For two millennia of its history, the ancient Hosta has experienced a lot. Surrounded by boxwood groves, waterfalls and drowning in the splendor of the sea, she remembers many conquerors - from the ancient Greeks to treacherous Turks. Only at the beginning of the 20th century did it begin to be mastered by the Russians, who established Orthodoxy in this fertile land.
The need to build a temple
In 1903, the wife of a prominent political figure of those years, the Minister of Justice I.G.Scheglovitov, Maria Fedorovna headed the committee, on the initiative of which the Transfiguration Church (Sochi) was built in 1914. Khosta, a small country house in those years where the events took place, consisted mainly of the estates of the capital's dignitaries, who spent the summer months here, and the dwellings of those who, with their labor, provided them with heavenly bliss here, on sinful land.
It was founded in 1903 and, thanks to the exceptional beauty of its surrounding nature, soon became a refuge for representatives of higher Petersburg society. But since the happy owners of earthly goods that gathered in it did not forget about spiritual food, there was a need to build a temple in the village, the absence of which created tangible inconveniences.
On the threshold of a great cause
Maria Fedorovna was an energetic lady and, taking the initiative in her own hands, showed an extraordinary organizational talent, which many officials from the office of her husband could envy. By the way, we must pay tribute to Madame Minister, thanks to her efforts, not only the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Sochi) was built, which could be explained only by taking care of her own soul, but also a school for the poor, as well as a free clinic. As you can see, in those early years the spoils of fate did not forget about those to whom Fortune was less supportive.
The efforts to erect the temple resonated with the brethren of the Holy Trinity Monastery, located in Adler. Hieromonk Markian (Starodubtsev), who headed it, took steps to open a courtyard in the Host, planning to consecrate it in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. However, he and the pious minister at that time were hindered by financial difficulties and confusion associated with the Russo-Japanese War that began in 1905 and the First Russian Revolution that followed.
The blessing of the synod and the construction of the temple
The case, frozen at a dead center, moved forward only in 1909. The senior church leadership blessed Maria Fedorovna and the members of the committee she created for the construction of the church. It was also important that the bishops reinforced their pastoral blessing with an amount of four thousand rubles in gold (huge money at that time), so five years later the Transfiguration Church (Sochi) appeared on the Black Sea coast. This donation was made on behalf of Sovereign Nicholas II.
When all administrative and material difficulties were finally settled, the organizing committee announced an all-Russian competition for the creation of a project for future construction. Despite the fact that architects from all over the country took part in it, the winner was the Sochi architect V. A. Ion, who by then had become famous as an outstanding artist-designer, author of furniture and interior design sketches of the high-end resort “Caucasian Riviera”.
According to the project he created, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Sochi) largely repeated the outlines of the Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Its solemn consecration took place in 1914, on the eve of the First World War, which marked the beginning of the collapse of the great empire, under the ruins of which the Russian Orthodox Church was buried for many decades.
Years of spiritual desolation
As you know, in the years following the October coup, the new authorities launched a broad campaign against religion. If at first they were limited only to atheistic propaganda, then very soon they launched legislative measures using all the power of the repressive apparatus. Already at the beginning of 1929, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Sochi) was closed, and its community was dispersed. Fortunately, the Lord did not allow the destruction of the temple, and throughout the Soviet period its building was used for various household needs. The last institution located within its walls was a city telephone exchange.
Return to religious life
As if anticipating the impending changes, the inhabitants of the city created a religious community at the church before its official transfer to the ownership of the Church. In 1989, a small extension was made to its northern wall, in which services began to be held. The long-awaited event took place in 2001, when at last their faithful property was returned to the believers - the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Sochi), whose photos are presented in the article.
However, decades of godlessness reigning in the country left their imprint on its appearance, and to restore its former splendor, a lot of work was to be done, which the parishioners, led by the rector of the church, Archpriest Father Alexander (Yablokov), had done with honor. In this matter, invaluable help was provided to them by volunteers who were found both among private individuals and among various organizations.
Sometimes donations came from the most unexpected sources. One of these investors was the popular singer Yuri Shatunov, the soloist of the cult group "Tender May". From his personal collection, he donated two icons of the 18th century to the temple .
Temple for Believers and Unbelievers
Today, among other Russian shrines, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Sochi) has returned to a full-fledged religious life. His address is Khosta, st. Shosseynaya, 9, is familiar in the city to everyone who cannot imagine their life without God. The revived shrine is of great interest to people of unbelievers, but able to perceive the finished beauty of its architectural forms. Rare tourists who come to this fertile southern city will not visit the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Sochi). How to get to it, will tell any resident of the city. You can get from Sochi by buses No. 105, 122 and 125, and from Adler - 105, 118 and 125. This trip will remain in your memory for a long time.