In the spring of 2014, a bow cross was erected among the new multi-storey buildings as a sign that it would stand in this place, to the delight of the locals, the temple of Ksenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikov. The Moscow authorities allotted the land free of charge under the Program 200 (two hundred new city churches for residents within walking distance). In the summer, they began to build a temporary temple-chapel made of wood and, working tirelessly, completed it with God's help by autumn. On October 25, he was consecrated, and after the festive Divine Liturgy, the new parish began to live his life.
Temple chapel of Xenia of Petersburg
In a new modern microdistrict, built on the site of five-story “Khrushchevs,” people reached for a small church, Archpriest Orest Orshak was appointed rector of the church. Right here, divine services and rituals of the sacrament began to be held. Parishioners who love their little church of Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikov visit it on holidays and weekdays, enjoy the opportunity to pray, visit the house of God, meet new friends, find attention and care here.
The higher clergy, visiting the temple, conduct services, meet with ordinary people. Moscow authorities also do not ignore him. Church ministers from neighboring parishes are frequent guests here. The temple has many friends. They rejoiced over the whole world when bell rings rang in a wooden belfry, built nearby, in March 2015. A small ensemble of five bells, cast in a Moscow workshop, is carefully selected for harmony.
Today the temple lives an active life. Here, scheduled services are held, a Sunday school for children is open , an icon painting class is opened, a youth club is organized, social assistance is provided to those in need, pilgrimages are made, and much, much more.
The Life of Xenia the Blessed
A prosperous woman who lived in St. Petersburg in the middle of the 18th century suddenly became a twenty-six-year-old widow. The quick death of her beloved husband without repentance and communion shocked Ksenia so much that, from the point of view of her relatives, she began to commit “crazy” actions. Handing out all property to the poor people, including her home, she devoted her life to begging for the sins of her husband, which he did not have time to pray for, choosing for this a strange way for others.
Assuring that the husband was alive, she walked in his clothes, responded only to his name and prayed, prayed. Residents of the city first drove her, and then got used to the holy fool at the temple of the Apostle Matthew. Doing no harm to anyone, she asked the Lord and for them and distributed the money received to other beggars. Over time, people noticed that Ksenia, who had warmed and fed Xenia, received from God a hundredfold. Things went uphill, sick relatives recovered, heart affairs were getting better.
When the church was closed at night, Ksenia went to pray in the field. Kneeling in winter and raising prayers to the Almighty, she acquired the gift of clairvoyance, which she generously shared with others. Blessed Ksenia loved people, helped them as much as she could, without asking for anything. People believed her, asked for help, asked for intercession. Many good deeds are described in her life. Among others - an anonymous help at night to the builders of the church at the Smolensky cemetery in St. Petersburg, where she was buried, who died at 71. There is no longer that church, the chapel in memory of Xenia has been destroyed, and people, having built a new one, still go to her grave with a prayer for help.
The Church of Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikov in the future
Residents of the neighborhood are proud of their temporary wooden church, because in Moscow there are only two of them, built in honor of this saint. They believe that there will be a large stone church of Ksenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikov at this place. There is every reason for this. In February 2016, at a meeting in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, it was announced that work began on the design of a new church in Beskudnikov.
“The temple will be crowned with golden chapters, the brick walls will be white. Mosaic icons will be installed in niches ... ”
Collecting donations for design work, parishioners believe that in the near future a new large church of Ksenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikov will grow next to their beautiful houses. How to get from the center to Beskudnikovsky proezd, 4, ownership 4? Very simple: from the metro station "Petrovo-Razumovskaya" by bus 149 or 677 to the stop "Supermarket".