In the center of Rostov the Great, on the shore of Lake Nero, there is a unique monument of Russian medieval architecture - the Rostov Kremlin, built in the second half of the 17th century by order of Metropolitan Jonah (Sysoevich) and which was the bishop's residence. Since that time, the ancient Church of the Savior on the Seny, which was once the central building of the entire complex, has been preserved on its territory. She, after the death of her founder, became the house temple of all his successors. The current address of the church: Rostov Veliky, st. Petrovicheva, d. 1. What is known today about its history?
Evidence of past years
The exact date of foundation in Rostov the Great of the Church of the Savior on the Seny allows the inscription made on its domed cross and well preserved over the past centuries. It says that in 1675, under the pious sovereign Alexei Mikhailovich, its construction was completed, and the main altar was consecrated in honor of the miraculous image of our Savior Jesus Christ. From archival materials, it is known that this church was the focus of the spiritual life of not only the bishop's house, but also the adjacent part of the city.
Fires and protracted church rebuilding
Further, the chronicle reports that twice - in 1730 and 1758. - The Rostov Kremlin was engulfed in terrible fires, which caused significant damage to the Church of the Savior in the Senya. The famous architect S.V. Ukhtomsky arrived in Moscow to restore the shrine damaged by fire from Moscow in those years.
In order to minimize the risk of fire in the future, he proposed replacing the previously existing wooden roofing with iron. This work dragged on for almost a quarter of a century and was completed only in 1783, after all components were forged in Siberian plants and, upon arrival at the site, installed according to a previously developed project.
Debunked Shrines
Thus, the Church of the Savior on the Senya was largely protected in a firefight, but in front of it and the rest of the churches located on the territory of the Kremlin, new unforeseen troubles were waiting. It so happened that in 1788, by order of the Holy Synod, the bishop's chair was moved from Rostov the Great to Yaroslavl. Unfortunately, this purely administrative innovation had far-reaching consequences.
Most of the clergy left their homes and moved after their archpastor to the Volga. Rostov churches were empty, and worship in them ceased. To top it off, many of them were transferred to civilian institutions, whose management began to use the temple facilities for economic purposes. It is known, for example, that the Church of the Savior on the Seny was given over to a wine and salt warehouse.
Righteous Wrath of Tall Persons
This blatant blasphemy, the analogue of which can only serve as the desecration of churches during the Bolshevik regime, continued throughout the first half of the 19th century. The buildings of ancient temples under the influence of dampness were destroyed and one after another came into disrepair. Secular authorities did not think of any repairs.
The end of such a blasphemous attitude to domestic shrines was laid after in 1851 the city was visited by members of the reigning House - the Grand Dukes Nikolai Nikolaevich and his brother Mikhail. Together with them came the future Empress Maria Alexandrovna - the wife of Alexander II, whose portrait is presented below. Horrified by what they saw, they ordered the temple buildings to be immediately transferred to the diocesan authorities and comprehensive work was begun to restore them. So began a process very similar to what was repeated a century and a half later, already in the years of perestroika.
Revival of the shattered shrines
Having given instructions and demanding their immediate execution, the high figures did not concern themselves with the material side of the matter, and as a result, the search for the necessary funds fell on the shoulders of the diocesan leadership favored by them. The question was serious, but, fortunately, in Russia at all times pious donors did not dry out. They were found this time. So, for the repair and restoration in the Rostov Kremlin of the Church of the Savior on the Seny, a rich merchant V.I. Korolev contributed money. Thanks to his generosity, the roof of the building was replaced and the walls were again plastered.
From the description of the Church of the Savior, dating back to the mid 90-ies of the XIX century, it can be seen that, not limited only to the complex of construction works, the authorities took all the necessary steps to give due dignity to the interior. In this regard, there is a mention that the artist V.V. Lopakov was invited from Yaroslavl, who, together with a group of painters led by him, restored the surviving icons and painted those that were lost. In addition, they also completely restored the wall painting hidden under fresh plaster.
The temple facing the museum
With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the second stage of “excommunication from the church” of the long-suffering Rostov Church of the Savior on the Seny began. True, this time he was dealt with in a divine way and, having taken away from the faithful, was not converted into a wine warehouse, but transferred to the jurisdiction of the museum of local lore, which opened its own branch in it.
Only once a disaster struck the temple building, threatening it with complete destruction. This happened in July 1953, when a hurricane swept over the center of Russia, causing many disasters. He looked into Rostov. The Church of the Savior on the Seny under his onslaught lost its dome and a significant part of the roof, but its walls stood. The following year, restoration work began, thanks to which, after 3 years, the temple, which became a museum, was returned to its original appearance.
The appearance of the Church of the Savior in the Seny
Let us now dwell briefly on its architectural features. According to its layout, the temple is close to a square, which makes it similar to other similar buildings of the second half of the 17th century. The eight-pitched roof, over which one small head stands, is also characteristic of that time. The continuation of the eastern part of the building is the strongly extended altar part - the apse, and from the west the so-called White Chamber is attached to it, which is the room in which the main refectory is located. During the time of Metropolitan Jonah, the bell tower was also located there, dismantled as unnecessary at the end of the 18th century, when the church was converted into a storehouse of wine and pickles, to which people willingly walked without a sky-high ringing.
The Church of the Savior on the Senyi is distinguished from other temple buildings of the Rostov Kremlin by a number of specific architectural solutions, including: a dome drum mounted on a quadrangular pedestal, which is more typical for buildings of the next century, as well as a two-tier arrangement of window openings (Moscow style). The main feature of the church is the design of the altar, which, contrary to the traditions of those years, is raised above the floor almost to the height of human growth.