St. Elias Church - the first Orthodox church of Kievan Rus

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

Stolny grad Kyiv cannot but admire with its historical shrines and architectural monuments, some of which are more than 1000 years old. One of these shrines is St. Elias Church, built in honor of the prophet Elijah and subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate. Now it is difficult to imagine that it was this Orthodox Church that appeared the very first in Kievan Rus, even before it adopted Christianity. Nestor the Chronicler in The Tale of Bygone Years pointed out that it was built by the Grand Dukes of Kyiv Askold and Dir.

St. Elias Church: Kyiv (photo)

The annals indicate that in 860 the princes Askold and Dir went to war against the Greek Constantinople. The Byzantine emperor Michael at that time was on a campaign against the Agarians, but when he received news from the eparch that the Russians would soon be in the capital, he immediately returned. By this time, Constantinople was besieged by two hundred Russian ships, and many Christians died at their hands.

But the emperor secretly entered the city and spent the whole night in prayer with the PatriarchPhotius in the Church of the Holy Virgin in Blachernae. Then, with prayerful singing, they carried out the robe of the Holy Mother of God and lowered it to the floor into the sea. The sea was completely calm, but then a strong storm and storm began. The pagan ships began to crash because of the giant waves, few of them survived and returned home.

Askold and Dir were simply amazed by such miracles. And then they decided to be baptized in Constantinople. Upon returning home, they built Elias Church. Kievan Rus was gradually preparing for the adoption of Christianity.

Prince Igor

But the story doesn't end there. Elias Church was again mentioned in the chronicles in 945, when the Grand Duke Igor I signed a peace treaty with the Byzantine Emperor Roman. In honor of this event in Kyiv, a divine service was held in the Elias Church.

In ancient times, it was customary to take an oath of allegiance to a treaty, in this case it took place between Christian Byzantium and pagan Kievan Rus. First, this oath was given in Constantinople with the participation of the Emperor Roman. And then the Greek ambassadors, together with the Russians, went to Kyiv, so that an oath promise of bilateral non-aggression would sound here too. The pledge was the word, the most intimate and valuable thing that a person possesses.

At that time, idols were the most holy and dear for Igor and his squad, so the oath was pronounced at the temple of Perun, the Slavic god of thunder. However, already at that time there were many Christians among the squad who could not participate in pagan rites,and therefore took an oath before the Holy Cross of St. Elias Church.

Princess Olga and the Baptism of Russia

When Prince Igor was killed, the throne of the Old Russian state was occupied by his wife, Princess Olga. Elias Church in Kyiv continued its ministry among the pagans. It was here that Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, who was baptized, came to pray.

In the year 988 in St. Elias Church, which was located on the banks of the Dnieper and Pochaina rivers, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir performed the Baptism of Russia. It is not known what the church was originally, but according to historians, it was wooden.

The stone temple of her was erected later - in 1692. It was small and not distinguished by bright decor. The funds for its construction were donated by the famous tradesman Peter Gudima.

Church Life

At the beginning of the 18th century, a two-tier bell tower was rebuilt under the guidance of the famous Kyiv architect Grigorovich-Barsky. Baroque gates with openwork metal wings appeared at the church fence, on which the letters “IP” were very skillfully executed - Elijah the Prophet.

By the end of the 18th century, thanks to reconstruction, a low chapel was added in honor of St. John the Baptist. In 1909, the Elias Church was renovated with three images of wall paintings. Today, above the main entrance to the temple under the choirs, you can see the preserved image of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos.

In the 30s, the Bolshevik authorities closed this church and turned it into a granary. When did it startThe Great Patriotic War in 1941 in Kyiv, occupied by the Germans, divine services resumed again in the temple. The doors of the church were again open to everyone.

In 1957, magnificent fragments of the 18th-century murals were discovered and restored in it. Today, St. Elijah's Church is decorated according to all the canons of the academic school: on the walls there are paintings of forty biblical scenes from the life of the prophet Elijah.

St. Elias Church (Kyiv): address

Patrine feasts of the church: the day of memory of the prophet Elijah - the main throne (July 20/August 2), and the Beheading of John the Baptist - the northern aisle (August 29/September 11). The main shrines kept in the church is the reliquary with the relics of several saints.

Evening services are held on Friday and Saturday from 17:00, on Sunday with an akaftst from 16:00. Morning Liturgy: Saturday from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, Sunday from 7:30 am to 10:00 am.

Phones for communication: +38044 4252371; +38044 4252368

Entrance is free, visiting hours on weekdays from 10-00 to 17-00, on weekends from 7-00 to 19-00.

Rector of the church: Archpriest Evgeny Kosovsky.