The St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog is an Orthodox church that bears the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Its construction has a close relationship with the foundation of the city itself. Belongs to the Rostov diocese. It was, in fact, the first naval base in Russia. It was founded in 1698 at Cape Taganiy Rog, which gave the city its name. It is believed that the place where the Taganrog Nicholas Church was founded, named after one of the most revered saints in Russia, was determined by Tsar Peter I.
How it all began?
One remarkable fact connects the construction of the temple and the foundation of the city. It so happened that the history of the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog began even before it was built. There is a legend that it was laid exactly in the place where the tent of Peter I was located, which designated the center of the Russian camp, which was laid down during the laying of the port and the fortress.
Today, the historical part of the city is located on a high cape, prominent in the sea. In fact, it is very convenient both for the construction of the port and for the location of the lighthouse. Here is the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog, whose bell tower has always been clearly visible from the sea.
Temple in the Sea Quarters
Almost eight decades passed between the formation of the city and the construction of the church. This was due to the fact that the situation at that historical time was very unstable. Despite the fact that a strategic bridgehead was conquered on the Sea of Azov, on the whole this campaign was unsuccessful. The situation of Russia in the south remained precarious until it subordinated the Crimean Khanate.
Moreover, after one of the military defeats, the fortress in Taganrog, by agreement with the Turks, was demolished. Then, for a long period, the city was ruled by the Ottomans, and freed from them, it was deprived of the right to build fortifications.
Finally, shortly after the completion of the next hostilities against Turkey in 1777, Rear Admiral Fedor Alekseevich Klokachev, who commanded the Taganrog port and the Azov Flotilla, wrote a petition to the Slavonic Archbishop Eugene. In it, he asked for permission for the construction in the "sea blocks" of the Taganrog St. Nicholas Church, which was received.
Building and Consecration
In 1778, the temple was already built and consecrated. Its builders were sailors, and parishioners, mainly fishermen and their families. Although the church did not receive a special “maritime” status, it, being built in the port area where sailors and fishermen lived, was dedicated to their patron, Nikolai Mirlikiy.
Initially, the temple was even called "Nicholas of the Sea", but this name did not take root. The first rector was appointed Isidor Lyakhnitsky - a priest who arrived from the Voronezh diocese.
Upon completion of construction, the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog was the largest. For some time, it played the role of a cathedral, although not for long, since the Assumption Cathedral was soon erected, also belonging to the Rostov diocese. Initially, the church was more wooden. Only the foundations of the walls and the foundation were stone. When the walls and roof were replaced with stone, it is not known.
Nicholas Church in Taganrog: description
The temple was created in a style that by the 1770s had already become less relevant. It looked a bit dated. However, for the border province, which was actually in a state of martial law, it looked quite organically.
Here there is a domed octagon on a quadruple, which is a classic element. This form was very widely used in Russian Baroque in the first half of the 18th century. The wide dome is also close to classicism and indicates a late interpretation of the form, although at that time it was already old-fashioned.
Apparently, the authors did not seek to create new outstanding architectural forms, preferring to solve more functional problems.
Status change
As Taganrog lost its military significance, the church also changed. In terms of its professional composition, the parish was becoming more “peaceful,” but nevertheless the connection with the sea was not lost. The decoration of the temple has undergone some changes.
Many bells in 1803, as well as icons and other utensils, were sent to Sevastopol, which was replaced by Taganrog, which previously had the significance of the main seaport. The new location for the exported items was the eponymous Taganrog, St. Nicholas Church, which was under the tutelage of Alexander I.
Among them was the subsequently famous Chersonesus bell. Now it is an adornment of the Quarantine Bay of Sevastopol. It was cast in Taganrog in 1778 precisely for the St. Nicholas Church. Over the years, old icons have been replaced by new ones. Sailor Dmitry Ivanov in 1822 built a school and a parable house near the temple.
Further transformation
In 1844, a new wooden bell tower was installed. In the years 1855-56, the Crimean War was fought, and on May 22, 1855 Taganrog was fired from artillery guns. The temple was badly damaged at the same time, but survived. No less than seven cores hit the walls. After restoration, one of them was decided to be left in the wall forever - as a reminder of those formidable war years.
In 1865, at the request of the temple headman of Smirnov in front of the city government, permission was obtained for free allocation of land necessary for the construction of a new house. To accommodate schools and apartments of clergymen.
A brick bell tower in three tiers is dedicated to the church, dedicated to the holy Great Martyr Paraskeva. As well as landscaping the surrounding area. Later, a refectory is attached to the aisle.
Today, the building in architectural and artistic terms is a typical parish church, created in accordance with the classical canons. The refectory and the bell tower have empire-style details. The church was completely restored only in 1866.
Pavel Taganrog
The relics of this saint are in the St. Nicholas Church and are revered as the main shrine. He was his parishioner in the 60s of the last century. He arrived in Taganrog from the Chernigov province and lived nearby in a small hut.
Even in his youth, having cast off the shackles of worldly vanity and freed from parental care, Paul began wandering around the holy cloisters and continued to do so for ten years.
Having settled in Taganrog, he led a simple lifestyle, hiding his noble origin. As novices, he hosted a lot of people - young men, girls, widows, elderly people. Paul accustomed them to prayers, fasting and held in great severity. Every day he attended church, attending all services there.
Many people knew him, often visited, brought donations. Along with the cell in Taganrog, the chapel of Blessed Paul was opened in the old cemetery, where he was buried.
The subsequent fate of the church
In the Soviet era, it evolved tragically and, at the same time, was unusual. Having survived the years of persecution, it was not closed, and divine services were held in it. It was destroyed to the ground after the war.
In 1922, the Bolsheviks seized valuable objects from the temple: icons with vestments, church utensils, diamonds, which were the decoration of especially valuable relics. At the same time, worship in the temple did not stop.
During the war, in 1941, all wooden structures perished in the fire. At the same time, the dome collapsed, which completely destroyed the main part of the temple. In 1957, the upper tiers of the bell tower were blown up, and St. Nicholas Church was closed. All that remained of it was a box of refectory walls and a chapel. Later there were: a table tennis club, a car fleet, a warehouse, and then a garbage dump.
The revival of the temple began in late 1988, which was facilitated by the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the city. The following year, permission was received for its restoration and the opening of an Orthodox parish. In the spring of the same year, the first temporary altar, located in the Pyatnitsky chapel, was consecrated.
The new history of the church began on April 26, 1989. The most important event that took place in June 1989 was the transfer of the relics of St. Paul of Taganrog here.
In the 1990s, the restoration of premises according to the project of IC DP “Special Restoration” was completed. Great assistance in this was provided by the rector A.F. Klyunkov and the headman A. Sysuyeva. Address of St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog: Taras Shevchenko Street, house number 28.