In the central part of Russia, 200 km from Moscow in the city of Tula, there are two remarkable churches named after St. Seraphim of Sarov. One of them, one might say, is above ground, and the other is underground. They will be discussed below.
Let's start with the first temple of Seraphim of Sarov (Tula). It was built in 1905 at the expense of we althy landowners Ermolaev-Zverev - Alexander, Nikolai and Sergei Stefanovich.
Hospitality
Once upon a time, the church had a kind of nursing home and a shelter for homeless children. In 1914, documentary information indicated that there were more than 130 people in the shelter.
There were only two people serving in the church - a priest and a psalmist. At the temple there was a small chapel, named after St. Theodosius of Chernigov. It was located on the newly built Trade Rows.
At that time, a popular local publication called"Tula Diocesan Gazette". This newspaper has repeatedly described the temple of Seraphim of Sarov in Tula and reported that this church, despite its small size and inconspicuous appearance, has always been especially clean and comfortable. This shows that the parishioners loved and cared for their church.
New time
With the advent of the new government, the temple gradually fell into poverty and ruin, and then completely stood closed for a long time. Closer to 1976, the repository of the city regional executive committee was organized in it.
In 2002, the church of Seraphim of Sarov in Tula was handed over to Orthodox believers. And in the same year the first Divine Liturgy was held. Today it is performed every day.
There are two altars in the temple: one is in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov (celebrated on August 1, January 15), the second is in honor of St. Seraphim of Vyritsky (celebrated on April 3).
Holy reliquaries
The most important shrine of the temple is a particle of light relics, stored in a special reliquary on the waist icon of the holy elder.
And one more shrine - a piece of rags - is kept on the full-length icon of St. Seraphim.
The great value of the temple is the relics of the Diveyevo wives - Elena, Alexandra and Martha (holy particles are stored on their own icons).
In 2004, a Sunday school for children was established here. To this day, restoration work is gradually being carried out in the temple.
Every Sunday at 17.00 the Akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov with the distribution of consecrated crackers. Anyone can come.
Address of the temple of Seraphim of Sarov in Tula: Sovestsky district, F. Engels st. 32 a.
It is open daily from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm.
And now consider the second underground church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Tula. Do you know about this? When you first hear about another, some kind of underground church in honor of St. Seraphim, beloved by all Orthodox believers, thoughts immediately come to mind that this place looks like something similar to the catacomb churches of the Vatican, lit by torches and full of mysteries.
In Tula, in the Zarechensky district, this temple is located, but if you ask passers-by where it is, confusion will begin again and you will be pointed to a completely different church with a different name. It turns out that this unique underground temple is located in the basement of the temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
These two churches are in the same building, we will find out how it happened later.
Temple of Seraphim of Sarov. Tula. History
The stories of the formation of these two churches are tied into a single whole. It all started from the moment when, in 1891, Archbishop Sergius filed an appeal to the Tula Duma, where he asked to give him a certain land plot, on which Vladyka wanted to first build a church, a parochial school, an orphanage and a vocational school.
He asked to be given only land, the priest did not talk about financial assistance, as he wanted to cope with his own strength and means.
Duma could not help but be interested in thisquestion, and she agreed to give the land to the priest, but the deal stalled as the priest died suddenly.
Start of construction
The Archbishop's successor, Archpriest Michael (Rozhdestvensky), undertook to continue such a charitable work.
In 1891, the territory was fenced off, building materials and funds began to be collected. Exactly one year later, two floors were built on this site, and a year later they were renovated inside.
Gradually, the plan of the late Archbishop Sergius was embodied, and the parochial school, living quarters for teachers, a craft workshop and living quarters for orphans were soon placed on the floors.
Children mastered locksmith and turning skills, their products were sold. The funds received from this were spent on the maintenance of the complex.
Then a parish school for girls and a hospital for the poor were opened.
Aisles
In 1898, the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh was built, in which Father Michael became the first rector. The aisle of Seraphim of Sarov did not yet exist and could not exist, because his canonization took place only in 1903, initiated by the Romanov royal family.
The temple had several aisles: St. Sergius of Radonezh, St. Panteleimon the Healer, Mother of God of Kazan, St. Nicholas the Pleasant.
The basement in the temple has existed for a long time, but it had nothing to do with St. Seraphim of Sarov.
This church initially operated without a parish, it was attended by orphan boys from the school.
Desolation
In 1915 Father Michael died, then the October Revolution began on the 17th. The temple was used as a utility room, at first there was a tobacco warehouse for some time, then a transit prison and a utility room for the military. In 1929, the temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh was completely closed.
In 1991, in the Tula diocese, the church was returned to believers and its lower altar was consecrated in honor of Seraphim of Sarov.
The Sanctuary was rebuilt from scratch. There were many options, but it was decided to choose a name in honor of the reverend under study.
Description of the temple of Seraphim of Sarov in Tula
This building is nondescript and ascetic, which is quite consistent with the very nature of the wretched old man, as he called himself. There are no wall paintings. However, this place is able to charge with spiritual energy, strengthen in faith and tune in a positive way.
God's providence is visible in all this. Two elders - the two main lamps of the Orthodox faith in Russia.
No one knows how the underground premises of the Seraphim of Sarov temple in Tula used to look like. In Soviet times, a stoker was organized here with a coal warehouse for heating the building.
To equip the temple, it was necessary to deepen it, and it turned out to be 4 meters high. Many years of destruction and reconstruction have passed. Now the rector Vyacheslav Kovalevsky serves in it.
If the upper temple strikes with magnificent and solemn, like an Orthodox worship, painting, then the lower one is very quiet and concise, likespirit-filled mind, devoid of superfluous thoughts. Amazing difference.
Address of the temple of Seraphim of Sarov in Tula: Zarechensky district, st. October 76. Working hours from 7.30 to 18.30.
