The unusual architecture of this building from afar attracts the eyes of passers-by. The wooden church of St. Spyridon of Trimifunta in Lomonosov, built in the shape of a ship, is notable for its difficult fate. The building was repeatedly demolished and erected again, used as a warehouse, a house of pioneers, etc. The modern church of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky was built on an old foundation according to the drawings contained in historical documents.
Acquaintance
The church of Spiridon of Trimyfunt in Lomonosov is one of the temples preserved in the St. Petersburg diocese, erected in honor of this miracle worker. The shrine was built in the XIX century for the needs of the Life Guards Volyn Regiment in the house of Schukin. In 1882, the temple was transferred to the Officers Rifle School. In 1895, it was disassembled and rebuilt anew. In August 1896 the church was again consecrated by St. right John of Kronstadt. In 1930 it was closed. In 2001, the temple was returned to believers. Its action was resumed in 2002. Currently, a fundraiser has been announced for the restoration of the temple building. Today, its reconstruction continues, services are held in the premises of the nearby church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. A prayer service with akathist Spiridon Trimyphuntos is held daily in the temple. In 2013, believers celebrated the 175th anniversary of the founding of the temple.
Helpful information
The Church of St. Spyridon of Trimifunta in Lomonosov is assigned to the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, located in the village of Malaya Izhora. Her status is current. It belongs to the St. Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Divine services are held in Church Slavonic. The rector of the church of St. Spyridon of Trimyphuntus is Archpriest O. A. Emelianenko. The church was built in the period from 1895 to 1896. The author of the project is the architect and military engineer V.I. Shcheglov. The temple was abolished from 1930 to 2002. The patronal feast is the day of Spiridon of Trimyphuntus (celebrated on December 25, n.a.).
Description
Unusual both in appearance and in architectural style, the temple of Spiridon Trimifuntskogo in Lomonosov is a real decoration of the city. The building is small, but, according to numerous visitors, it is very beautiful, bright and sincere. The rectangular building has lowered side naves. It ends with a belfry over the western part and a tented octagon over the eastern.
Nearby is the former house church of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker at the Maritime Training and Rifle Team, in which services are currently being held. Through the efforts of employees, an impressive collection of ancient church utensils, samovars and other household items is displayed in it.
The presence of a zoo corner in which the abbot Oleg Emelyanenko, a great lover of nature, gathered a wide variety of animals makes the temple especially attractive. The zoo, represented by various animals - charming goats, chinchillas, birds, snakes, monitor lizards, guinea pigs, turtles and even three crocodiles, can compete with any popular zoo. If desired, all pets can be touched, scratched, held in their hands, fed, etc. Animals are placed a stone's throw from the place of worship. According to the abbot, this creates a special atmosphere close to the “lost paradise” described in the Bible, in which people and animals lived in close unity.
Worship services
Divine services are held on Sundays and public holidays. The liturgy begins at 10:00. All-night vigil on the eve - beginning at 17:00. A prayer service with akathist Spiridon Trimifuntsky is held daily at 10:00. You can find out more about the schedule of services on the temple website (updated monthly).
History: how the first temple of Spiridon of Trimifunta was created in Lomonosov
In 1838, on this site in Oranienbaum (the old name of the city), a small wooden church was laid down for the Life Guards of the Volyn Regiment stationed by architect A.P. Melnikov. It was built with official money on the initiative of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna and the commander of the Separate Guards Corps of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich.
The consecration of the temple took place in December this year. The wooden building, built on a brick foundation, was covered with iron. Its length was 26 m, width - 10.5 m, height (without a dome) - 8.5 m. The church had a small bell tower, an iron cross was located above the altar. A regimental marching iconostasis was placed in the temple premises. Until the 1880s, it was rebuilt several times. In 1883, the church moved to the officer rifle school.
The construction of the second temple
Due to the fact that the old temple has deteriorated over time, in 1895 it was demolished to the ground. In its place, a new church of the same name was laid down according to a project developed by military engineer V. Schegolov. Funds of the Engineering Department were allocated for the construction, as well as church and private donations were used. The new church in 1896 was solemnly consecrated by the archbishop of Riga and Mitava.
In 1900, a one-story house for a priest was built on the territory of the temple. After the revolution of 1917, the temple was attributed to St. Michael's Cathedral, in 1921 - to the Panteleimon Church. In 1930, it was closed and beheaded. After that, over the course of many decades, the temple was used for other purposes, so by the 2000s its building fell into disrepair. In March 2008, the temple was completely dismantled in order to restore it in due course.
