To start your story about the Holy Simeonovsky Cathedral of Chelyabinsk is that he is with a happy fate. Initially, it was not a temple, but an attributed cemetery church, which did not even have its own staff. Services for parishioners were conducted by clergy from a nearby church. This was a common occurrence in those years. And this church appeared not by chance, but at the great request of its parishioners. They turned to the Bishop of Orenburg with a request for the blessing of the construction of the temple.
From the history of the construction of the temple
Permission from the ruling bishop was obtained, in January 1873, construction began on the site of the collapsed wooden chapel, which was located on Kyshtymskaya Street in Chelyabinsk. From the documents of the Chelyabinsk Museum of Local History , it is known that private donations were used to build the temple. For ten years, construction has been going on. In 1883, the church was consecrated, giving the name of St. Simeon of Verkhotursky, considered the heavenly patron of the Urals and Western Siberia.
The history of the receipt of the status of a separate parish by the church did not preserve reliable information. From some sources, this was before the revolution, from others, after it. But this happened until 1929, when the Holy Trinity Church was closed by the Bolsheviks.
In 1930, the city authorities planned to close the St. Simeon Church and use its buildings for the needs of the city. However, as believers say, the ways of the Lord are inscrutable, literally at the last moment, a resolution of the Council of People's Commissars “On Religious Associations” came in, which allowed the worship services to be carried out. The temple was neither seized nor destroyed. The service in the St. Simeon Cathedral resumed.
War and post-war time
During the war years, the people helped the front as much as they could. The parish of the temple was no exception. Funds for front-line soldiers were also raised here. Archpriest of St. Simeon Cathedral led patriotic activities among parishioners.
Beginning in 1940, and throughout the post-war period, the construction of administrative and utility buildings continues in the church. A small chapel is attached to the temple in honor of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. A brick fence is being erected around the temple. In 1947, a bishop, Bishop Juvenal, was appointed to the Chelyabinsk diocese. His appointment is associated with the adoption of the temple in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin.
The 50s of the twentieth century is not the best time for believers. The years were marked by Khrushchev's persecution of the church. In 1960, the parishes of the Chelyabinsk diocese were transferred to Sverdlovsk bishop Flavian. The temple in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin is closed. His parish is transferred to the Holy Simeonovsky Cathedral of Chelyabinsk, which again turned out to be the only one operating in the city.
Reconstruction of the temple
During the second reconstruction of the cathedral, which took place in 1977, extensions were made on both sides of the temple, increasing its area. Reconstruction was also carried out in the altar. It has been expanded. From 1986 to 1990 - the time of the third major reconstruction of the St. Simeon Church. It was started thanks to a letter from believers sent to various authorities: to the City Council of Chelyabinsk, the Archbishop of Sverdlovsk and the administrator of the Patriarchate. The letter stated a request to expand the area of ​​the temple, since it did not accommodate all believers even on Sundays, not to mention the holidays.
In 1986, the city council made a decision allowing the church council to propose a reconstruction plan, and a year later, according to the developed document, work began on the global reconstruction of the Holy Simeonovsky Cathedral in Chelyabinsk. Reconstruction was carried out by professional builders, as well as volunteer parishioners. For parishioners this was a difficult obedience to the construction of the cathedral. Some of them took a job at a local brick factory, so that they could buy a brick with the money they earned. With building materials during this period of time, the country was very difficult.
Reconstruction result
Periodically reconstructed temple was inside the new building. The view of the bell tower and the head of the temple have been preserved. The building took the form of a cross. All the chapels of the temple with crosses are covered with gold leaf. The result of all the reconstructions was the tripartite Holy Simeon Cathedral, the area of ​​which was now three times the original.
During the perestroika period, the Orthodox library resumed work, a professional choir and choir appeared in the church, which included professional musicians. In 1987, a service was held with the participation of a choir. In 1988, a solemn service was organized in the renovated church, dedicated to the millennium of the baptism of Russia. In Chelyabinsk, he was led by Archbishop Melchizedek (Lebedev), who came from Sverdlovsk.
