Russia is rich in Christian sights. One of the country's unique cultural heritage sites is the Church of the Archangel Michael in Troparev, dedicated to the most important messenger of God - the Archangel. This is how St. Michael is magnified in all biblical writings and canons. A biblical dialect means equality to God himself. Angel Michael is the most important of all the disembodied heavenly forces that serve in the name of good on Earth. The recognition of God was granted to the angel for his struggle with the most important enemy of the universe - the Devil.
Temple location
The actual location of the temple is on Vernadsky Avenue, 90, in the Troparevo-Nikulino area, located not far from the Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station. Troparevsky Park with an area of more than five hundred square meters is also located in this area.
The historical past of the temple
The Church of the Archangel Michael in Troparev was erected several times. The original wooden building was lost during the fire. At the end of the seventeenth century, it was decided to build a stone cathedral in honor of Michael. Its construction was completed in 1694. The stone temple was erected at the expense of funds of the Novodevichy Convent, the parish of which included the village of Troparevo.
On the territory of the majestic cathedral is the bell tower. Here, its construction dates back to an earlier time - the sixteenth century, as evidenced by some nuances of architectural tiles.
During the Patriotic War with Napoleon (1812) the temple was damaged. French troops retreated precisely along the road nearby near the Orthodox church. But the damage was not too significant. Only eleven years later, in 1823, they completed its repair after hostilities.
The year 1939 was the most disappointing for the Christian inheritance. It was in the thirties that the Soviet infidels did more damage to the building than Napoleon’s troops. The Church of the Archangel Michael in Troparev was closed, all valuable property was stolen, the fence of the temple was destroyed, the most beautiful bells were dropped from the belfry, eventually only one of them was returned, which miraculously managed to save the believers from the village of Troparevo.
In the forties, grain was stored in an Orthodox church. In 1960, the building served as a warehouse for the scenery of the Russian Mosfilm. From 1964 to 1970, the Church of the Archangel Michael in Troparev was restored outside and inside by specialists of the Moscow Regional Restoration.
In 1988, Russia celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia, and on such a significant date the government transferred the church to the beginning of the Moscow Patriarchate. Already at the new parish, a library, a Sunday school and kiosks for the sale of church supplies and accessories were erected.
Unique architecture
To this day, the name of the architect whose project the most beautiful Church of the Archangel Michael was built in Troparev was unknown. The miracle of the ingenious creator pleases mankind in modern times with its eccentricity and pretentiousness. The combination of Slavic and Western architectural trends resulted in an elegant and unique type of structure.
The architectural design captured in the photo of the Temple of Michael the Archangel has its own characteristics. It was in its structure that the original motifs of the design of rural churches and the very rich decoration of the facade, typical of special significant religious churches, were intertwined.
The five-domed cathedral and a three-tier hipped belfry are decorated with carved window platbands. Domes and crosses of the temple are gilded. The facade of the building has majestic framing columns, making it visually much higher. The base of the tower domes are rounded apses, creating the illusion of their soaring airiness.
Interesting Facts
The most beautiful attraction today flaunts surrounded by modern buildings and structures. The image of the object of cultural heritage left its mark in Russian cinematography, in particular, it can be seen in the film “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”, As well as in the film “Italian Sunflowers”.
Christian relics kept in the temple
In Troparevo today the temple is considered to be a real shrine, which stores very valuable Christian relics in the form of icons of the Holy Princess Anna Kashinsky, the Mother of God “It is worthy to eat”, the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice”, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Great Martyr George, the Blessed Moscow Matron.
The modern purpose of the temple
Currently, services are held daily on weekdays in the church of the Archangel Michael. On its territory there is a Sunday school for children, a Christian theater club, a Neofit Christian youth club, a modern development school, a Lampada club for disabled people, and a computer class.
The most significant Christian holidays, at which solemn services are held, are: Adoration of the Holy Martyr Harlampius, Savior of the All-Merciful, Archangel Michael. A special celebration is the Patronal feast in honor of all the heavenly ethereal forces and the Archangel himself.
Despite historical difficulties, the Temple has not lost its attractiveness and pleases with its extraordinary beauty, striving with its columns to heaven. A special attitude to this object in modern times is characterized by a rethinking of the values of all the ancient Christian heritage of the country, which are the canons of faith in good.