Moscow has many old and new temples. All of them, by faith and truth, strengthen the spiritual life of the capital and the whole country. The Holy Trinity Church in Karacharovo is covered with legends, has been serving for more than 200 years and helps its parishioners in many difficulties.
From the Time of Troubles
Annals of Karacharovo are found in descriptions from the second half of the 14th century. In the Time of Troubles, the village was ravaged and given up for restoration to Vasily Streshnev, the boyar who had worked as a tsar’s captain.
Being a good business executive, he managed to breathe life into the village where the Three Saints Church stood and found a new village along the Ryazan Road, calling it Karacharovo. The village, or rather, the settlement, consisted of 42 peasant households centered around the church, consecrated in honor of the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary “The Sign”.
From 1773 to 1776, at the request of priests and flocks, a stone church of the Life-Giving Trinity was built in Karacharovo. The side chapels of the church were not built so quickly, funds were collected by the whole world. From 1782 to 1837 a chapel was built, consecrated in honor of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The bell tower was built in the period 1833-1834. According to legend, the Holy Trinity Church in Karacharovo was the place where Field Marshal Kutuzov prayed for the victory over the "Tarutin maneuver", which subsequently decided the entire outcome of the Napoleonic campaign.
Since 1917, difficult times have come for faith and temples. The Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity in Karacharovo became one of their refuge for the newly elected Patriarch Tikhon.
The Tipping Point of 1917
The temple in Karacharovo continued to nourish the flock of the living Trinity, despite the difficulties. In the mid-thirties, Dmitry Glivenko, who was arrested in 1938, was appointed to church service.
The reason for the conclusion was the charge of hiding the former rector of the church - Peter Cosmodamian. Father Dmitry was captured and shot in March 1938. Before the Great Patriotic War of the Life-Giving Trinity, the temple in Karacharovo was closed.
Recovery
With the beginning of the 90s, the church, after the parishioners appealed, was returned to the diocese. The building was in ruined condition: only one tier remained from the bell tower, the dome was beheaded, and a sculptors workshop worked in the church premises.
The temple was opened and consecrated at the end of October 1993, at the same time constant worship began. Restore the Life-Giving Trinity Church in Karacharovo began almost immediately. For work, parishioners and employees of the Special Project Restoration Institute were attracted, many made large donations for the repair and restoration of the church.
Modernity
Today the Life-Giving Trinity Church in Karacharovo is the current church and historical heritage of Moscow. Over 200 years of the parish’s existence have helped parishioners feel the connection of times and generations. There are schools at the church:
- Sunday school for children and youth, where traditional subjects are studied - God's law, scriptures, church history. In addition, children are engaged in creative workshops, gaining additional skills.
- School of the Sexton. Classes are held for young people who want to connect their lives with church service in the future.
They actively work in the church with young people, helping inquiring minds understand the essence of Orthodoxy, introduce them to spiritual literature, and conduct conversations. Priests and parishioners do a lot of work in the field of social work. Areas of concern include:
- Help for the elderly, care for bedridden patients. As part of the work, priests come to those who cannot attend services on their own. Volunteers help in the care, purchase of products and more.
- Caring for large families - financial assistance is provided with things and products, walks are made with children, help in organizing time.
- Help for prisoners in the colonies - correspondence is being conducted, parcels are sent with food, literature and necessary household items.
Information for Pilgrims
The church hosts daily and festive services. We give for those who wish to visit the Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity in Karacharovo, the schedule of services:
- Saturday Liturgy begins at 08:00 in the morning.
- Sunday and festive liturgies are held at 07:00 and 10:00 in the morning.
- An all-night vigil begins on Saturday and begins at 5 p.m.
You can confess 30 minutes before the Divine Liturgy. For many, the Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity in Karacharovo became a refuge. Photos of the church and memorable events tell about the busy, active life of the parish.