The temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Tolyatti is one of the oldest temples in the city. This is a complex of buildings. On the territory of the temple there are administration buildings, a Sunday school and a baptismal room. It was founded a little less than 200 years ago. The temple was rebuilt several times and moved from place to place. His story is quite interesting.
History of the temple in Togliatti
In 1842, a tall bell tower was built in the city of Stavropol. Its height was 55 meters. In the warm part of this bell tower, a temple was founded in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Later, in 1877, in the central part of the bell tower, a temple was founded in honor of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God.
The bell tower was built near the Trinity Cathedral, which was closed in 1936, like most churches. Later, divine services in the cathedral resumed, but in 1955 the temple, together with the bell tower, went under water, and the city of Stavropol was moved to another place - on the high bank of the river. A small house of worship was erected here, in which there were two parishes. The first (central) limit was consecrated in honor of the Kazan Icon, which is the patroness of the temple, and the second - in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It was a small building 29 × 9.2 m, the consecration of which occurred on February 15, 1955.
Church utensils, ancient icons and much more, located in the old sunken temple, were saved. In the new house of worship services were conducted by two priests and one deacon.
Kazan temple in Tolyatti in the 70s
In 1960, Father Victor Utekhin became the rector of the church, and two years later, father Evgeny Zubovich. The duties of the clergy included not only conducting services in the church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Tolyatti, but also traveling to nearby villages for worship.
After the renaming of the city of Stavropol to Tolyatti in 1964, foreign delegations began to come to it, including from Italy. Many Italians, being Catholics, could not attend services, since there were no Catholic churches in the city. Father Eugene allowed the Italians to come to his services. Often Orthodox services in Tolyatti in the church were attended by Catholic priests. They made friendship with father Eugene.
It was in the seventies that Father Eugene asked the city authorities for an extension to the church bell tower and a telephone line. An asphalt road to the temple was also laid.
Later it was planned to build a large temple on the site of an old house of worship. But in connection with the atheistic attitude of the authorities, this was not achieved, despite the numerous requests of the rectors of the temple in Togliatti.
The construction of a new temple
Archpriest Nikolai Manikhin, who was appointed rector in 1981, was able to obtain a building permit. In 1985, a large Mother of God-Kazan Church was erected in Togliatti on the site of a house of worship with a bell tower. The church was built in one summer, and interior finishing work lasted a year and a half.
The construction of a new large temple was carried out in an era of shortage of building materials. Money was practically not allocated for the construction of churches. Popov M. A., secretary of the city executive committee, helped to get the necessary building materials. He went to the city of Samara to the regional executive committee with a request for the allocation of 70,000 units. a brick. The request was granted. This building material was quite enough for the construction of a new church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Togliatti.
After the construction of the temple was completed, he was visited by Metropolitan Alexy, who later became the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. In honor of such an important event, a memorial plaque was erected in the church. The consecration of the new church took place in August 1987 by the Archbishop of Syzran and Kuibyshevsky John.
Reconstruction of the temple
In 1989, a baptismal room was attached to the temple. A year later, the reconstruction of the church began. A tall bell tower was built. The ringing of her bells is heard throughout the city. It is as if calling people to come to worship.
Later, in 1996, the foundation was strengthened and the temple was built up, it became much higher. Now the Church of Our Lady of Kazan is visible from afar.
Temple now
Currently, the Kazan Church in Tolyatti is a complex of buildings. It includes the following buildings:
- brick church with a high bell tower;
- a building intended for Sunday school and church shops;
- administrative room with a baptismal room.
The central iconostasis in Togliatti in the Church of Our Lady of Kazan was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. The left limit is consecrated in honor of Seraphim of Sarov, and the right - in honor of Nicholas of Myra.
Working team
Currently, the rector of the Kazan Church in Tolyatti is Archpriest Nikolai Manikhin. This is a responsible and responsive clergyman. Other clergy also work here: Archpriest Gabriel, Priest Vyacheslav, Priest Andrei, Deacon Veniamin Manikhin.
The church choir has a special place in the church of the Icon of the Kazan Mother of God in Togliatti. Its leader is Manikhina Elena Nikolaevna. The choir's chants create a special, unique atmosphere in the temple. Parishioners are delighted with the wonderful divine hymns. The repertoire of the choir is quite diverse. Here, not only the famous church chants are performed, but also the works of new young authors. Moreover, concerts are held.
Twice a month, the church choir performs chants in the small church of Cosmas and Damian, which was built with funds from the Kazan Church and with the blessing of Metropolitan Sergius of Syzran and Samara.
Shrines of the temple
The temple has a lot of shrines open for worship of parishioners. The main shrine is the icon of the Kazan Mother of God in the icon case. This icon-painting was transferred here from the temple, which was located in the flooded old Stavropol. She is the patroness of the temple.
In addition to the main shrine, there are other wonderful icons of the Mother of God here, which are ancient relics. Among them are especially distinguished:
- "Jerusalem".
- "The novice."
- "Burning bush".
- "Slaughtered."
Not only wonderful icon-painting images are kept in the church, but also the relics of many saints. They appeared here in the 80s. Here you can see:
- relics with 61 particles of the Optina Elders, particles of the Holy Sepulcher and the Cross, stone from the mountain of Temptations;
- relics with particles of Kiev-Pechersk elders.
In 2000, an icon case for the Shroud appeared in the temple. He is taken out with her to Holy Week and placed in the center of the hall. The rest of the time, the icon of St. Matronushka and Peter Chagrinsky is kept in the icon case.
Schedule of Divine Services
Divine services in the Church of Our Lady of Kazan are held 6 days a week. Monday is a day off.
Schedule of the Church of Our Lady of Kazan in Togliatti:
Tuesday:
- 8:30 - liturgy, reading the clock;
- 17:00 - evening service, akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Wednesday:
- 8:30 - liturgy, reading the clock;
- 17:00 - evening service.
Thursday:
- 8:30 - liturgy, reading the clock;
- 17:00 - evening service, akathist to St. Nicholas.
Friday:
- 8:30 - liturgy, reading the clock;
- 17:00 - evening service.
Saturday:
- 8:30 - liturgy, reading the clock;
- 17:00 - evening service.
Sunday:
- 8:30 - liturgy, reading the clock;
- 17:00 - evening service, akathist of the Mother of God.
On holidays and Sundays, the liturgy is held twice: at 6:30 and 9:00.
The schedule of services in the Kazan Church in Togliatti, as well as the opening hours of the Sunday school, church shops, administrative building, if necessary, can be clarified on the website's official website.
Address
Address of the Kazan temple in Tolyatti: Vavilova passage, house 2.
The administrative building of the Kazan Church, located on its territory, is open daily. You can apply here for all your questions: baptism, wedding, funeral, etc.
The Temple of the Icon of the Kazan Mother of God in Tolyatti is one of the largest and oldest churches in the city. He is visited by a large number of parishioners. A kind and friendly atmosphere reigns here. The clergy are always happy to provide all possible assistance, give righteous advice. The temple not only transferred several reconstructions and reconstructions, but was even moved to another place from the old Stavropol to the new. Funds for the construction of a large new church were sought by joint efforts. The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, who was then the Metropolitan, visited here. A memorial plaque located in the Church of Our Lady of Kazan testifies to this significant event. Currently, the temple is a complex of buildings. On its territory there is not only a church with a large bell tower, but also an administrative building, a Sunday school, church shops, a baptismal room and more.