The people of Izhevsk are called the Ural Petersburg and the arms capital of the country. Once founded as a small factory village, today it is considered one of the largest settlements in Russia. And the Orthodox cathedrals of Izhevsk are the hallmark of the city and a symbol of the spiritual revival of Udmurtia. Let's consider them in the article.
St. Michael's Cathedral
The cathedral is located on the highest point of Izhevsk and is one of the most beautiful places of worship. Once upon a time there was the very first city cemetery, founded in 1765.
A little later, a small wooden Holy Trinity Chapel was erected on the territory of the churchyard, which was rebuilt into a church in 1874. In 1810 there was a fire, and the cemetery church burned down completely.
In 1855, a large chapel was built, consecrated in the name of the Archangel Michael. In 1876, fundraising for the construction of a new large church began in Izhevsk. In 1896, the construction of the new Mikhailovsky Church began on the territory of the city necropolis.
By 1907, the main construction was completed. The majestic building was visible from a distance of 20 km, and the chime of bells was spreading in all the surroundings. Further improvement of the shrine was discontinued in connection with the revolutionary turmoil. The ceremonial consecration of the temple took place in the autumn of 1915. And in 1929 the temple was closed by the Bolsheviks.
By 1937, nothing was left of the building of the Mikhailovsky Cathedral in Izhevsk. The walls of the temple were dismantled, and masonry bricks were used in the construction of urban buildings. Bells and crosses were removed and sent for re-melting.
According to the plans of the authorities, a theater was to be built on this site, but there were not enough funds for this. As a result, they set up a park and installed a fountain.
Current state
The cathedral was rebuilt and rebuilt from 2004 to 2007. Today it is a whole temple complex, which, in addition to St. Michael's Cathedral, includes the Kazan Church, the chapel of Peter and Fevronia, a cemetery, Jordan and a bypass gallery - a graveyard. Across the territory, lawns and bronze sculptures are set.
The cathedral is made in the Russian-Byzantine style. Unlike other Izhevsk churches, it does not have a front facade and looks the same from any point of view. Today, having overcome all difficulties, the cathedral pleases the citizens and guests of Izhevsk with its splendor.
Address: st. Karl Marx, d. 222.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The model for its construction was the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called in Kronstadt. Nevsky temple was erected under the leadership of architect S. Dudin in 1823.
The magnificent building of the cathedral is designed in the style of strict Russian classicism. The cube-shaped structure is covered by a circular vault of the drum. Four powerful supports with smooth angles support the strut.
Initially, the cathedral was decorated in a restrained style, but in 1870 its interiors became more grandiose. The craftsmen gilded the stucco molding, architectural elements, domes and iconostasis.
Nevsky Church has long been considered the main cathedral of Izhevsk. Several churches and chapels were attributed to him. Including St. Michael's Cathedral.
Soviet period
In 1922, all values were seized from the Nevsky Cathedral (Izhevsk) by the Communists. In 1929, the temple was robbed again and finally closed. The building housed a club and a museum of atheism. Later, the Colossus Children's Cinema was reconstructed and opened.
As a result, unique wall paintings and most of the icons were forever lost. The iconostasis is completely destroyed and the domes are dismantled. Only in 1990 did the revival of the temple begin. One of the most beautiful cathedrals of Izhevsk was restored and re-painted.
The re-consecration of the temple took place in the winter of 1994. The working schedule of the Nevsky Cathedral (Izhevsk) can be found on the official website of the Udmurt diocese.
Address: st. Gorky, d. 66.
Trinity Church
One of the oldest cathedrals in Izhevsk was built in 1814 by the architect S. Dudin on the site of the old cemetery chapel. Merchants, petty officials and artisans were buried on this graveyard. Immediately in 1825 the architect S. Dudin himself was buried.
Initially, it was a single-throne stone church with wooden floors. Later, a low bell tower and a large three-story tent belfry were attached to the temple. To this day, the building of the temple came in a very modified form.
In 1938, all the clergy of the church were arrested, and the Trinity Cathedral of Izhevsk itself was closed. The dome and the altar were dismantled and destroyed. Local authorities issued a decree on the demolition of a religious institution and the destruction of a cemetery. In their place, it was decided to build a stadium and park.
But in Moscow, the leadership did not accept the stadium construction project. The planned demolition of the cathedral building in Izhevsk did not take place. From archival documents it is known that during the war a bakery was located in the temple.
Rebirth
In the fall of 1945, the shrine was returned to believers. By this time, the cathedral was destroyed and beheaded, completely devoid of decoration and requiring major repairs.
In the spring of 1946, the re-consecration and first worship of the revived church took place, and in the fall it was given the status of a cathedral. In the period from 1985 to 1991, the appearance of the cathedral began to take shape, as it is now.
A single-tier bell tower, a baptismal church and other two-story extensions were erected. In 2000, another church was built on the territory of Trinity Cathedral, dedicated to the healer Panteleimon. The Diocesan Administration is right there.
In May 2018, on the territory of the Trinity Cathedral in Izhevsk, the reburial and burial of the remains of more than 2.5 thousand people who were once buried in the ruined and destroyed church cemetery were made.
Address: st. Udmurt, d. 220.