Moscow is famous for its numerous cathedrals and churches. Some of them, thanks to their unique architecture and interior decoration, are known throughout the world, others are modest, but no less beloved by Muscovites. Tourists are not always brought there, however, each such structure is a magnificent monument of the history of Russian church architecture.
Today we offer you to go to Starosadsky Lane, where there is a magnificent building that attracts the attention of tourists. The Peter and Paul Cathedral in Moscow (photo you see below) in its current form is made in the eclectic style. At the same time, elements of the Neo-Gothic, Romanesque and Art Nouveau styles are clearly visible in it.
Peter and Paul Cathedral in Moscow: history
The difficult history of this cathedral began in 1817, when the church community bought the Lopukhins' estate located on this territory and began to rebuild it into a church, erect gilded domes and establish crosses. Consecrated a new temple in 1819.
In 1837, the divine sounds of the organ sounded for the first time in the cathedral. The Cathedral of Peter and Paul in Moscow became so popular that it could no longer accommodate all the parishioners, its reconstruction was required. In the middle of the XIX century, construction work began, led by architect A.A. Meingard. They lasted until 1862.
A year later, the bell tower was decorated with a bell donated by William I. The number of parishioners continued to increase. And again, the expansion of the temple was required. From 1903 to 1905, a major restructuring of the church was carried out. Initially, it was led by the architect V.A. Kossov, and later it was replaced by A.F. Loleit. The church was consecrated at the end of 1905. In 1915, the renovated building was badly damaged during the German pogroms. The Cathedral of Peter and Paul in Moscow in 1918 became a cathedral.
Temple after 1917
In 1924, the episcopal residence and the Supreme Church Council were moved to Moscow. And a few years later mass church persecutions began. Many valuables were seized from the cathedral, and ministers were arrested and subsequently shot.
In 1938, the Cathedral of Peter and Paul in Moscow was rebuilt and given over to the cinema. Later he was given to the filmstrip "Filmstrip". The studio management contributed to the redevelopment of the building. As a result, the interiors of the temple were almost completely destroyed.
Organ
During the war, the ancient organ was transferred from the cathedral to Novosibirsk, to the opera house. There it was dismantled, its main part was sent to scrap, and some details were used for decoration. Today, in the church opposite the altar part, an equally valuable organ was installed, which was made in 1898 at the largest organization for the production of these instruments in Germany - at the enterprise of Wilhelm Sauer.
Initially, he was in the Moscow Church of St. Michael. When it was closed in 1928, the organ was transferred to the Donskoy Monastery, where he was destined for a sad fate - work in the crematorium hall. In 2006, Reinhardt Hüfken, an excellent German craftsman, overhauled this tool. Today it sounds great during worship services and at concerts of organ music, which are held regularly in the church and cause great interest among Muscovites.
Recent temple history
Only in May 1991, Moscow Lutherans created an initiative group and submitted documents to the Department of Justice of the capital. In early June of that year, a positive response was received. The Moscow City Council decided to gradually transfer the building to the Lutheran community. However, this could not be done immediately.
The filmstrip studio, which was still located in the church complex, provided a place for worship, but she could not completely leave the building and the territory of the church.
In May 1992, the community received a chapel, which previously housed workshops for film studios, and reconstruction began. On the day of Holy Easter in 1993, the chapel was consecrated, and until 1998 divine services were held there. Filmstrip studio completely liberated the territory of the church complex in 1997.
It is noteworthy that the funds for the restoration of the cathedral came not only from local parishioners, but also from believers from Europe. Considerable help was rendered by the city authorities in rebuilding the temple. During the revival of the cathedral, much attention was paid to the adjacent territory. The yard was cleared of perennial layers of asphalt, and it sank to the level of 1905. Restoration work continued until 2005. Only the destroyed spire was restored much later - in 2010. The last time the temple was consecrated in 2008.
Peter and Paul Cathedral in Moscow: how to get there?
The temple is located at: Starosadsky lane, 7/10. Today, increasingly, guests of the capital want to see the Cathedral of Peter and Paul in Moscow. How to get to this temple by metro? The station closest to the cathedral is Kitay Gorod, and Lubyanka is located a little further.
From Kitay Gorod you should take a No. 25 or No. 45 trolleybus to the “Armenian Lane” stop. From the stop you need to walk a bit to the temple. The same transport will deliver you from the Lubyanka station.