Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Novosibirsk is one of the main attractions of the city. It is located in the center and is considered to be its amulet.
Outwardly, the small chapel resembles a graceful candle, towering among other buildings and the rapid urban movement. Her story is very interesting and unique.
About city
The construction of the temple is associated with the anniversary of the founding of Novosibirsk (the name until 1925 - Novo-Nikolaevsk), founded in 1893, but only 10 years later received the status of a city.
It is the third most populated and thirteenth largest city in the Russian Federation.
Currently, Novosibirsk is a major cultural, business, industrial, commercial, scientific, transport center of the country. And also one of the largest industrial centers of the West Siberian region.
The population is 1.6 million people.
It is located on both banks of the Ob River, in the southeastern part of the West Siberian Plain.
The city has a large number of architectural monuments, cultural places, educational institutions. Also in Novosibirsk there are 26 temples. Including the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which is a unique monument of temple art and of particular importance for the city.
Description
This pearl of Orthodoxy, located on Krasny Prospekt, opposite Lenin Square, is a fairly new building. The first temple building was destroyed in Soviet times. But this chapel, built at the end of the 20th century, is almost completely consistent with the original design.
The building is elegant, but at the same time incredibly majestic, rises and stands out among other buildings in this part of Novosibirsk.
No matter where you had to go through the city center, you can see it from everywhere. And, most interestingly, around the building is always noisy, and inside - blessed silence and sacred grace.
There is information that the foundation of the church in this area, in this place was not accidental. According to geographical calculations, it was here that the central point of Russia was located, and Novosibirsk was the city considered the center of the country.
In addition, the construction of the chapel is associated with the construction of the first bridge across the Ob for railway transport.
According to historical information, the city was originally named after Emperor Nicholas II, and the temple was named in honor of St. Nicholas.
Currently, in the chapel you can admire ancient images, pray at the icon of the Wonderworker of Myra with a part of his relics and attach to the icon of the reliquary of St. Panteleimon.
Story
The chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Novosibirsk) was to be founded in 1913 - on the twentieth anniversary of the city, as well as in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. But by October of this year, only a building permit was received from the authorities.
In fact, it turned out that work began only in the summer of 1914 (July 20). All the costs of the construction of the temple were national: everyone wanted help than he could. The project was carried out by architect A. Kryachkov, without taking payment for his work. In terms of finance, substantial support was provided by local merchants. What is most surprising, the bells were carried as ordinary cargo - in a railway carriage of a train. The construction of the temple was carried out quite quickly and amicably.
The location of the ancient chapel in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is the intersection of Nikolaevsky Avenue and Tobisenovskaya Street (currently the names of the streets are outdated).
In December 1914, the temple was solemnly consecrated. It was a very important event in the life of Novosibirsk (then Novo-Nikolaevsk).
At first, this monastery belonged to the church of St. Alexander Nevsky, and later became an independent parish.
Unfortunately, the ancient chapel lasted only 16 years. In connection with political events and the persecution of the Orthodox faith, the church was closed, and then a decision was made to demolish it altogether. Which was done at the end of January 1930.
In this place of the city a monument was built “Komsomolets”, and then a monument to I. V. Stalin, which was removed in the 50s of the XX century.
Chapel Restoration
More than sixty years after the monastery was demolished in September 1991, a procession was carried out from the Ascension Cathedral Church to the site of the restoration of the old monastery - the new chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
And by 1993 the temple was erected, only now territorially it is a little further from the intersection - the place where it was located before demolition. The year of his new birth was timed to the 100th anniversary of the city.
In 2002, Patriarch of Moscow Alexy II presented a chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Novosibirsk) with a particle of the relics of the saint, which are now placed in the icon. Therefore, henceforth, the monastery is protected by a patron and has miraculous power for everyone who prays at this shrine.
The rector of this church is Archpriest Patrin George, who performs services and makes holy processions on holidays.
Architecture and interior of the temple
The chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (new) was designed by the architect P. A. Chernobrovtsev, but its modern appearance is as close as possible to the design of the early structure of the monastery. All painted work of the internal space was carried out by the father of the architect - artist A. S. Chernobrovtsev.
The basement of the building is faced with trim bricks, such as "Torn stone". The walls of the temple building are made of brick, decorated with stucco and whitewash. From the outside, they end with arched zakomary with smooth bends and pointed tops.
The roof of the temple is made in the form of a dome mounted on a round “drum” with eight narrow windows. On the top of the dome is an elegant cross.
There are several steps to the entrance to the chapel. Above the archway doorway is a mosaic image of Nicholas the Wonderworker.
The interior of the church is very unpretentious: there is no huge iconostasis, large chandeliers and carpets. In addition to the icon of Saints Nicholas and Panteleimon, several ancient images are placed. But a special atmosphere is felt here: spirituality and spiritual warmth, light and silence.
Legends of the chapel and the city
The assumption that the location of the temple coincided with the geographical center of Russia is associated with the ancient monastery of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker . Such an opinion was first expressed in 1988 on the radio. And so the decision was born that it was necessary to return the temple to the city.
When the chapel was restored (on Krasny Prospekt) in 1993, reports began to print in the press that Novosibirsk was the territorial center of the country.
In February 1992, an article was published in a local newspaper (the “History Page” section) that reported the following. The chapel of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker, built at the beginning of the 20th century at the intersection of Mykolayiv Avenue and Tobisenovskaya Street (currently Red Avenue and Maxim Gorky Street at present) in memory of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, is a geographical point in the Russian Empire.
In the newspaper Sovetskaya Sibir, an article published in July 1993 about the restoration of the monastery of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker said that at the beginning of the 20th century the temple was built on this territory because this place symbolically designated the center of Russia.
Currently, according to geodetic coordinate calculations, this place is the southeast of Lake Vivi, in the Krasnoyarsk Territory (Evenki District). There is a special monument in this place. But the temple still remains an unchanging symbol and amulet of the city.
Reviews
Chapel of St. Nicholas in Novosibirsk is a very favorite place for many citizens. Newlyweds love to be here on their wedding day. And also surely drop in locals and tourists strolling through the central part of the city.
Reviews of the temple:
- Passing or passing by the chapel, the heart skips a beat.
- The place where the temple is located is filled with a special light that illuminates everything around and protects the city.
- The symbol of Novosibirsk.
- A popular place for wedding photos.
- A lovely walk alley behind the chapel.
- Good location.
- The monastery stands in a busy part of the city, but inside it is silence and peace.
- The modern appearance of the new chapel is very similar in architecture to the previously destroyed temple.
- Inside the building there is a good and bright atmosphere that evokes light feelings in the soul.
- The historical place of the city.
- The small chapel building is central to Novosibirsk.
- Very beautiful views of the city open near the temple.
- The structure stands out from the rest of the buildings, which are located in the center of Novosibirsk.
- A great opportunity to go walking around the city and bow to the shrines.
Information
Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is located at: Red Avenue, 17-A, Novosibirsk.
Open daily from 9.00 to 18.00. On holidays, the monastery opens earlier and closes after evening worship.
How to get there
The nearest metro station is Lenin Square.
If you get by road, you need to get off at the stops "Ploshchad Lenina" or "Cinema Mayakovsky" (5 minutes to go to the chapel).