revived shrine.
The charitable works of the Khabarovsk merchant
The history of Russian Orthodoxy knows many cases when the initiators of the construction of churches and the laying of monasteries were merchants. This was facilitated by their characteristic efficiency and energy, multiplied by religiosity. In addition, for the realization of their plans, they had a material opportunity, which sometimes played a decisive role.
One of these people was the Khabarovsk merchant of the first guild A.F. Plyusnin, who organized in 1877 fundraising for the construction of a city church in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Not only the representatives of private capital, which was gaining strength in those years, but also the simplest people, responded to his pious initiative. Together, a year later, the amount necessary to start work was collected, and in 1876, after the solemn prayer, the Assumption Cathedral (Khabarovsk) was laid.
The construction of the temple and the attendant difficulties
However, the money available was only enough to lay the foundation, after which A.F. Plyusnin unexpectedly died, and the construction site was empty for six whole years. And a good undertaking would end with a great embarrassment, but, fortunately, the Lord blessed his heirs with excellent perseverance and zeal. For copecks they collected the missing funds, donating at the same time most of their own fortune.
In 1884, work was resumed, and two years later the Assumption Cathedral (Khabarovsk), built according to the project of engineer S. O. Bera, was consecrated. Then it hosted the first Christmas service. A significant event in the history of the temple was his visit by the future tsar, and at that time by the prince and heir to the throne, Nikolai Romanov. In memory of this, an additional limit was added to the church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Construction of the cathedral bell tower
In 1894, a parish school began working at the church, in which children from low-income families studied. At the same time, the city authorities attended to the construction of the bell tower. The Assumption Cathedral (Khabarovsk), the images of which were widely printed in newspapers and on postcards, became a kind of visiting card of the city, and, of course, it was necessary to complete its construction.
However, here the previous problem arose - there is no money. No matter how the city men fastened, they were forced to admit this fact, and limited themselves to the construction of a temporary wooden belfry, with which the next ten years the measured blows of its three-ton bell sailed over the city.
In 1905, this gap was filled, and despite all the hardships associated with the war that broke out in the Far East, the wooden bell tower was replaced by a stone one. Then two side chapels were added to the temple building and significantly expanded the space of its central part.
The destruction of the first temple
After the godless government came to power, the Assumption Cathedral in Khabarovsk remained operational for more than ten years, but in 1929 the city executive committee decided to dismantle it and use bricks for the construction of the Printing House. A year later, after the termination of the building lease agreement with the community members, the temple was closed. After that, the bells were removed and crosses were cut by the forces of a specially allocated unit of soldiers.
Soon a series of subbotniks was announced, on which the church was dismantled into bricks by the forces of Komsomol enthusiasts, as well as everyone who wanted to quickly save the city from this "relic of the past". Their work was completed by an excavator, with the help of which the hill that served as the foundation of the temple was razed to the ground.
Subsequently, the gates of the city park were built on the site of the destroyed shrine, the square in front of which was called Komsomolskaya. In 1956, it was decorated with a monument to the heroes of the Civil War. So the Assumption Cathedral (Khabarovsk) was wiped off the face of the earth. The city lost not only its spiritual center, but also a beautiful building, which was rightly considered an architectural landmark.
The construction of the second temple
During the years of perestroika, spiritually seeing, realizing and repenting, the public of Khabarovsk, led by its administration, began to restore the previously destroyed cathedral. They erected it as quickly and with the same enthusiasm as they destroyed. Construction work took only a year, after which several more months the interior was finished. In 2002, the newly built Assumption Cathedral (Khabarovsk) was consecrated.
Outwardly, it is significantly different from its predecessor, although it has common features with it. For example, the domes and arches were taken from the old version. In general, as noted by art critics, the cathedral was built in the Russian style, but supplemented by elements of other directions.
Shrines of the temple and the services held in it
The newly built Assumption Cathedral (Khabarovsk) is famous for its shrines. Among them is the icon of the Savior, which in ancient years was brought as a gift to the temple by V.F. Plyusnin - the brother of his founder. In addition, the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God stored in the cathedral is venerated by believers. It is also a gift to the temple, but perfect in our time.
There is no need to talk about how necessary and important for the spiritual life of the Khabarovsk citizens the Assumption Cathedral (Khabarovsk) has become. The schedule of services held in it can be seen at the entrance to it and on its website. Morning services on weekdays begin at 7:45, and on Sundays and holidays - at 8:45. The evening services begin at 16:45.