Shuvalovskaya church is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments in St. Petersburg. It was built at the expense of Varvara Petrovna Shuvalova - the widow of Count Shuvalov. The story of its creation is quite interesting.
Shuvalovskaya church was built in the Gothic style - this is her "highlight".
The beginning of the story
The Shuvalovsky Park was conceived by the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna as the Pargolovsky Garden - a place where you can relax to this day. It is especially loved by the residents of St. Petersburg.
Pargolovsky lands belonged to Orekhovsky monasteries. In 1617 they were captured by the Swedes, in 1721 they were freed by Peter I. The king gave them to his daughter Elizabeth. And that, in turn, gave it to Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov - a statesman and military leader of those times. It was a gift for his help in the elevation of Elizabeth Petrovna to the throne.
For a long time the land was desolate. The son and grandson of Shuvalov did not seek to use it. After the death of his grandson, Pavel Andreevich Shuvalov, his widow married the master of ceremonies at the court of Alexander I. Pole Adolf Antonovich (that was his name) took up the Pargolov lands.
Through the efforts of serfs, this place has become a beautiful park.
Church building
Shuvalovskaya church was built after the death of Polle. He died in 1830. Varvara Petrovna, then already a widow twice, turned to the architect with a request to build a crypt for the deceased spouse. Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov (that was the name of the architect) was fond of traveling to European countries, and a crypt in the Gothic style was created according to his design.
In the same year, the widow asked for permission to build a church over the crypt. The Spiritual Consistory approved her request, but with one condition: the crypt should be outside the church fence. This was due to the worship of Polier - he was a Calvinist.
In 1831, the laying of the Shuvalov Church took place. Its construction took a long time. Varvara Petrovna was in poverty, but despite her financial situation, she continued to finance the construction.
In 1841, construction was completed. It was built according to the project of A.P. Bryullova is just like a crypt. The construction is made in the Gothic style, which is unusual for an Orthodox church.
Consecration
The consecration of the church took place in 1846. It is still unknown why 5 years it was not implemented.
Initially, it was assumed that the church would be consecrated in honor of the great martyr Catherine. At the last moment, the widow of Shuvalov ordered otherwise. One of her sons was Peter Pavlovich, so they decided to consecrate the church in honor of two patrons of his son - Peter and Paul.
Temple until 1917
Parishioners of the Shuvalovskaya church were mainly residents of nearby villages. Other classes also did not pass her attention, for example, art critic V.V. Stasov, professor of St. Petersburg University S.A. Vengerov, sculptor R.R. Bang.
At the end of June 1872, the wedding of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov and N.N. Purgold.
The Shuvalovskaya church of Peter and Paul until 1917 was a family. She is very well preserved. However, the years of revolution and Soviet power made their own adjustments.
Soviet time
Years of atheism were reflected in the Shuvalovskaya church. From 1917 to 1926 it housed a boarding school, and from 1926 to 1935. - Ministry of the motor industry.
The park and the church were being destroyed gradually. In 1930, they were a sad sight. The removed door of the church, a broken cross on top of the crypt, the absence of the coat of arms of the Shuvalovs. They made a hay shed from the crypt, and a pigsty was built on its territory.
The Great Patriotic War went around the building. In 1948, it was given over to the laboratory of V.P. Vologdina.
In 1997, it was planned to begin restoration work in the church building. The room was vacated, but work was never started. The church in the Shuvalovsky park gradually collapsed - an architectural monument turned into ruins.
Rebirth
At the end of the 80s of the last century, a teacher of LETI turned to one of the leaders of VNIITVCH. Galina Nikolaevna Nikolaeva requested the revival of the Church of Peter and Paul (Shuvalovsky Park) in memory of her own son, who fell in Afghanistan, and of all sons who remained there forever.
Maternal grief has become the main impetus for the revival of the architectural monument. VNIITVCH was puzzled by the issue of restoration of the temple. In 1991, the disfigured building was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Liturgy was held in the temple, it was raised "by the whole world": the rich organizations of the city, private entrepreneurs and ordinary people who want to contribute to this matter. The work began to boil.
It was not easy to get the stone from the Gatchina quarries, which was originally lined with the temple. Hard to get timber for decoration. Through the efforts of believers, the temple was reborn. The walls were again plastered, new windows were installed, the Gothic motif was restored. People went through all the obstacles that arise in their way.
At the end of August 2014, Abbot Siluan was appointed rector of the Shuvalov Church on the Vyborg Highway.
Location and Schedule
Shuvalovskaya church is active. Divine services are not held there every day. On Saturdays, evening service starts at 17:00. On Sundays, the liturgy begins at 9:00.
The temple is located at: St. Petersburg, Pargolovo, Shuvalova Park, 41.
Conclusion
Like many temples, the Shuvalovskaya church was subject to destruction - the architectural and historical monument turned into ruins. However, he managed to revive. The monument of federal significance was restored after many years of devastation and desolation. But in Russia there still exist other ruined, desecrated temples.