The beauty of Nizhny Novgorod temples touches even the adamant atheistic heart. All religious sites in the Nizhny Novgorod region have been built for centuries, very thoroughly. They invested work with blood and then a huge number of people who believe sacredly in the truth of their church. Everything was built on conscience, with the fear of God. That is why many churches and monasteries built in the past millennia are preserved in their original form. There are those who have undergone some destruction, but have been restored and now serve us to inspire and revive the soul. The article will discuss the Nizhny Novgorod Church in honor of Sergius of Radonezh.
Start of construction
The history of the construction of the temple dates back to 1865. The project was personally approved by Emperor Alexander II. Completed the construction in 1869. In 1872, the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Nizhny Novgorod) was equipped with two bell towers, which were designed by the architect Kilevein. They are located on the sides. For church services, the area in them has been increased, thanks to the oval shape in the plan. The temple was built five-domed. From the west, a thirty-meter four-tier bell tower adjoins it.
Revival after the atheistic era during the Soviet era
During the rule of the Soviets, when the Orthodox faith was betrayed, the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Nizhny Novgorod) became the location of the Union of Artists. And only in 2003 the temple was transferred to the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. 2006 was a significant year for the Radonezh Church. In October, a bell tower with 12 bells was fully equipped. The largest bell weighs 4 tons.
In November of the same year, on the 4th day, the church of Sergius of Radonezh (Nizhny Novgorod) was re-consecrated. The rite was made by George - Archbishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas. Bishops Feognost Sergiev Posadsky and Theophylact Bryansk and Sevsky served him. After the consecration, the first Divine Liturgy was served. A government representative, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev came to the first service.
Missionary work
Since December 2006, the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Nizhny Novgorod) has become a center for Orthodox people with hearing impairments. On Sundays, liturgies began to be served using sign language. The creators of the center relied on the experience of the Simonov Monastery, where work with such people has long been ongoing.
At the church, on Saturday and Sunday, gatherings of the youth Orthodox center and the family club are held. Thus, the Radonezh Church participates in social and missionary work conducted by almost all the churches of Russia, preaching the Orthodox values of parenting and house building. In 2010, on January 27, a prayer service was held in Georgian for the Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina in Georgian.
Shrine and location
In the Radonezh Church there is an icon that has a particle of the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the great saint, reverend and ascetic of Orthodox Russia. It was written in 2006 by monks from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Prayers are held in front of the icon on Sundays. The tradition of having icons and fragments of the relics of saints, in whose honor ecclesiastical structures were erected, is also preserved by all Russian churches belonging to Orthodoxy. The religious cult of veneration of the relics of saints and the righteous, the veneration of icons are inherent not only to the Russian Orthodox, but also to the entire Catholic Orthodox Church.
Nizhny Novgorod Radonezh Church is located on Sergievskaya Street. There are many objects worthy of attention. Therefore, Sergievskaya street is very popular among tourists.
History from antiquity
It is believed that the history of the church is more ancient. Perhaps it begins with the monastery of the same name, erected in the XIV century (the territory of Despair). The existence of such a monastery is evidenced by a letter of 1621. Then in the monastery church of Radonezh was a chapel, consecrated in honor of the Solovetsky Zosima and Savvaty miracle workers. The founder of the monastery is unknown. Olisov Afanasy Firsovich, who lived near the monastery, decided to rebuild the new church. The temple became a parish. It contained the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The parishioners revered this icon as miraculous.
Unfortunately, the monastery burned out from the terrible fire of 1701. Yes, and the type of churches that prevailed then (multi-hipped architecture), which had many Nizhny Novgorod churches, almost completely disappeared in the 17th century.
After a new temple was erected on this site in honor of the Savior Not Made by Hands and Sergius the Wonderworker. When the church was restored, it was consecrated in honor of Sergius of Radonezh. But the temple was in need of major repairs. In 1838 it was renovated, but this did not completely save the church building. Therefore, it was reborn already in 1865. The architecture of its form strongly resembled the traditional Old Russian churches. They were deliberately embossed. And only in 1872 the church priest asked Kilevein to build additional areas for the service. Then they designed and built on the sides oval belfries, which violated the integrity of the temple art image, but gave an additional area.