The administrative center of the Samara region - a rather large and modern city of Samara - is the cultural, economic, scientific center of the Volga region. It has many historical and architectural monuments, and the churches and temples of the city have a long history. But in this article we will talk about a younger, but no less beautiful building - the Church of St. George the Victorious in Samara.
Its construction was associated with two memorable dates: the 55th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War and the 2000th anniversary of Christianity. The idea of building a unique memorial temple was expressed by the participants of the competition, who worked on the creation of a project for the reconstruction of Glory Square in 1997.
Temple of George the Victorious in Samara: history of creation
In the place where today the magnificent snow-white temple is located, in ancient times there was also a church, and muchlarger than the current one. In 1871, the first stone in its foundation was laid by Emperor Alexander II and Tsarevich Alexander.
A surprisingly beautiful temple, built on this land, accommodated almost two and a half thousand parishioners. In those days, it became one of the most impressive temple complexes in our country. The temple consecrated in the name of the Great Martyr George the Victorious was honored with his presence by Emperor Nicholas II, who, during a visit to Samara, together with the Empress, prayed here. It happened on July 1, 1904.
Temple in Soviet times
Like most places of worship in our country, with the advent of the Bolsheviks, the Samara Cathedral suffered a terrible fate. At that time, Archbishop Isidore lived in the city, who had already left the service and retired. This did not stop his tormentors, and the venerable old man was impaled. This tragedy happened near the very place where the memorial temple is located today.
The cathedral was blown up in 1934, but for more than five years workers dismantled the ruins of the famous throughout the country Church of St. George the Victorious in Samara.
The revival of the temple
Despite the barbaric destruction, the cathedral was destined to be reborn on this earth. The decision to build a new temple was made in 1997 by the participants in the competition for the best project for the reconstruction of Glory Square. For its construction, a place was chosen on a high picturesque slope, in a public garden behind the Eternal Flame.
Project development
Many veryinteresting projects, but the choice of experts fell on the work of the famous Samara architect Yuri Ivanovich Kharitonov, who is the author of such important objects for the city as the Zvezda entertainment center, the SKA pool and others.
Initially, the idea of construction was based on an architectural sketch-project of academician Ernst Zhiber, who entered the history of Samara as the author of the cathedral, which once stood on the site of the current square named after. Kuibyshev. Project architect Yu. I. Kharitonov designed the building in the style of the Russian traditional five domes.
Start of construction
The city authorities officially allocated land for rent to the Samara diocese on March 10, 1999. In early spring, Archbishop Sergius signed an agreement with contractors who began work on the creation of a memorial church. The construction site was visited by the Patriarch of All Russia Alexy II. On October 14, 1999, he performed a thanksgiving service here. Then, together with the Archbishop of Syzran and Samara Sergius, they laid a capsule with a message in the foundation of the Church of St. George the Victorious. In it, the ministers of the Church blessed the construction of the temple, designed to become the personification of victory, peace and love.
Already in the first days of May 2000, the top of the Church of St. George the Victorious in Samara was adorned with the main dome, which impressed the townspeople with its size and weight: the structure weighing 8 tons in height reaches 11 meters. At the same time, the procedure for lifting it lasted no more than 20 minutes. On this significant day, Archbishop Sergius of Syzran and Samara celebrated the liturgy here. The rest of the domes were occupiedtheir seats on May 27.
On October 14, 2000, Archbishop Sergiy consecrated 12 bells, which were ordered and cast according to all church canons from copper with additives at the Vera bell foundry in Voronezh. The largest (Blagovest) weighs 560 kg. Other bells - from 5 to 352 kg. Their total weight exceeds 1200 kg. All of them are named. The domes are coated with nitrotitanium, a special compound that can last for several decades in urban environments, while gold must be restored after 5-7 years.
Today the temple received the status of a monument. It carefully stores memorial books with the names of city residents who died on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, as well as those who gave their lives in military conflicts outside the country, took part in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident, died in a fire in the building of the Samara GUVD (1999). Their feat of arms is also reflected in the ornament of the temple. On its facade there is a commemorative plaque with the names of all those who made donations for the construction.
On the territory adjacent to the temple, on July 8, 2008, a monument was opened to the holy pious Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia of Murom, who became a model of love and family fidelity. It is symbolic that this event took place on the All-Russian Family Day. Currently, the Church of St. George the Victorious in Samara and the monument constitute a single historical and church complex, located in one of the most beautiful places in the city. He fit perfectly into hispanorama, becoming not just a spiritual abode, but also one of the main architectural sights of Samara.
The new temple for the townspeople and all citizens of Russia has become a reminder of what was destroyed, as well as our repentance, a statement that our faith has won and survived.
Description of the Church of St. George the Victorious in Samara: architectural features
Initially, when discussing the project of the cathedral in Samara, the architectural group led by Yu. I. Kharitonov decided to take as a basis the old projects, according to which the temple was built in tsarist times. But over time, the developers had to admit that this idea was not suitable for a large city, so the project underwent some changes: spacious underground rooms were added, the internal structure was changed, and as a result, a beautiful project appeared with closed stairs, transparent bypass galleries, choirs for singers.
The Church of St. George the Victorious in Samara, symmetrical and five-domed, is a vivid example of the classical Byzantine style. The building area is over 250 m². It is designed for 200 people. The building has three levels:
- lower (refectory, office space, baptismal);
- medium (altar with a five-tiered iconostasis, prayer hall);
- upper (cells, choirs).
Its height (to the base of the cross) is 30 meters. The walls are made of brick and topped with Ural marble. This is also a small deviation from the project, which initially provided for facing with Zhiguli white stone. It was the design and then the manufacture of facing slabs, when a special calculation and a separate drawing is performed for each element, that the architect Yu. I. Kharitonov considered the most difficult to work with.
In the upper part of the temple there is an observation deck, which offers a stunning view of the Volga and the surroundings of the city. In the lower part there is a baptismal with a marble font. In a solemn atmosphere in the presence of the townspeople and guests of Samara, the temple opened its doors on May 6, 2002. Its uniqueness was also confirmed by foreign experts. The temple was awarded a diploma of the International Festival "Architecture-2002" in the field of architecture.
Service Schedule
The temple is open daily from 8.00 to 19.00. Divine services are held according to the schedule:
- morning service at 07.45, evening service at 17.00 on weekdays;
- on Saturday and on the eve of church holidays at 17.00 the all-night vigil begins;
- On Sundays and holidays, confession is held at 06.45 and 08.45, liturgy - at 07.00 and 09.00.
How to get to the temple?
It's not difficult to get to the Church of St. George the Victorious in Samara. Cathedral address: st. Mayakovsky, 11. To visit it, you should use the fixed-route taxi No. 24, 92, 232, bus No. 24, tram No. 5, 15, 20 to the stop "Samarskaya Square". You can also get there by buses No. 11 and 61 to the stop "Hotel Volga".
Visitor reviews
Many people who visited the unique temple-monument believe that modern masters managed to recreatemagnificent building. The temple impresses not only with its architectural features, but also with interesting interior decoration that delights: hand-painted walls, ancient icons, including the image of St. George the Victorious and a particle of his relics … Unfortunately, it is forbidden to take pictures inside the temple, and many would I could show my friends and acquaintances. The temple is spacious and bright. Despite the fact that it accommodates much fewer believers than the ancient, ruined one, an atmosphere of peace and tranquility reigns in it.
