Church of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross in Altufiev: history and modernity

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

The Church of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross in Altufiev is located in an extremely picturesque area on the outskirts of Moscow. This shrine has a rich history, which will be discussed in the article.

Rise

The first mention of the village of Altufyevo near Moscow dates back to the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, or rather, to 1585. At that time, this settlement belonged to Neupokoy Dmitrievich Myakishev, who served as the key keeper of the Bread Palace. The village was located on the banks of a small river Samotishki.

Altufievo flourished until the Time of Troubles came. By the 17th century, the village gradually fell into decay, and soon became completely empty. At that time, the owners of the village were two brothers - Ivan and Arkhip Akinfov. It is with this family that the further life of the settlement in the next hundred years will be connected.

In 1687, a descendant of the Akinfov brothers, Nikita Ivanovich, who was a duma nobleman, began the construction of a stone church. The Church of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross in Altufiev was built in the shortest possible time. After its construction, the village began to be called at firstGodfather, and then Vozdvizhensky.

New temple

At the beginning of the 18th century, a fire broke out in the church, after which it was called St. Sophia. In 1759 the Akinfovs sold the village. Lieutenant Ivan Velyaminov became its new owner. He immediately took up the construction of a new temple, as the former fell into absolute disrepair. After 4 years, the church was rebuilt. She had a beautiful exterior decoration in the Russian late Baroque style. A little later, her former name was returned to her, and she again became the Ex altation of the Cross. The Church of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross in Altufiev at that time had its own bell tower, located above the western extension, but it did not have a refectory.

In 1766 Ivan Velyaminov sold his estate. Over the following years, it changed owners several times. Over the years, they were Count Apraksin, Andrei Ridner and Countess Bruce. Finally, in 1786, the village of Altufievo was acquired by a descendant of a famous old princely family, a we althy landowner Stepan Kurakin. At the end of the 18th century, the Church of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross in Altufiev was somewhat rebuilt: a new bell tower was erected above the vault of the church and a refectory was built.

Soviet period

The Ex altation of the Cross Church was closed only once during the war with the German invaders, and even then for a short time. In terms of its size, the temple was considered small, and until the 60s of the last century it was considered a rural parish, which was part ofto the Moscow diocese.

Then the village of Altufyevo entered the capital. At the same time, intensive development of the northern part of the city began, and a new residential microdistrict Lianozovo grew up next to the church and the old estate. Despite this, the Church of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross in Altufiev (Moscow, Altufevskoye Highway, 147), the garden, the estate and the pond did not disappear, but, on the contrary, began to be considered ancient monuments protected by the state. As you can see, the new microdistrict did not interfere with preserving this page of its history for posterity.

In connection with the significant expansion of the parish in 1986, when Father Mikhail Oleinikov served in the church, an extension was made to the church, but it could not accommodate all the parishioners. Three years later, a two-story house was also erected, which had a baptismal church.

Until 1980, the parish was one-state, and since 1987 it has been three-state. Now the honorary rector of the Ex altation of the Cross Church is the Archbishop of Enotaevsky and Astrakhan Jonah. At the moment, the staff of the temple consists of six clergy.

Regular transformations

It is safe to say that literally from the first days of his service in the church, Archimandrite Jonah began to take care of her condition. First of all, a new dome with a gilded cross and a drum on the dome of the temple were made, decorated on four sides with icons depicting the Moscow saints inserted into it.

In 1992, Archimandrite Jonah decided to expand the Church of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross in Altufievo(a photo). For this purpose, a project was drawn up. Three years later, all work on the expansion of the central altar and the church itself was completed. In addition, a bell tower was built and new bells purchased.

At the end of the same year, Archimandrite Jonah was called to episcopal service, but the position of honorary rector of the Ex altation of the Cross Church remained with him. Until now, Archbishop Jonah has not forgotten about his native church: he often comes here to perform hierarchal services. The Church of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross in Altufiev (address: Altufevskoye Highway, 147) is waiting for its parishioners for daily Liturgies, which begin at 9 am. Throughout the day, the doors of the church are open to believers. There is always a priest on duty in the temple, who is ready to answer all the questions of the parishioners.