More recently, the diocese of Crimea and Simferopol included the entire territory of Crimea, but by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate since November 2008, its territory has significantly decreased. The Razdolnensky and Dzhankoy dioceses were withdrawn from it and received an independent status. Somewhat later, the Crimean diocese was further reduced, as the territories that received the names of the Kerch and Feodosiya eparchies separated from it.
The emergence of Christianity in the Crimea
The history of the Christianization of this vast Black Sea peninsula is very interesting. As is clear from the Holy Scriptures, where the Crimean diocese of the Moscow Patriarchate is located today, the Apostle Andrew the First-Called once preached the Word of God, and later the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius brought the light of enlightenment. When St. Clement of Rome was exiled to the Crimea in 96, according to his testimony, the Christian communities there included more than 2,000 people.
The light of Christ's faith shone inextinguishably over the peninsula even during periods of difficult historicalcollisions, for example, the capture of its northern part by the Tatar-Mongols, which occurred in the 13th century, or the annexation of the southern coast by the Genoese, who invaded a century later. When in 1784 the territory of the Crimean Khanate was annexed to Russia, it became part of the Kherson and Slavic diocese, the department of which was then in Poltava.
Further development of the spiritual life of the peninsula
In 1859, by the highest decree of Emperor Alexander II, an independent Crimean Orthodox diocese was established, separated from the Kherson one. This administrative act had the most beneficial effect on the religious life of the entire region. Suffice it to say that over the next ten years alone, about a hundred new parishes appeared on the peninsula, monastic life noticeably intensified, and several theological educational institutions were opened. The city of Simferopol played a special role in the matter of religious education, where at that time the Tauride Theological Seminary, known throughout the country and revived today, appeared.
The decline and subsequent revival of the diocese
After the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks, a large-scale anti-religious campaign was launched throughout the country. In Crimea, it began in 1920, immediately after the defeat of P. N. Wrangel and was deployed so intensively that by the end of the decade only a few dozen active parishes remained on the territory of the peninsula, which were also threatened with closure. It is sad to admit, but a number of temples were able to resume their work only during the periodNazi occupation.
The Diocese of Crimea and Simferopol received an impetus to its revival in the late 80s, when democratic processes began to gain momentum throughout the country. At that time, it extended over the entire territory of the peninsula, and this continued until 2008, after which, as mentioned above, two independent dioceses were separated from its composition.
Currently, the diocese of Crimea and Simferopol unites monasteries and parishes located on the territory of Y alta, Alushta, Simferopol, Sevastopol and Evpatoria. It also includes the following districts: Saksky, Belogorsky, Bakhchisarai and Simferopol. Its center is the city of Simferopol, and the cathedral, located in it, is the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Since 1992, the diocese has been headed by Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea (Shvets).
Organization of pilgrimages
Today, in the Crimean diocese, revived after many decades of total atheism, religious life has regained its former strength. Among the many departments of the diocesan administration, the pilgrimage service occupies a special place. Its employees organize trips, the program of which includes visiting temples, monasteries and various ancient Christian monuments, which this fertile land is so rich in.
In addition, the proposed travel itineraries make it possible to combine visiting holy places with relaxing by the sea in the most picturesque corners of the peninsula. The pilgrimage service accepts pre-orders from both individual citizens and numerousgroups. In this case, any city in Crimea can become the starting point of the trip. Those who wish can obtain all the necessary information on the diocesan website.
Construction of the main cathedral of the diocese
The Peter and Paul Cathedral, which is of significant historical and artistic value, deserves special attention. According to archival data, it was founded in 1866 on the site of the wooden church of Saints Helena and Constantine, which had fallen into extreme disrepair. The author of the project and the head of the work was the Simferopol architect K. P. Lazarev.
The construction and decoration of the cathedral took about four years, after which it was solemnly consecrated, and regular services began in it. It should be noted that long before that, in 1668, two schools had already been opened at the temple - male and female. They existed until the beginning of the Bolshevik persecution of the church.
Further decoration and improvement of the cathedral
In 1890, with money collected from donations from local residents, the cathedral was surrounded by an openwork cast-iron fence, and the adjacent square was landscaped, which became the site of various city events. In the same year, a decree was issued according to which the development of the surrounding area was allowed only for buildings whose size did not exceed the height of the cathedral.
At the very beginning of the new XX century, significant changes were made to the decoration of the temple. On the donations of the church elder weremaster painters were hired, who painted the dome with the image of the figure of the God of Hosts surrounded by Heavenly Forces, and in the lower part of the drum, they placed twelve medallions with the faces of the holy apostles. The picture was complemented by a floral ornament that covered the walls.
Period of barbarism and desolation
In 1924, the new authorities closed the cathedral, and at the same time renamed Petropavlovskaya Street leading to it, giving it the name Oktyabrskaya. Soon began its refurbishment, or rather, the barbaric destruction. The dome and the cathedral bell tower were completely destroyed, and the interior was used as a warehouse, as a result of which a concrete ramp was built for trucks to enter it. The old-timers of the city remember the miserable appearance that this once revered shrine had in the Soviet period - without a dome, with dirty walls peeled off and a tree growing on the roof.
Back to square one
The revival of the temple, as well as the entire diocese as a whole, began during the years of perestroika. Thanks to the work of the architect O. I. Sergeeva, in the archives of the Holy Synod, it was possible to find the very drawings according to which the lost elements of the cathedral were once erected - the dome and the bell tower. This discovery allowed the restorers to restore them with the utmost precision.
At the completion of the work, the temple was re-consecrated, and services resumed within its walls. In 2003, the Peter and Paul Cathedral was given the status of a cathedral. It should be noted that new trends also affected the area adjacent to it - in 2008By the decision of the city authorities, the cathedral square and the street leading to it were returned to their historical names. From now on they are called Peter and Paul.
