Catholic dioceses in the Russian Empire appeared in the middle of the 18th century. Catherine II allowed the settlers who professed Catholicism to build churches and perform divine services. Most of the Catholics settled in the Samara province.
At that time it was allowed to build churches only in colonies or villages, so the inhabitants of Samara (Catholics) had nowhere to pray. Then the merchant Yegor Annaev took the initiative to build a church within the city. Permission was not obtained immediately, but thanks to the persistence of E. Annaev, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Samara) was nevertheless built. The decision in favor of the believers was made by Governor A. A. Artsimovich, a Pole by nationality and a Catholic by religion.
The construction of the church and its life before the revolution
The place for construction was chosen in the forty-ninth quarter, at the intersection of future Kuibyshev and Nekrasovskaya streets. Land plots for construction were sold by the townspeople Novokreshchenovs, Kanonova, Razladskaya and Zelenova.
TempleThe Sacred Heart of Jesus (Samara) was designed by an architect from Moscow Foma Bogdanovich. There are also versions that Nikolai Eremeev or a team of architects from St. Petersburg was involved in the design of the church. Construction work was carried out by Nizhny Novgorod masons led by Alexander Shcherbachev. A magnificent Austrian organ was installed inside the church.
The newly built Catholic Church was consecrated in 1906. The first divine service was performed by the curate of the Samara parish I. Lapshis. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Samara) remained active until the 1920s.
In addition to worship, the church was actively involved in charity work. Those in need received money, clothes, food, a roof over their heads. Members of the charitable society spent evenings with music, dancing and a lottery. A public library and a reading room were opened at the church.
During the First World War, clergy and parishioners helped refugees and prisoners of war. The victims of the hostilities were in a difficult situation, they needed medical assistance. Shelters were opened for the children of immigrants from the western provinces.
The fate of the temple during the USSR
With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Samara shared the fate of many churches in the Soviet Union. The church was deprived of the right to dispose of parish registers. Civil status acts were drawn up in the newly established bodies (registry offices). Buildings and property were taken away from churches, and parishes, called collectives of believers, were obliged to negotiate with the state on the subjectuse of the church for worship.
The property of the church was transferred to the state in 1918. Then they signed an agreement on the transfer of premises to the parish. In 1922, church utensils made of gold and precious metals were confiscated in favor of the starving Volga region.
In the 30s of the last century, the building of the church housed a children's theater, in the 40s - a museum of local lore, later the building was given to the theater college and the construction club. Believers were offered to pray in the Smolensk chapel, but priest I. Lunkevich did not agree, arguing that Catholics only praise God in a cruciform church.
After the closing of the church, the Catholic community gradually fell apart. The building of the church lost the crosses on the towers, some elements of decoration and the organ. In 1934, the construction organization in charge of the church proposed to rebuild the church, dividing the building into two floors, but the architectural and expert council did not approve this idea, classifying the building as a cultural property.
Rebirth
Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Samara) found a new life in 1991. The church was handed over to the parish again. At different times, priests J. Gunchaga, T. Pikush, T. Benush, T. Donaghy conducted divine services. Father Thomas took care of housing for the clergy and repair of the church. In 2001, the crosses returned to the spiers.
The current appearance of the temple
The church was built in neo-gothic style. The shape of the building is cruciform with a transept. Two towers rush into the sky, the height of which is 47 meters. The entrance to the church is decorated with stained glassimage of the Virgin Mary. The altar houses the fresco "Christ on the Cross" (Salvador Dali, copy).
Among the visitors of the church are not only residents of the city, but also tourists who want to admire the architectural monument, which is the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Samara). Photo works of art are beautiful from any angle.
The building of the church is unique in its own way. Gothic lost popularity at the end of the 16th century. For the construction of religious buildings of Catholicism, other styles began to be used. A temple similar in architecture, the Church of St. Anne, was built in Vilnius. The church is older than Samara by the 4th century, but there are some similarities in the appearance of the temples. Perhaps Foma Osipovich Bogdanovich, when creating Moscow and Volga churches, was guided precisely by the Vilnius church.
Arrival
Catechesis is regularly conducted for parishioners of the church. Those who wish to enter the ranks of the church study the basics of Christianity and the dogma. Temple officials organize ecumenical meetings. During the meetings, issues of achieving Christian unity or, at least, understanding between Christian denominations are considered.
The church has a Bible circle, a library, and the editorial office of the parish newspaper. Concerts of classical and sacred music are held in the temple premises. The church is open for both individual visits and guided tours.
Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Samara): address
Polish church in Samaralocated at the address: Frunze street, 157. The place is reached by buses, trams and fixed-route taxis. The nearest stops are Strukovsky Park, Frunze Street, Krasnoarmeyskaya, Philharmonia.
Parishioners and visitors note that the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Catholic Church in Samara) is a quiet and peaceful place where you can relax, get away from everyday bustle, and reflect on life.
Samara Church is recognized as a cultural monument. The building is protected by the state and is included in the list of cultural heritage of UNESCO.
