This year, for the first time, many people learned about such a place as the village of Otradnoye in the Voronezh region. The Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Christmas received the President of the Russian Federation. This village is located half an hour from Voronezh and is not very similar to the village: beautiful brick country houses, luxury cottages evoke thoughts of a small town. In the center of the village stands a beautiful temple with a rich history, next to it is a children's shelter and the church of St. George.
The village of Otradnoye, Voronezh region. Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin
Historically, the village consists of three settlements - Vykrestovo, Gololobovo and Otradny, formed from four landowner settlements around the beginning of the 19th century. Until the beginning of the 20th century, this settlement did not appear anywhere in official documents. Today, the village of Otradnoye, Voronezh Region, whose church was seen by all of Russia on Christmas, is assigned to the Novousmansky District. But in the future it is planned to join the city territories of Voronezh.
At the entrance to the village of Otradnoye, Voronezh Region, the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary built in 1901 is visible from afar. The history of the temple is not very rich. Built in neo-Russian style and consecrated in 1901. Since there were a lot of inhabitants in the village and there was not enough space in the temple, after 12 years it was decided to reconstruct it and increase it in size. After the revolution, in 1930, the temple was closed and converted into a grain storage until 1991, until it was returned to the diocese. Recovery began immediately, which lasted almost 10 years. The administration of the Voronezh region in 1995 decided to consider the Intercession Church an object of cultural and historical heritage of regional significance.
Under the cover of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In the park in front of the temple, the villagers put a sculpture of the Mother of God. The idea to create and establish the image of the Virgin came to Archpriest Father Gennady. The administration supported the idea, invited a sculptor working in one of the temples of Lipetsk, chose an image of a future figure. The creation lasted more than a year with funding from sponsors, the village administration and donations donated by the villagers. Before the feast of the Nativity of Christ, a sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary was installed. In the dark, thanks to special lighting, it looks impressive.
Under the direction of the abbot
Visiting the village of Otradnoye in the Voronezh region, the church, Father Gennady, who is most enthusiastic about the parishioners, tells his story of conversion to the Orthodox faith. In the past, working as a biologist, he studied neurophysiology for a long time, was in search of the meaning of life, tried to prove the immortality of the soul. He was prophesied of a quick career as a scientist, but a severe attack of meningitis, practically leaving no chance for life, interrupted his scientific path. He looked so bad that instead of a neighboring corpse he was taken to the morgue by mistake. After such a grave condition, recovery was like a miracle. Realizing that God had mercy on him and returned him to the earth for repentance and service, Gennady Zaridze replaced the scientific work on the neural activity of the brain with the Bible.
In bardic circles of Voronezh they know Gennady as the Wanderer. Gennady, having received a blessing from his spiritual mentor, has already recorded 6 discs of simple and deep songs, touching the innermost strings of the soul of a modern person wandering in sins. Songs, like sermons and conversations, help many people find a way out of difficult life situations.
Christmas with the president
Each year, the president arrives at Christmas in churches remote from the capital. This year he visited the village of Otradnoye, Voronezh region. The Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin met Putin with a joyous excitement of the holiday. Together with him, 44 refugees from Lugansk, who temporarily reside in a local church house, where more than 100 people lived in Ukran during the conflict, stood in service. At the end of the service, Father Gennady presented Putin with his book The Wanderer and discs with recordings. The president promised assistance in building a Sunday gymnasium, a plan for which has long been available, but the necessary amount of funds has not yet been raised.