In August 1905, the Russo-Turkish War ended ingloriously for Russia. She showed all the failure of the organization of the Russian army, but at the same time she showed examples of the courage and stamina of her soldiers. In order to perpetuate the memory of soldiers and officers of the artillery regiment who fell in those days on the eastern borders of Russia, the Cathedral of the Protection of the Holy Virgin was erected in Grodno.
Cathedral in Grodno
Pokrovsky Cathedral, with all its significance as a monument to an important historical event, was not only a manifestation of the emotional impulse of the Russians, seized by a patriotic feeling. The decision of the authorities on its laying was based on a government decree adopted at the end of the 19th century and in 1901, which became law after it was approved by Emperor Nicholas II. It prescribed the construction of garrison and regimental churches in the territories of all military units, the staff of which included clergy.
Since in those years the territory of present Belarus was part of Russia, the city of Grodno also fell under the jurisdiction of Nicholas II. Thus, Pokrovsky Cathedral appeared as a purely statutory garrison attribute, although in the following years it was perceived primarily as a monument to servicemen who died in the Russo-Japanese war.
The construction of the temple museum
The design of the future cathedral was entrusted to the Grodno architect M. M. Prozorov. In his work, the architect took the features of another garrison church, located in Peterhof - one of the palace suburbs of St. Petersburg. It was a church, with its artistic merits won a well-deserved fame. The same was led by I. E. Savelyev.
Construction and finishing works were completed in 1907, and on November 11, it was solemnly consecrated in honor of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, invisibly extended over the city of Grodno. Pokrovsky Cathedral has become not only a symbolic monument, but also a real museum. In one of its premises, an exposition was opened, associated with the exploits of soldiers and officers during the years of the recently ended war. Then, in their honor, an annual religious procession was established on Palm Sunday, that is, a week before Easter, from which the Pokrovsky Cathedral (Grodno) has become the center of celebration since then. The schedule of services at its doors for many years coexisted with the schedule of the museum, operating within its walls.
Temple - School of Patriotism
In those years, the clergy of the cathedral, together with the command of the Grodno garrison, did a great job of raising patriotism and raising morale among the soldiers who were being nourished in the church. Members of the city Church and Archaeological Committee were attracted to it, providing the church with regimental iconostases and a large collection of icons. Soon followed by the inauguration of a memorial plaque mounted on the wall of the cathedral with the names of soldiers and officers who sacrificed their lives in the Russo-Japanese war and formerly served in Grodno. Pokrovsky Cathedral became their memorial.
Unique architectural composition
Despite the fact that the architect M. M. Prozorov created the project of the temple on the basis of the finished model built in Peterhof, as a result of his creative rethinking, the author was able to create a composition that has unique features. A major role in this was played by the head of construction work, military engineer I. E. Saveliev.
Pokrovsky Cathedral (Grodno) is made in retrospective-Russian style, which largely distinguishes it from pseudo-Russian temple buildings. The building is based on an elongated basilica, on the east side completed by a five-sided apse - the protruding part of the wall, behind which there is an altar. In the north-western part of the facade there is a tent-shaped belfry of ten meters height, completed by a poppy located on the drum. On its sides are two small tents, also decorated with poppies. Their appearance is complemented by semicircular windows with kokoshniks.
The altar part of the temple is built up with a low four, crowned with five domes placed on octagonal bases. Their undoubted decoration is false windows framed by decorative kokoshniks. Also noteworthy are the windows located on two levels of the side facades and equipped with picturesque "tower" platbands. The piers between them are decorated with rich decorative finishes.
The uniqueness of the interior
The Intercession Cathedral in Grodno, whose photos are presented in the article, is remarkable for its interior. Twelve powerful columns with arcades thrown over them divide the interior into three naves (three separate parts). Old Russian text ligature serves as an ornament for the design of three ceiling lights, and the walls are covered with paintings representing scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
The main attraction of the cathedral is undoubtedly its main and side iconostases. They are made of dark tinted wood, richly decorated with carvings and gilding. Altar rooms are also decorated. Above the entrance to the cathedral are choirs decorated in the Russian style and organically fit into the interior.
Shrines of the Intercession Cathedral
However, despite all the artistic merits, the main contents of any temple are its shrines - miraculous icons and the relics of God's saints stored in it. There are also in the Intercession Cathedral. These are, first of all, especially revered images of the Kazan Mother of God, Our Lady of Hodegetria and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, as well as the relics of the great martyr Gabriel Zabludsky. The stream of pilgrims and parishioners never runs dry towards them.
The collection of shrines of the temple was significantly replenished during the period of perestroika, after restoration work was carried out in the cathedral. It included icons painted in honor of the many new martyrs and confessors of Russia who glorified the Lord during the years of repression. Many of them were residents of Belarus.
Cathedral surviving communist hard times
It should be noted that throughout all the decades of communist rule, when thousands of churches were abolished, and sometimes destroyed, one of the few that did not stop their activities remained Pokrovsky Cathedral in Grodno. The schedule of services never faded from his door. The merit in this belongs mainly to members of his parish, who found the courage to defend their temple.
In the XX century, the Intercession Cathedral survived many events that somewhat reduced its role as a memorial church. These are revolutions, and wars, and the inclusion of part of Belarus in Poland. After in 1921, believers lost the Cathedral of St. Sophia Cathedral, its role began to fulfill the Intercession Cathedral in Grodno.
The hours of his work were filled in those days not only with the services established by the Church Charter, but also with the demands and continuous prayers of thousands of people who came here from all over the country. So it remains in our days. Today located in the old part of the city Pokrovsky Cathedral (Grodno) - address: st. Eliza Orzeszko, 23 - is one of the most visited city churches. The entire surrounding area received the status of a monument of history and architecture, protected by the state.
Sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In 2008, the Grodno artist V. Panteleev came up with the initiative to install monumental Orthodox sculpture in the city, in which he received approval from both the civil authorities and the diocesan leadership. A year and a half later, near the Intercession Cathedral, his composition “Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos” was installed. She became a worthy decoration adjacent to the temple territory.
The height of the figure cast from bronze is three meters, and together with the granite pedestal is four meters twenty centimeters. Its solemn consecration was dedicated to the celebration of one hundred decades of the founding of the Grodno diocese and took place on the day of the Protection of the Holy Virgin, on October 14.
Schedule of services at the Intercession Cathedral in Grodno
As mentioned above, the Grodno Pokrovsky church received the status of a cathedral during the dramatic events that unfolded in the first years of Soviet power and became the result of the anti-church policy of the new regime. Today, its dominant position among other churches existing in the city was officially secured by a decision of the leadership of the Grodno Diocese, formed immediately after the Republic of Belarus gained independence. As a result, the schedule of services at the Intercession Cathedral in Grodno is somewhat different from the work schedules of other churches.
On weekdays, morning services begin at 8:30 and evening services at 17:00. On Sundays and public holidays, three services are held in the morning - the early liturgy at 6:30, then the morning service of the Sunday school at 8:30 and the late liturgy at 9:30. In the evening, the service starts at 17:00. In addition to the indicated hours, the doors of the cathedral are open all day for those who would like to bow to its shrines or simply to explore this unique monument of temple architecture.