This temple is called the hidden gem of the city, because it is located away from the usual hiking trails. Nevertheless, experts strongly recommend travelers to visit the St. Nicholas Church at Posad in Kolomna. Even if you can’t get inside (the church works on schedule), this white-stone cathedral is worthy to admire at least from the outside. An additional interesting point, according to many lovers of religious monuments, is that the church is an Old Believer, and everyone who is lucky enough to be here on some of the Orthodox holidays will have the opportunity to appreciate how unlike the traditional and familiar services we hold in this church according to ancient canons.
Temple of St. Nicholas in Posad: description
Tourists who come to Kolomna just have their eyes scattered from the abundance of magnificent churches and temples. But no matter how many noteworthy sights there are, the St. Nicholas Church in Posad is of particular interest to the guests. The cathedral, built in the eighteenth century, resembles a real fabulous tower. Travelers in their reviews call it one of the most beautiful temples in Kolomna. A snow-white, graceful, white-headed church, with lush kokoshniks, carved platbands, crowned with a miniature five-domed crown from the domes, striking with its calm grandeur, many compare with the Russian beauty in a wedding dress.
It is known that the church went through a dramatic history and underwent significant reconstruction several times. Today, the Church of St. Nicholas in Posad appears before the inhabitants of the city and tourists in its original form. Since 1960, the church has the status of a monument of national importance.
Helpful information
The Church of St. Nicholas in Posad is one of the oldest Kolomna churches. Since the 90s, it belongs to the parish of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church. Performed in the style of Moscow patterned. The first mention of it dates back to the sixteenth century. Built in the period from 1716 to 1719. It works on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 to 11:00 and from 14:00 to 20:00.
Architecture
The main beauty of the church is its amazing architecture, accessible to the curious at any time of the day or night. First of all, the attention of the guests is attracted by the high central space: the summer church in the name of the Resurrection of the Word is located on the utility base, and nearby is a massive aisle, created in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Nearby are the remains of the tent bell tower that has not been preserved to this day.
In the true traditions of the outlandish merchant style - Moscow patterned - the roof of the building is decorated with 105 carved stone "kokoshniks" towering one above the other. Such a solution is the only one not only in Kolomna, but throughout Russia. Also noteworthy are the magnificent carvings, the high utility floor with the loophole windows located in it, and the unusual five cathedral chapels, crowned with gilded crosses, as if growing from a single center. The central drum is light, the four others are “deaf”. It is known that in the eighteenth century many of the external architectural forms of the Church of St. Nicholas in Posad were changed to the early Baroque style. The kokoshniks and platbands cut down in the seventeenth century were restored during the restoration that took place in the 1970s. The murals and icons, as well as the tent bell tower, from which only the first tier was preserved, were irretrievably lost after the October Revolution.
Story
The Church of St. Nicholas in Posad is an Old Believer church, built in 1716-1719, on the site of a wooden structure of the late sixteenth century, outside the city walls (hence the name "Posad", that is, beyond the city limits). Money for the construction was raised by parishioners, mainly merchants. It is known that a special financial contribution was made by local merchants Ivan Alekseev and Ivan Bichevin. In 1716, the main throne of the church was consecrated in honor of the Resurrection of the Word, which joined the refectory from the east in honor of John the Theologian, and the side church located to the north in honor of St. Nicholas. Despite the consecration, it is still called the Temple of St. Nicholas in Posad.
Many interesting features of the temple's architecture were destroyed in the second half of the eighteenth century. The original appearance of the cathedral was restored only in the 1970s.
About an interesting legend
Particular attention of guests was once attracted to themselves by openwork crosses crowned with crowns, with which the existence of an interesting folk legend is associated. Some time after the construction of the new church, a wedding was to take place in it. At that moment, when crowns were laid on the heads of the young, a terrible storm suddenly arose, the wind tore off their crowns and hoisted them on church crosses. People began to find out the reason why God refused to accept this wedding. Young turned out to be a brother and sister. The girl in her youth was abducted. God did not allow lawlessness to happen, and instead of the young, the crosses were married.
Reconstruction
In 1792, the temple experienced a terrible fire, after which a large-scale reconstruction was carried out in it, changing its appearance is far from for the better. Many unique architectural features were lost, including openwork crosses, which were replaced by simple ones. After reconstruction, the style of the temple approached the baroque. The original view of the architectural and historical monument is captured in the paintings of the national artist of Russia M. G. Abakumov. In the 70-80s of the twentieth century, the temple was restored at the expense of the budget and in the early 90s it was given to the Russian Old Believer Orthodox community.
Current state
The temple is active; services are held in it. However, it should be noted that the Old Believers are categorically opposed to visiting their church by "outsiders".
For tourists
Despite all the losses suffered in the course of history, the church continues to attract eyes and fascinate with its beauty. Usually, tourists manage to see this monument only from the outside: the church is opened for visits only during the service hours, the rest of the time its prayed peace is zealously guarded from inquiring eyes. However, this is not such a significant loss for travelers: after all, the frescoes and icons of the temple were destroyed in the 1930s, and today, except for the Old Believer icons, it can be of interest to tourists. Entrance to the church is free, donations are welcome.
Address, how to get
The temple is located at: Kolomna, Posadskaya street, house 18.
You can walk here from the Kalachnaya or the Pastila Museum. From the Kazan station you can get an electric train Moscow - Kolomna (get off at the Golutvin station), as well as electric trains Moscow - Golutvin, Moscow - Ryazan. Experts recommend motorists to use GPS coordinates: 38.770528 ° . d. 55.105047 ° s. w. /38∞46′13.9 ″ c. 55 ° 06′18.17 ″ s. w.