Reconstruction Completion
Since 2008, work has been carried out to restore on the old foundation the original historical appearance of the temple. In 2016, the reconstruction was completed. This summer, they held their first service here.
The interior of the Orthodox church
In accordance with the project, a wooden one-story building of a new two-tier temple with stone pillars supporting the dome was installed on a granite foundation. Its length is 32 meters, width - 19 meters, height with the dome - 25.5 meters. The walls and ceiling in the middle are carved and painted pale pink.
In the sails of the dome, the craftsmen placed icons of evangelists. Of particular interest is the donation of E. Mordvinova, an icon of the Nativity of Christ. The interior is decorated with a two-tiered white iconostasis with gilded carvings. The side gates are the location of the icons of the holy archdeacons Philip and Stephen.
The creators used the temple icons of the saints Spyridon and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker taken from the former iconostasis. The marble throne was created with the donations of the hereditary honorary citizen Lomonosov - I. G. Kolenkov.
Special Attractions
Among the attractions of the temple of particular interest are:
- six company icons decorated with gilded carvings in silver valuable robes (transferred from the Model Regiment after its abolition);
- donated by A.P. Taborskaya an ancient icon of the Mother of God "Life-giving spring".
In addition, in the temple are stored:
- Model Regiment banner;
- a letter signed by Emperor Nicholas I for the award of this banner;
- Certificate of Award for the Silver Horn (distinction for participating in the Russian-Turkish war).
About location
The address of the church of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky: the city of Lomonosov, Ilykovsky Avenue, house 1.
Nearby is the house church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The temple has a small exhibition of old church books, samovars, other antiquities, as well as a contact mini-zoo with wonderful guinea pigs, birds, chinchillas and a raccoon.
You can get to the temple of Spiridon Trimifuntskogo in Lomonosov from the Baltic station:
- by train (get off at Oranienbaum station);
- minibus number 404.
From the metro station "Avtovo" you can get:
- minibuses No. 424a, 404, 300;
- by bus number 200.
From the metro station "Prospect Veteranov" - minibus number 343. If you move from the station on foot, you should be guided by the white Cathedral of St. Archangel Michael. From it cross the road in the traffic light area, climb the mountain, turn right and then move on to the temple itself.
On the life story of St. Spyridon
It is known that St. Spyridon was a miracle worker, hierarch, bishop of Trimyphuntes, who lived in Cyprus in the 3rd century. First, his holy relics were buried in Trimifunt, and then transported to the island of Corfu, in Kerkyra, to the location of the main temple of St. Spyridon.
The story of his life is interesting. Since childhood, Spiridon, born around 270 AD e., was a shepherd. His homeland is the village of Trimifunt (Trimitus) on about. Cyprus, therefore, they began to call it Trimyphuntes. Spiridon led a righteous life. Having no wealth, he always tried to share food and shelter with those in need. Extraordinary benevolence and warmth of the shepherd attracted people to him. Therefore, when the old Trimyfunt bishop died, Spiridon was unanimously elected the first priest of the city. But, even being in such a high post, the saint always was a model of humility for those around him: as an ordinary person, he worked constantly, earning his living.
For his many virtues, God endowed the bishop with an invaluable gift of insight, the ability to heal people and manage the forces of nature. Spiridon relieved those in need of spiritual ailments, and also engaged in the expulsion of demons. Due to the boundless humility of the saint during his life on the icons, he is depicted not in the miter of the high lord, but in the usual cap of a shepherd. The saint's earthly life ended at about 80 years of age. It is believed that this happened in 348. For believers, he is a model, an example of simplicity, piety and modesty.
The relics of the saint rest on Fr. Corfu, in the church of his name, and his right hand is kept in the Church of Our Lady of Santa Maria (Rome). It is known that for many hundreds of years the prelate’s body was not affected by decay, and its temperature is constantly equal to 36.6 degrees. In the Intercession Church of the Danilov Monastery (Moscow), a shrine is kept - the shoe of the miracle worker brought from the island of Corfu. It was noticed that over time the relic wears out, as if the saint still walks around the world and works miracles. Scientists could not explain this fact.
What are they asking the saint for?
Since ancient times, in Russia they have venerated St. Spyridon. It is known that Orthodoxy does not consider material wealth as the true goal of the believer. It is not customary to pray for him and ask the saints. But Spiridon of Trimifuntsky refers precisely to those miracle workers who are often asked for stability and material assistance. They go to him not only with prayers for strengthening the faith, but also for help in simple everyday situations, financial and housing difficulties.
People come to the saint and give thanks for the help they provided in material problems. This is evidenced by the numerous gifts conferred on his icon.