History of the Church of Panteleimon in Yekaterinburg

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon can safely be called a holy youth. This is how he is always portrayed, and this is how he really was. On many icons, the saint is depicted with amazing softness of face. The face of the saint is extraordinary. In 1993, the Temple of Panteleimon was created in Yekaterinburg.

The Life of the Great Martyr

Saint Panteleimon was born at the end of the 3rd century after the Nativity of Christ in Nicomedia. Now it is a city in Turkey on the coast of the Marmara Sea. At that time, the empire was ruled by Maximian, a cruel tormentor and persecutor of Christians. Panteleimon's father was a pagan and an ardent follower of idolatry. Mother is a Christian who diligently served God. From early childhood, she raised her son in Christian piety. After the early death of his mother, his father sent his son to a pagan school, and then sent him to study the medical art. Panteleimon quickly grasped everything he was taught, and soon surpassed all his peers. Soon the local priest Yermolai converted the young man to the Christian faith. After the death of his father Panteleimonreceived a rich inheritance. Immediately he granted freedom to slaves, distributed property to the poor, and devoted himself to healing and healing. Very soon the name of the healer became known to everyone around. Other healers held a grudge against Panteleimon and reported him to Maximian. The king summoned the saint to himself and ordered him to renounce Christ. Panteleimon refused and was severely punished. The king, in anger, ordered the martyr to be hung on a tree and his body to be cut with iron claws. Panteleimon steadfastly endured all suffering. However, he did not stop praying even for a minute.

Construction of the Temple of Panteleimon in Yekaterinburg

In 1993, Dmitry Baibakov, a medical student and a priest at the same time, became an intern with a degree in Psychology at a local psychological clinic. It was he who initially came up with a bright idea - to open an Orthodox church on the territory of the hospital. He explained such an initiative by the fact that mentally ill people require maximum attention to themselves, that such diseases must be treated not only with medication, but also with spiritual ones.

Then it was decided to organize the Church of St. Panteleimon in Yekaterinburg. Initially, the premises were not adapted for this. One-story brick building - the premises of the second former women's department. It was slightly renovated at the expense of the parishioners, they made wooden candle holders, hung paper icons on the walls, and built an iconostasis. Much later, a beautiful temple with golden domes appeared in the forest. For the 20th anniversary of the building, its walls were decoratedamazing paintings. Now everyone who enters the temple of Panteleimon in Yekaterinburg, raising his head up, meets the eyes of the Lord-destroyer. Who, both in life and in church, constantly looks at us always and everywhere.

Painting of the temple of the healer Panteleimon in Yekaterinburg

In church painting, a canon for the placement of plots has long been established. The whole painting is divided into 4 large parts. Dome with sails depicting evangelists. Between them are important church holidays. The southern wall of the temple is completely dedicated to the life of Jesus Christ. On the paintings you can trace, read the entire Gospel. What events the life of the Savior was filled with, what miracles he performed. The northern wall of the temple is dedicated to scenes from the life of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon. His miracles and sufferings are depicted here. Resurrection of the dead, healing of the paralyzed, healing of the blind. And next we see how his suffering begins. Here they burn him, tied to a tree, with torches. Throw to wild animals. Here is his tender body on a terrible wheel. Finally, a huge warrior beheads a kneeling saint - his head in a golden halo lies obediently on the ground. On the western wall of the temple, icon painters, according to tradition, depicted pictures of the Last Judgment. This is the coming event that awaits all of us. The altar is the main part, the holy of holies of each temple. It is also painted with stunningly beautiful images of the Mother of God, the Lord and His Saints.

Modernity

This year the temple of the sainthealer Panteleimon in Yekaterinburg will celebrate its 26th anniversary. Is it a lot or a little? In terms of human life, 26 years is the age of an adult. During this time, he managed to do some things, certain actions. So, we can talk about the good fruits brought to the Lord.

Many parishioners got to the temple of Panteleimon quite by accident, but it was not possible to leave so easily. There is something attractive, unusual in it, which cannot be explained and cannot be expressed in words. That is why there are so many young people, young families, parents with many children. On Sundays, the temple resembles a real kindergarten.

Library under construction

There is a large library fund in the Panteleimon temple in Yekaterinburg. It is constantly growing and now has about 15 thousand books. Despite the remote location of the temple of the healer Panteleimon, and maybe even because of this, there are always a lot of parishioners in the temple. In addition to prayers, you can also do spiritual reading here. The library takes into account the interests of parishioners of all ages.