Church of the Savior on Senya (Rostov): description, history and interesting facts

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

In the center of Rostov the Great, on the shores of Lake Nero, there is a unique monument of Russian medieval architecture - the Rostov Kremlin, built in the second half of the 17th century by order of Metropolitan Jonah (Sysoevich) and was the bishop's residence. Since ancient times, the ancient Church of the Savior on Senyah, which was once the central building of the entire complex, has been preserved on its territory. After the death of its founder, it became the house temple of all his successors. The current address of the church: Rostov the Great, st. Petrovicheva, d. 1. What is known today about its history?

Evidence of past years

The exact date of the founding of the Church of the Savior on Senya in Rostov Veliky can be established by the inscription made on its domed cross and well preserved over the past centuries. It says that in 1675, under the pious sovereign Alexei Mikhailovich, its construction was completed, and the main altar was consecrated in honor of the Image Not Made by Hands of our Savior Jesus Christ. From archival materials it is known that this particular church wasthe center of spiritual life not only of the bishop's house, but also of the adjacent part of the city.

Fires and delayed church rebuilding

Further, the chronicle reports that twice - in 1730 and 1758. - The Rostov Kremlin was engulfed in terrible fires, which caused significant damage to the Church of the Savior on Senya. The well-known architect S. V. Ukhtomsky arrived from Moscow to restore the fire-damaged shrine.

In order to minimize the risk of fire in the future, he proposed to replace the previously existing wooden roofing with iron. This work dragged on for almost a quarter of a century and was completed only in 1783, after all the components were forged at Siberian factories and, upon their arrival at the site, were installed according to the previously developed project.

Debunked Shrines

Thus, the Church of the Savior on Senyah was largely secured in terms of fire, but ahead of her and the rest of the churches located on the territory of the Kremlin, new unforeseen troubles awaited. It so happened that in 1788, by order of the Most Holy Synod, the episcopal chair was transferred from Rostov the Great to Yaroslavl. This purely administrative innovation had, unfortunately, far-reaching consequences.

Most of the clergy left their homes and moved after their archpastor to the Volga. Rostov churches were empty, and services in them ceased. ATTo top it off, many of them were transferred to the jurisdiction of civil institutions, the leadership of which began to use the temple premises for economic purposes. It is known, for example, that the Church of the Savior on Senyah was given over to a wine and s alt warehouse.

Righteous Wrath of High Persons

This blatant sacrilege, analogous only to the desecration of churches during the Bolshevik regime, continued throughout the first half of the 19th century. The buildings of ancient temples were destroyed under the influence of dampness and one after another came into disrepair. The secular authorities did not think of any repairs.

The end of such a blasphemous attitude towards domestic shrines was put after in 1851 the city was visited by members of the reigning House - Grand Dukes Nikolai Nikolaevich and his brother Mikhail. Together with them, the future Empress Maria Alexandrovna, the wife of Alexander II, arrived, whose portrait is presented below. Horrified by what they saw, they ordered that the temple buildings be immediately placed at the disposal of the diocesan authorities and that comprehensive work be started to restore them. Thus began a process very similar to what was repeated a century and a half later, already during the years of perestroika.

Revival of desecrated shrines

Having given instructions and demanding their immediate execution, high-ranking persons did not bother with the material side of the matter, and as a result, the search for the necessary funds fell on the shoulders of the diocesan leadership, which they benefited. The question was serious, but, fortunately, in Russia at all timespious donors dried up. They found it this time too. Thus, the we althy merchant V. I. Korolev contributed money for the repair and restoration of the Church of the Savior on Senyakh in the Rostov Kremlin. Thanks to his generosity, the roof of the building was replaced and the walls re-plastered.

From the description of the Church of the Savior, dating back to the mid-90s of the XIX century, it is clear that, not limited to a complex of construction works, the authorities did everything necessary to give proper magnificence to the interior decoration. In this regard, there is a mention that the artist V. V. Lopakov was invited from Yaroslavl, who, together with a group of painters led by him, restored the preserved icons and painted those that were lost. In addition, they also completely restored the wall painting hidden under fresh plaster.

Temple turned into a museum

With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the second stage of the "excommunication" of the long-suffering Rostov Church of the Savior on Senya began. True, this time they treated it like a god and, having taken it away from the believers, they did not convert it into a wine warehouse, but handed it over to the local history museum, which opened its branch in it.

Only once did disaster strike the temple building, threatening its complete destruction. It happened in July 1953, when a hurricane swept over the center of Russia, causing numerous disasters. He also looked into Rostov. The Church of the Savior on Senyah, under his onslaught, lost its dome and a significant part of the roof, but its walls survived. The following year beganrestoration work, thanks to which, after 3 years, the temple, which became a museum, was returned to its original appearance.

External appearance of the Church of the Savior on Senyah

Now let's dwell briefly on its architectural features. According to its layout, the temple is close to a square, which makes it similar to other similar buildings of the second half of the 17th century. The eight-pitched roof, above which one small cupola rises, is also characteristic of that time. The continuation of the eastern part of the building is a strongly protruding altar part - the apse, and from the west, the so-called White Chamber is attached to it, which is the room in which the front refectory is located. During the time of Metropolitan Jonah, there was also a bell tower, dismantled as unnecessary at the end of the 18th century, when the temple was converted into a warehouse of wine and pickles, to which people willingly went even without transcendental ringing.

From other temple buildings of the Rostov Kremlin, the Church of the Savior on Senyakh is distinguished by a number of specific architectural solutions, including: a domed drum mounted on a quadrangular pedestal, which is more typical for buildings of the next century, as well as a two-tier arrangement of window openings (Moscow style). The main feature of the church is the design of the altar, which, contrary to the tradition of those years, is raised above the floor level almost to the height of human growth.