The majestic church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki was erected not so long ago - at the beginning of the last century, or rather, in 1913. The architect P. Tolstykh developed the project for this church. Believers raised funds. The chairman of the construction committee was Archpriest John Kedrov. It was this priest who became the head priest of the new church, and later was repressed and evicted from Moscow. The temple itself is still sometimes called "cedar".
Architectural features
The church was built on the basement and has the shape of a cross in plan. Its height from the base to the top of the main dome is 34 meters. According to fashion trends in the architecture of the early twentieth century, the Sokolniki Ascension Church was erected in the Art Nouveau style, slightly pretentious, but at the same time light and elegant. The central part of the complex is crowned with a tent octagon, decorated with four glaucus. Elements of the old Russian style give special charm to this building - kokoshniki under the chapters, arched portals, high windows. Present and sky-high elements of the Gothic. And although this style is called Russian modernism, the architectural design of the temple can be safely reckoned with the direction of "eclecticism". The temple is crowned by nine bulbous domes.
The main architectural feature of this church is that its altar is not facing the east (as is customary in Orthodox religious buildings), but to the south. It is believed that Archpriest Kedrov himself chose this orientation of the building, since it is in this part of the world that the birthplace of Christ and the place of his resurrection are located.
Father John Kedrov
Father John Kedrov was born in 1870 in the suburbs. After seminary, he served in Moscow in a small hospital church. With full justification, Father John can be called a “people's” priest. He provided assistance to his parishioners very often. In matters of faith, he was strict, but fair. Often, after talking with him, a person completely changed his life.
How the temple was laid
There were quite a lot of churches at the beginning of the century in Sokolniki. However, all of them were small and departmental, that is, they opened with various kinds of charitable societies. There was no big temple in this area. Therefore, Father Kedrov came up with the idea of its construction.
The Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki was founded in late September 1908. Building money was raised by local boys. They were hung large circles on the neck under a trifle and issued special certificates confirming that the funds are really needed for the construction of the church. The consecration of the main throne of the temple took place in 1913. Other thrones (in honor of the apostles Peter and Paul, as well as the Bogolyubsky mother of God) were consecrated in 1915-1916.
Legends of the construction of the temple
Several legends have survived regarding the construction of this church. Here, for example, is one of them. After the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki was already erected, it was time to settle accounts with the workers. However, Father John did not have enough money for this. And then a real miracle happened. An old pilgrim came to the future head priest of the Resurrection Church. Father John settled him in one of the cells of the temple. However, going into the room the next morning, I found it empty. On the table was a considerable monetary donation. The funds were enough just to pay off the workers.
Church of the Resurrection of Christ after the revolution
Unlike most Moscow churches, the Resurrection Church was not only not destroyed after the revolution, but remained active right up to the present day. Often he was called to close by factory workers, medical staff of a local psychiatric clinic, etc. However, the Sokolniki Moscow City Council did not dare to deprive the faithful of their last refuge in the area.
In 1945, the Local Cathedral was held in the church (the first since 1918), at which Alexy I was elected patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. 47 bishops, 87 priests and 38 lay people took part in the event. Alexy I led the Russian Orthodox Church for almost a quarter of a century until his death in 1970. Nowadays, the temple is included in the list of structures proposed for state protection in the capital.
Shrines of the temple
The Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki has a shrine widely known beyond its borders. This is an old Iveron icon of the Mother of God, since 1669, located in the Iverskaya Chapel near the Kremlin. It was written by order of Patriarch Nikon. After the revolution, the chapel and gate were demolished. So the icon ended up in Sokolniki. She remained in the temple of the Resurrection even after the chapel with the gate was restored.
In the church there is another shrine very revered by believers - the icon of the Mother of God “Holy”, previously located in the Holy Monastery.
Today, as during the years of Soviet rule, anyone can visit the temple. It is located at: Sokolnicheskaya Square, house 6. Everyone who cares about Russian history, as well as believers, should definitely visit at least once such an interesting place as the temple in Sokolniki. Schedule of services: the eight-hour Liturgy (daily) and Vespers at 5 p.m. (on Wednesday - to St. Nicholas, on Thursday - to St. Panteleimon, on Friday - to the Iveron Mother of God). On Sundays and public holidays, Liturgies are held at 6.45 and 9.30. There is a Sunday school at the temple.