The Transfiguration Cathedral in Gubkin takes the second place in size, second only to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Acquaintance with this attraction will be fascinating and informative. Below is information for visiting the shrine.
The beginning of a wonderful story
The construction of the cathedral was initiated by the leadership and administration of the Lebedinsky GOK represented by General Director Anatoly Timofeevich Kalashnikov. He was a great organizer, so the planned project was successfully realized.
The temple was built in honor of the soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War on the territory of the Black Earth region. The duration of the construction stretched over the period from 1993 to 1996.
Brotherly help
The Transfiguration Cathedral in Gubkin was built with the support of Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Czech and Greek specialists. The solemn consecration of the building took place on September 26, 1996. It was performed by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.
Descriptionshrines
The building of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Gubkin consists of:
- of the five thrones;
- of the main altar of the Transfiguration of the Savior;
- two aisles: Onufrievsky and Starooskolsky;
- chapel of the Peschanskaya Icon of the Mother of God;
- All Saints Chapel (on the territory of the baptismal church);
- altar dedicated to St. Anatoly and Patriarch of Constantinople (on the territory of the lower church).
It is noteworthy that the cathedral bell tower includes 11 bells, which were made by the Dutch royal firm Petit and Fritzen. The mass of the largest of them is 6.2 tons, and the smallest is 10 kg.
Interior splendor
After passing the main altar, on its left side you can see the deeply revered icon of the Mother of God, whose name is "Help in Childbirth". Its consecration dates back to the 17th century. At that time, the shrine was in Novgorod.
Every Sunday, a prayer service is held at this icon, accompanied by the blessing of water. Believers turn to the Mother of God with prayers for intercession. The icon has a lot of jewelry. They are gratefully left by those whose prayers were answered.
Better and better
In the fall of 2004, the walls of the temple began to be repainted. A major role in organizing these works belongs to Andrey Alekseevich Ugarov, Managing Director of OAO OEMK. The work of masters of artistic painting was led by Alexander Rabotnov.
Modernity
Today Spaso-Preobrazhenskythe cathedral in Gubkin is decorated with fresh wall paintings that tell about the events from the earthly life of the Savior, about His Divine Transfiguration. Many stories are connected with the Holy Trinity, the Mother of God, Old Testament and New Testament events, stories about the lives of saints.
The interior continues to change thanks to woodcarving, new icons and icon cases, church utensils. A new solid department was created by the forces of the Sofrino masters.
Spiritual development of the younger generation
In 1997, the Archbishop of Belgorod and Starooskolsky blessed the parishioners of the Gubkin Cathedral for the opening of the Sunday School, which today is actively attended by about 100 students.
Priests
The Transfiguration Cathedral of Gubkin attracts all the clergy of the diocese, pilgrims from different parts of the country. His Eminence Archbishop John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol in 2000 blessed the cathedral clergy to celebrate the diocesan services. About three hundred priests are invited to celebrate the festive Christmas services and communion.
But the most significant are joint services that contribute to the strengthening of catholicity, the unity of believers.
Spirituality Center
Today, the significance of this cathedral is that it has concentrated all the spirituality of the Gubkin territory. The holding of morning and evening services, the performance of the Sacraments, the spiritual nourishment of the faithful and the education of the parishioners in the spirit of Christian morality contribute tostrengthening the foundations of Orthodoxy, instilling love for their culture and Motherland.
Tips for visitors
It is impossible to revive spirituality without fulfilling the daily mission of social service of the church. Divine services in the Transfiguration Cathedral of Gubkin according to the schedule are held as follows:
- On Sundays at 8:30 the Divine Liturgy begins, after which a moleben is served at the icon of Our Lady "Help in childbirth".
- At 16:30, a prayer service and an akathist are held in honor of St. Joasaph of Belgorod.
- Memorial services are served on Mondays at 9:30.
- On weekdays - from Tuesday to Saturday - the service of the Divine Liturgy begins at 8 am. Evening worship time - 16:30.
- Tuesday - they read an akathist before the "Peschanskaya" icon.
- Wednesday - Akathist to St. Nicholas.
- Thursday - Akathist at the icon "Inexhaustible Chalice".
- Saturday - All-night vigil begins at 16:30.
Summarize
A visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral in Gubkin fills the soul with bright energy. Experience the magnificence of the country's second largest temple!
