The capital city of Kiev cannot but admire with its historical shrines and architectural monuments, some of which are more than 1000 years old. One of these shrines is the St. Elias Church, built in honor of the Prophet Elijah and subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate. Now it’s hard to imagine that this particular Orthodox church appeared the very first in Kievan Rus, even before its adoption of Christianity. Nestor the Chronicler in The Tale of Bygone Years pointed out that it was built by the Great Princes of Kiev Askold and Dir.
Holy Elias Church: Kiev (photo)
The annals indicate that in 860 the princes Askold and Dir went to war on the Greek city of Constantinople. The Byzantine Emperor Michael at that time was on a campaign against the Hagarians, but when he received news from the diocese that the Rus would soon be in the capital, he immediately returned. By this time, Constantinople was besieged by two hundred Russian ships, and many Christians perished at their hands.
But the emperor secretly entered the city and spent the whole night in prayer with Patriarch Photius in the church of the Holy Virgin in Blachernae. Then, with prayer songs, they carried out the robe of the Holy Virgin and lowered it to the floor in the sea. The sea was completely calm, but then a strong storm and storm began. Pagan ships began to crash due to gigantic waves, few of them survived and returned home.
Askold and Deere were simply amazed at such miracles. And then they decided to be baptized in Constantinople. Upon their return home, the Elias Church was built by them. Kievan Rus was gradually preparing for the adoption of Christianity.
Prince Igor
But the story does not end there. The Elias Church was again mentioned in the annals in 945, when the Grand Duke Igor I signed a peace treaty with the Byzantine Emperor Roman. In honor of this event, a liturgy was held in Kiev in the Elias Church.
In ancient times, it was a custom to swear allegiance to a treaty, in this case it took place between Christian Byzantium and pagan Kievan Rus. At first, this oath was given in Constantinople with the participation of the Emperor Roman. And after that, the Greek ambassadors went to Kiev together with the Russians to make an oath promise of bilateral non-aggression here too. The pledge was the word, the most intimate and valuable that a person possesses.
At that time, the most sacred and dear to Igor and his squad were idols, so the oath was pronounced at the temple of Perun, the Slavic god of thunder. However, even at that time there were many Christians among the squad who could not participate in pagan rites, and therefore took an oath before the Honest Cross of the St. Elias Church.
Princess Olga and the Baptism of Russia
When Prince Igor was killed, the throne of the Old Russian state was taken by his wife, Princess Olga. The Elias Church of Kiev continued its ministry among the pagans. It was here that the baptized Princess Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga came to pray.
In 988, in the St. Elias Church, which was located on the banks of the Dnieper and Pochain, the Baptism of Rus was performed by the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir. About what the church was originally unknown, but according to the assumptions of historians it was wooden.
Her stone temple was erected only later - in 1692. It was small and did not differ in bright decor. Funds for its construction were donated by the famous tradesman Peter Gudima.
Church life
At the beginning of the XVIII century, a two-tier bell tower was built under the guidance of the famous Kiev architect Grigorovich-Barsky. A baroque gate with openwork metal sashes appeared on the church fence, on which the letters “IP” —Ilia the Prophet — were very skillfully executed .
By the end of the XVIII century, thanks to the reconstruction, a low chapel was added in honor of St. John the Baptist. In 1909, the Elias Church was updated with three images of mural. Today, over the central entrance to the temple under the choirs, you can see the preserved image of the Protection of the Holy Virgin.
In the 30s, the Bolshevik government closed this church and turned it into a granary. When the Great Patriotic War began in 1941, in the church occupied by the Germans in Kiev, services again resumed. The doors of the church were again open to all.
In 1957, magnificent fragments of murals from the 18th century were discovered and restored in it. Today the St. Elias Church is framed according to all the canons of the academic school: on the walls - a painting of forty biblical stories from the life of the prophet Elijah.
Holy Elias Church (Kiev): address
Patronal festivals of the church: the day of remembrance of the prophet Elijah - the main throne (July 20 / August 2), and the Beheading of the Head of John the Baptist - the northern aisle (August 29 / September 11). The main shrine stored in the church is the ark with the relics of several saints.
Divine services in the evening are held on Friday and Saturday from 17-00, on Sunday with akaftst from 16-00. Morning liturgy: on Saturday from 8-00 and from 10-00, on Sunday from 7-30 and from 10-00.
Phones for communication: +38 044 4252371; +38 044 4252368
Admission is free, visits on weekdays from 10-00 to 17-00, on weekends from 7-00 to 19-00.
Rector of the church: Archpriest Eugene Kosovsky.