During the years of perestroika, the building of the church was once again returned to the faithful, consecrated in honor of the great event of Christian history - the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. By the end of the 2000s, he was finally returned to his original form, and it is difficult to convey the feeling that the parishioners experienced when they heard for the first time in many years the gospel that came from his restored bell tower.
Between a ravine and a passing road
The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Pure Vrazhka came to us from a complete unrest and unrest of the XVII century (however, what centuries were calm in Russia?). In the middle of the XVII century, near the Moskva River between the famous Smolensk road and the ravine into which manure was transported from nearby royal stables, the construction of a stone church began. This ravine gave the name to subsequently formed Vrazhsky Lanes. After he was cleaned, he became known as the Clean Guard.
The new temple building, erected on the site of the old one, which had by then deteriorated wooden construction, was under construction for eighteen years and was completed in 1658. Then his consecration was performed in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is no coincidence that the temple at Pure Vrazhka is dedicated to this greatest event.
Human memory still preserved the horrors of the Time of Troubles, to which the bitterness caused by the schism was added , so their eyes turned to inexhaustible hope to the Cross - a symbol of the love and sacrifice of the Lord. Inheriting it from Ancient Byzantium, Moscow took with it the honorary status of the Third Rome.
18th century construction work
Newly built and consecrated in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the temple on Pure Vrazhok kept its appearance for a relatively short time. In 1701, the favorite of Tsar Peter I, Prince Vasily Sheremetev, having a desire to serve God not only as a soul, but also as a capital, thoroughly rebuilt it, and seven years later an additional aisle was added to the main building, crowned with a cross with a chapel.
But before parting with the XVIII century, the temple managed to once again change its appearance. In the period from 1761 to 1782 at the expense of voluntary donors, and Moscow was always famous for them, significant work was done in it. As a result, the altar was rebuilt and enlarged, the refectory and the chapel erected at the beginning of the century. We must pay tribute to the builders. When erecting new walls, they carefully preserved brickwork of the 17th century - recent studies show this.
New century and new works
During the terrible fire that occurred in the year of the invasion of Napoleonic troops, the Temple of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was also damaged. The temple on Chisty Vrazhka shared the fate of many Moscow churches and cathedrals. But again the God-loving inhabitants of the Mother See came to the rescue - the whole world rebuilt the burnt shrine. Who helped than he could. After all, at the Last Judgment, everything will be counted - you look, and relaxation will come out for the sinful soul. A year later, the restored temple was consecrated.
In 1846, a rich parishioner, a merchant of the first guild G.I. Blokhin, went to the Lord. Having not offended any of the relatives in the will, he left a tremendous amount to the temple of God. Another pious man, the local manufacturer Ganeshin, added his donations to her. Their joint capital was enough for the construction of the bell tower, although not high, but crowned with a spire, as well as for the construction of another chapel inside the church, consecrated at the end of work in honor of the archangel Gabriel.
The ravine threatening the temple
In addition to all other worries, the parishioners had to solve a very important task, which had been discussed for a long time. The fact is that the temple was built next to the ravine. Over time, the already sheer slope began to crumble, and its edge was threateningly approaching the foundation of the building, thereby creating the danger of collapse. It was urgent to strengthen the slope, and for this, funds were needed.
As always, a volunteer donor came to the rescue. This time it turned out to be merchant Ivan Stepanovich Vinogradov. At his own expense, he built a supporting stone wall, which prevented the further expansion of the ravine and excluded any danger that threatened the building. This rather impressive building has survived to the present day.
Already at the end of the century, the temple underwent the last pre-revolutionary restructuring. It was once again expanded, the north and south side-altars were arranged differently. In this form, he entered the new century. By this time, an almshouse operated for him, designed for sixteen people.
Star wedding
A significant event in the history of the temple was the wedding of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov and the famous actress O. L. Knipper, which took place on May 25, 1901. Despite the fact that the wedding was, as we would say now, “starry”, the whole ceremony was very modest. Not wishing to advertise this event and invite outsiders, the newlyweds limited themselves to the presence of four witnesses necessary for the sacrament.
The post-revolutionary fate of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
The temple on Pure Vrazhka, always loved by parishioners and had sufficient means for its arrangement, was famous for its beauty and wealth. It is for this reason that in the very first years following the October Revolution, he became the object of the most unlawful looting. At first everything was removed from it, which, according to the new authorities, was of value, and in 1930 it was completely closed. The abbot of the church, Father Nikolai (Saryevsky), was exiled, and the building was disfigured, breaking the bell tower and dome. The poorhouse and the clergy house were demolished as unnecessary.
Throughout the entire period of Soviet power, the temple building was used for household purposes and due to the lack of repair it fell into disrepair. Only in the early nineties, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Pure Vrazhka, whose photo of those years is presented in the article, was transferred to church authorities. In 1993, he was again consecrated, and since then divine services have resumed. As in previous times, there were people who, with their donations, helped in its restoration and restoration.
Temple today
Having spent almost seven decades in reproach and desolation, he again meets his parishioners the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Pure Enemy. The schedule of services on Sundays and holidays is as follows: prayer service at 7:45, Divine Liturgy at 9:00. On the remaining days: confession - at 8:00, Divine Liturgy - at 9:00 and All-night Vigil - at 17:00. The temple is open daily from 7:30 to 19:00.
The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Pure Enemy, whose history today has entered its new stage, is step by step approaching the level of spiritual life that it was famous for in the pre-revolutionary years. Around him, a large community has formed, the basis of which is deeply religious people who are able to instill this quality in those who are still just looking for their path to God.