From time immemorial, a tradition has developed in Orthodox Russia to erect churches to remind descendants of the glorious milestones of history. They were built in gratitude to God for His relentless help and as a warning to the youth who have yet to create this story. The tradition is still alive today. Its continuation was the Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill, perpetuating the memory of all who did not return from the war.
The patron saint of our capital
Throughout the long history of Russian Orthodoxy, this saint has patronized the Russian warriors and farmers, that is, those without whom the life of the people is impossible. In his honor, numerous temples were built and consecrated throughout immense Russia. From the end of the XIV century, he became a prayer book for our capital before the Throne of God.
Today, the coat of arms of Russia and the coat of arms of Moscow are decorated with the image of St. George. On them he is presented in his traditional guise - a horseman striking a serpent with a spear. Long before the Church of St. George the Victorious appeared on Poklonnaya Hill, the thrones of several Moscow churches were consecrated in honor of St. George the Victorious by the order of the Moscow Patriarchate. They gather everyone who wants to bow to this defender of the Russian land.
The construction of the temple
In accordance with the plan of preparation for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Victory, it was decided to erect a temple - a monument that adorns Poklonnaya Gora. It is difficult to imagine a better place to implement this project. A year before the planned celebrations, the solemn laying of the building took place.
The Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill was built at an unusually fast pace and was consecrated exactly one year later. The author of the project was the famous architect A. Polyansky in Soviet times. Many people remember him for his most famous work - the building of the Great Patriotic War Museum. Regrettably, but, having created a wonderful project, the author never saw his embodiment. The architect passed away in 1993. The temple became his posthumous monument.
Temple Decoration Authors
The Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill is a very original architectural solution. It simultaneously, without prejudice to each other, embodied the classic elements and features of modernism. A similar trend is noticeable in the looks of many modern churches, the construction of which has unfolded in recent years, but in this case it received the most vivid embodiment. Undoubtedly, its further development will encourage the creation of new interesting projects.
Bronze bas-reliefs were installed on the walls of the temple, the author of which was Z. Tsereteli. They give the general appearance of the temple expressiveness and spirituality. On the western facade of the belfry there is a mosaic panel “Deisus”. It is also laid out by the famous master Yevgeny Klyucharyov. These images, like the entire building as a whole, bear the imprint of the fusion of modern art movements with traditional canons of Christian art that have been established for centuries.
The interior of the temple does not leave indifferent visitors, the main element of which is the three-tier iconostasis created at the Sofrino production association, which consists of forty-eight icons of various sizes. All of them were written by Moscow isographer Alexander Chashkin. The internal painting, completed eight years later, includes, in addition to the subjects traditional for the Orthodox church, images of the new martyrs of Russia who suffered during the years of repression.
Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill: schedule of services and address
Undoubtedly, the capital has acquired another striking landmark. But not only the beautiful decoration of the famous temple on Poklonnaya Hill. The relics of George the Victorious are his precious shrine. Since they became the property of the temple, the flow of pilgrims has not dried up to them. Before getting to Moscow, they were in Jerusalem for a long time, and there are many records that testify to their miracles. Currently, they have free access to all who wish to pray in front of them.
For two decades, every morning the doors to its parishioners have been opened by the Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill. The schedule of divine services held in it informs temple visitors that they begin at 9 in the morning with the reading of the clock, and then at 10 the liturgy follows. Evening services usually last from 17 to 19 hours, after which the temple closes. To everyone who is going to visit him for the first time, we inform you of the address: Moscow, Poklonnaya Gora, the Church of St. George the Victorious. Every Muscovite will show you it.