Murals in the cathedral
The description of the St. Simeon Cathedral should be started with the fact that after reconstruction it was decorated with portals, the corners of the building and windows with platbands with tiled friezes were decorated. Throughout the building’s facade, murals and mosaics were made of mosaics of venerable saints in Russia: the Savior, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Sergius of Radonezh, and Seraphim of Sarov.
Painting in the interior of the temple is constantly updated and added. In the 90s of the XX century, Moscow artists performed the interior work of the temple. The monumental scenes from the New Testament and the images of many saints revered in Russia adorned the Holy Simeon Cathedral. The shrines stored in the museum funds of Chelyabinsk were transferred to the cathedral. These include a reliquary, which stores the relics of saints, ancient shirts and icons, vestments of clergy and church utensils, as well as miraculous icons of the Virgin. During the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the temple, the once lost relics of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called were transferred.
Work in the temple and landscaping
In 2002-2005, the iconostases of the southern and northern aisles were updated. You can admire the temple both outside and inside, and it will take more than one hour. Painting on the walls and arches, which was made by Moscow artists, really happened. Visiting this cathedral and looking at the completed artwork, even atheists can think about the meaning of life. Thanks to its delicate color, everything seems to be floating in the air.
In 2004-2005, work continued in the buildings adjacent to the temple. The appearance of the temple territory was constantly changing, flower gardens, rock gardens with strange plants were being arranged, a zone was created for parishioners where you can relax on a bench and enjoy flower gardens, a three-tier waterfall began to work.
The next was a stone fence, which was updated, speakers were bred so that the service could be heard both in the narthex and in the temple. In 2009, a porcelain iconostasis was installed in the temple, as in New Athos, Yekaterinburg and Rome.
Sunday school work
The Holy Simeonovsky Cathedral of Chelyabinsk in 1990 opened the doors of a Sunday school, where both children and adults got acquainted with the Law of God, church chants were taught, and students were introduced to icon painting. The school is still operating. Children study for two years. The first year is devoted to the Law of God, the Church Slavonic language, and educational lessons about the temple. The second year of study is devoted to biblical history and the right guidelines for life. Adults study for three years, studying the history of the Christian church and the foundations of the Orthodox faith. The curriculum includes the art of the Orthodox icon, chanting and gospel conversations. The school is located in the Holy Simeonovsky Cathedral of Chelyabinsk. Address: st. Kyshtym, 32.
Pastoral courses and workshops
At the same time, pastoral courses began to work in the cathedral. They received the status of a religious school in 1995. The school works to this day. In the first decade of the 21st century, the youth club “Hold on!” Began to work at the temple. An Orthodox gymnasium opened in 2002. She bears the name of the patron saint of the Simeonovsky Cathedral of Chelyabinsk (address: 454018, Chelyabinsk, 48 Kommunalnaya St.).
In 1991, under the leadership of N.V. Chekotina was established icon-painting workshop. It develops in line with the traditions of ancient Moscow icon painting. The icons of Simeonovsky Cathedral are made by students of N.V. Chekotina. Many icons of saints, even recently canonized. A gold sewing workshop and a wood carving workshop were opened in the temple. They worked for more than ten years and made a tremendous contribution to the culture of the region. All of these workshops are currently closed.
Church services
In the Simeon Cathedral of Chelyabinsk, daily liturgies and evening services are performed. Exceptions may be some days of Lent. Holy baptism of infants and adults takes place daily. To do this, you must first register in the registry of the temple. The orthodox library works. Anyone can come into it by signing up for a passport. Over the years of the temple’s existence, interesting and useful material has been collected in it.
Social assistance and charity
There is a social service at the temple, which is dedicated to helping lonely elderly people, large families and single mothers. St. Simeon Cathedral provides food for a children's shelter, a boarding school and a veteran's house.
For many years, the St. Simeon Church has been helping kindergarten for children with disabilities with impaired musculoskeletal functions. With the funds allocated by the temple, medical equipment is purchased. Sunday priests and students are patronizing a correctional boarding school for orphans.
This temple is the decoration of his city. He is beautiful both externally and internally. Parishioners come to this temple with grief and joy, and always find solace when they visit it.