Among the attractions of the ancient city of Tver are unique architectural monuments, a picturesque embankment, museums and theaters. The city, which was once the citadel of a powerful principality, has long turned into a major tourist center. But its main value is Orthodox shrines. This article will focus on the churches of Tver.
There are about thirty temples and monasteries in the city. Services in the churches of Tver are performed at approximately the same time. Most of the temples open at eight in the morning. A more detailed schedule is provided below. The most famous churches of Tver:
- Resurrection Cathedral.
- Ascension Cathedral.
- Church of the Intercession of the Virgin.
- White Trinity Cathedral.
- Church of John the Baptist.
- St. Nicholas Church.
- Cathedral of the Otrocha Monastery.
- Sorrowful Church.
Several old chapels have also been preserved in Tver. In addition, there are several monasteries on the territory of which are real masterpieces of architecture.
Resurrection Cathedral
This is perhaps the most famouschurch in Tver. For more than 15 years it has had the status of a cathedral. The construction of the temple began in 1913. Its consecration was timed to coincide with the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty.
After the revolution, many churches in Tver were closed. The Ascension Cathedral was abolished in 1936. The temple was returned to the diocese in the late eighties. Church address: Tver, Barrikadnaya street, house 1. The temple is open to everyone from 9:00 to 17:00.
Ascension Cathedral
Several centuries ago, churches in Tver were predominantly wooden. That is why they did not survive. At the beginning of the 17th century, where the Ascension Cathedral is located, there were two small wooden churches. Both of them burned down during the Polish intervention. One of them was restored, but ten years later it was destroyed by another fire. This time they built a stone temple, which is known today as the Ascension Cathedral.
In the early twenties of the last century church utensils were confiscated. The temple was closed in 1935. In the early seventies, the premises were refurbished to house an exhibition.
Ascension Cathedral opens on weekdays at eight in the morning. Liturgy is celebrated at this time from Monday to Friday. Saturday worship begins at nine. Sundays at seven. Church address: Tver, Sovetskaya street, 26.
Church of the Intercession of the Virgin
The temple was built at the end of the 18th century. It is located on the bend of the Tmaka, where the river turns before flowing into the Volga. Previously, this place was a women'sabode.
In 1930, the temple was partially destroyed. For a long time it was used as a warehouse. Restoration work began in 1987. Services resumed five years later. Temple address: Embankment of the river Tmaka, house 1.
White Trinity Cathedral
This church is the oldest building in the city. It was built in 1564 at the expense of the Moscow merchant Tushinsky. Initially, the church was three-domed. In the 17th century it was reconstructed. Later, an altar was added to the seven-domed temple.
In Soviet times, for 25 years, the White Trinity Church in Tver was the only one functioning. The temple is located at: Troitskaya street, house 38. Trinity Church in Tver opens at eight in the morning.
Church of John the Baptist
The temple building was erected at the end of the 18th century. There used to be a cemetery next to the church. Now there is a wasteland in its place. When the persecution of the clergy began in the early twenties of the last century, the rector of the temple was arrested and then shot. The church was closed in the late thirties. Restoration work began in 1997.
Church address: Tver, Belyakovsky lane, house 39/46.
Sorrowful Church
The temple is located on Volodarsky Street. In the first half of the 18th century, there was an almshouse in this part of Tver. There was also a small cemetery where people who spent the last years in this shelter were buried. The exact date of foundation of the church is unknown. However, there is evidence that in the fifties 18century, a wooden temple was already towering here.
The church burned down during a big fire. Then it was rebuilt again, but now from stone. A refectory and a bell tower were also built nearby. The church has been restored several times. For the first fifty years, little remained of the original appearance. In 1897, the dome of the temple was gilded at the expense of local residents.
The temple was closed after the revolution. Like many other churches in Russia, they used it for many years as a warehouse. In 1991, this church in Tver again became active. Her address: Volodarsky street, house 4.
Cathedral of the Otrocha Monastery
Another name for the temple is the Assumption Church. It is located on the spot where the monastery once stood, which played an important role in the life of the Tver principality. At the beginning of the 13th century, the monastery was plundered and burned by the Tatars. Then it was restored. A few decades later, the Assumption Church was built on the territory of the monastery. It stood until the beginning of the 18th century, then it was dismantled. And in its place, a Moscow baroque church was erected, which today is one of the sights of Tver.
In Soviet times, Otroch Monastery was destroyed. The River Station was built in its place. Assumption Church miraculously survived. In the eighties, the walls housed an exhibition of works by Tver artists. In 1994 the temple was restored. It is located at the address: Afanasy Nikitin Embankment, building 1.
Church of the Resurrection of Christ
This temple is also located on the Athanasius Nikitin embankment. There is a monument to the Russian traveler nearby. The temple wasbuilt in the first half of the 18th century on the site of an old wooden church. Funds for the construction were allocated by one of the Tver merchants. In the 19th century, a chapel was added to the church. After the revolution, the temple was closed. For many years, a museum was located within its walls. The church was returned to believers in 1996.
Chapel of John of Kronstadt
This small building appeared in Tver in 1913. The chapel was erected in honor of the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty. During the years of Soviet power, many religious buildings were destroyed in Russia. In Tver, almost all the chapels were demolished. This one is one of the few that have survived to this day. During the Soviet period, a souvenir shop was located here.
The chapel was re-consecrated in 1990. And only then it was named after the famous St. Petersburg priest, who lived at the turn of the century. The chapel is located at the address: Tchaikovsky Avenue, house 19.
