The history of Christianity in Russia is rich in significant events and dates, glorified by saints and deeds. Churches, cathedrals and monasteries became the most obvious witnesses and participants in the changing relations between the church, people, and authorities. The Holy Trinity Cathedral (Yekaterinburg) was built in the 19th century as an Old Believer church, which later became a single-faith church. Over its long history, the temple knew prosperity and ruin, but today it serves the city and the townspeople for the direct purpose of the spiritual center.
Recognition difficulties
The project of the cathedral was created in 1814 at the expense of the prosperous merchant Yakim Ryazanov. He had authority in the Yekaterinburg environment of Old Believers and in many factories, where up to 150 thousand people worked. Initially, the temple was modest in size, the architectural complex was decided in the style of classicism. Porticoes surrounded it on three sides, and a massive dome crowned the top, visually enlarging the building twice.
Old Believers did not have the right to open churches, so the church built in 1824 was called the “house of worship”. The building was not supposed to cross, the rite of consecration was not held. Ryazanov appealed to various authorities, filed a complaint to Tsar Alexander I, but nothing helped, and the premises remained sealed.
One of his initiatives was the reassignment of priests of the Old Believer tradition directly to the Government, bypassing the local bishops, but the law required the observance of the rules of the hierarchy of Orthodoxy and the adoption of unity of faith for the consecration of the church and the conduct of services in it.
Consecration
Yakim Ryazanov wanted the church to be consecrated and services were carried out in it, so in 1838 he accepted faith and received permission to complete the church. The Zlatoust chapel was first consecrated, it happened in 1939. Ten years later, St. Nicholas (northern) chapel was consecrated. In the same year, 1849, Ryazanov died, not waiting for the consecration of the main church, which happened only in 1852. The central church of the church is consecrated in honor of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity.
Holy Trinity Cathedral was decorated with a bell tower in 1854, which greatly lengthened the temple, giving it a lack of monumentality. The interior of the church sets up everyone who enters in a prayer mood. The central part has a five-tier iconostasis, and in the side aisles the icons are installed in two tiers. The people's memory has preserved the name of the main donor of the church, and the cathedral still bears the second name - Ryazanovsky.
For the needs of the revolution
Even during the lifetime of Yakim Ryazanov, Holy Trinity Cathedral was considered the richest parish of the entire diocese. In addition to valuable church utensils, miraculous icons of the Kazan Mother of God and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker were kept in the church. In the 1920s, during the campaign for the expropriation of valuables from Orthodox churches, 5 pounds of silver items were removed from the cathedral, including a diamond-encrusted salary for the icon of the Kazan Mother of God.
Soviet period
After the ruin, services in the cathedral continued for another 10 years. By the decision of the city authorities it was closed in 1930. In the heat of redevelopment of the entire complex, the dome and the bell tower were dismantled. The interior was preparing for the execution of completely different functions. In different years, under the arches of the former temple were located the Rot-Front cinema, a weaving factory, the last destination was the club of the Palace of Culture of Motorists. Since 1981, the annual temple "Aelita" began to be held in the former temple, which attracted numerous lovers of Soviet fiction. In the late 80s, DC Avtomobilistov held concerts at a local rock club.
Return
With the change of social and state system, the transfer of the church to the Orthodox community became possible. The Yekaterinburg diocese returned the cathedral to the fold of the church in 1996. Restoration work in the active and large-scale phase was carried out during 1998-99. The appearance of the church was completely revived and domed light drums were installed, in 2000 a bell tower was built according to historical drawings.
Holy Trinity Cathedral (Yekaterinburg) for the second time was solemnly consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II in September 2000. A unique iconostasis carved from a coil is installed in the revived cathedral, the walls are decorated with frescoes, which were painted according to the old rule - according to raw plaster. The temple attracts a large number of pilgrims, parishioners and people who are simply interested in history. On days of major church holidays or during a stay in an Orthodox church, the doors of the cathedral are open around the clock. In 2011, more than 150 thousand people came to bow to the belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Spiritual and educational center
The Trinity Cathedral of the Life-Giving (Yekaterinburg) has been actively educating children and adults since the revival. In September 1996, a center and the first Sunday parish school for children were opened at the church. The confessor and the head of the school is Alexander Rykov (archpriest). The main activities:
- Education. The Yekaterinburg diocese pays much attention to work with youth and children. About sixty children study at the school, the staff of teachers totals 11 tutors, some of whom have secular education at a higher pedagogical school, and some have a higher education in the church field. The training is conducted in the disciplines - God's Law, liturgy, catechism, church language, fine arts, folklore singing, applied art, etc.
- Parenting. In order to educate church consciousness, children participate in religious processions, especially for them, children's divine liturgies are held on Easter and Christmas days. For parents and parishioners of the cathedral during Lent, the children’s team gives a concert where the youth church choir enjoys special attention. In the days of Maslenitsa relay races are held, snowy towns are being built, parishioners are treated to pancakes.
In addition to working with children and adolescents, scientific and research activities are conducted, and a publishing house is working. On Easter holidays, a special tradition has developed - everyone can climb the bell tower of Trinity Cathedral and ring the gospel according to their own taste and temperament.
To help adults
Communication is necessary not only for children, but also for adults, and it is fully provided by Holy Trinity Cathedral (Yekaterinburg). History teaches each person to respond to someone else's misfortune and not be limited to the knowledge gained in youth. The doors of the discussion club “Zilot” are open for the older generation, whose meetings are held on Wednesdays. The topics discussed at the meetings are interesting not only to deeply religious people, but also to those who wish to expand the horizons of their worldview.
Club members are given the opportunity to make pilgrimage trips, attend Sunday school for adults, take part in religious processions and communicate with like-minded people. One of the gifts for children and adults is the organization of children's summer camps on the territory of the cathedral, where children spend their holidays with peers and under the supervision of adults, go on excursions, study in various creative studios, go to museums and much more.
Helpful information
The temple is located in the city center and after restoration has become one of its business cards. Services are held daily. The rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Nikolai Maleta, in addition to caring for the church, is the rector of the Yekaterinburg Theological School, gives students lectures on theology and apologetics, and also holds a number of posts in church bodies.
The Holy Trinity Cathedral (Yekaterinburg) has the following address: Rosa Luxemburg Street , Building 57. The patronal holiday of the cathedral is the Day of the Holy Trinity, which is celebrated on June 4.