Protestant churches in Moscow. History and modernity

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

In Moscow, as in all of Russia, people of many faiths live. There are also Protestants among the inhabitants of the capital. There are not too many of them, compared with the Orthodox, but nevertheless they are. They have churches for their worship, some of which were built long ago and have a solid history. Currently, Protestant churches in Moscow are carrying out mass work among parishioners and are actively developing.

History

Protestants began to appear in the capital in the middle of the 16th century. Almost all of them were Europeans who were invited to serve. Many of them were soldiers, doctors, artisans, merchants. Gradually, there were more and more of them, and over time they built the first Protestant church, which was consecrated in the name of the Archangel Michael. This happened at the end of the 16th century, it was wooden, small and located in the German Quarter. It is from this moment that the Protestant churches in Moscow originate.

Over time, a split occurred among them, caused by a quarrel. Because of this, in the middle of the 17th century, a second church was built for the new community. It was located on Pokrovka, in the center of Moscow. But she, like their old church, did not last long. A few years later, due to numerous complaints from Orthodox priests, Protestant churches in Moscow were demolished.

A decree was adopted, according to which it was decided to resettle all foreigners who did not accept Orthodoxy in the Yauzskaya Sloboda. A few years later, members of the Protestant community decided to rebuild the church of St. Michael. It was built two years later. This time it was no longer wooden, but stone. A few years later, Peter the Great personally founded a new Protestant church named after the apostles Peter and Paul. She was consecrated in his presence. This temple existed for more than a hundred years and burned down during a fire in the capital in 1812.

Years passed, the number of foreigners professing this branch of Christianity increased and new Protestant churches were opened in Moscow. This continued until the October Revolution, during which the Bolsheviks came to power in the country. All churches, including Protestant ones, were closed, and many clerics were sent into exile or were killed. Religious decline continued until the collapse of the USSR.

Rebirth

In modern Russia, the Protestant community of Moscow is steadily increasing. The old ones have been restored and reopened.churches temples, new ones are being built. Divine services are regularly held, all religious holidays are celebrated. Many parishioners go to Protestant churches in Moscow. They actively participate in many events held by clerics.

There are several Protestant churches in Moscow, both recently built and quite old. The most famous are the Anglican Church of St. Andrew, the Lutheran Holy Trinity of Saints Peter and Paul and Evangelical Baptist Christians. Of course, the full list of spiritual structures is much more solid. But these Protestant churches in Moscow are the most famous.

St Andrew's Anglican Church

This spiritual building is the only one in the capital of Russia. This church is multiethnic, and worship services, which are held only in English, are attended by representatives of 40 different branches of Christianity.

It is the center of the Moscow deacon, which also includes spiritual buildings in Vladivostok, St. Petersburg. The church building houses an educational center, a large library, Alcoholics Anonymous and a Sunday church.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

This church is located on the territory of the Vvedensky cemetery and is part of the parish of the same name. Initially, the building in which it is located served as a simple chapel and was built at the beginning of the 20th century. But after it was expanded, landscaped and became a church. It was subsequently closed forfor many years, like many other spiritual buildings of the USSR. Only at the end of the 20th century, this and other Protestant churches in Moscow began to work again, the addresses of which remained the same.

Despite its small size and the fact that it is located in the cemetery, it is always full of parishioners. Especially on holidays. Bali, work has been carried out to improve it, and the area around the building has also been equipped.

Lutheran Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

When people talk about historical Protestant churches in Moscow, they mean first of all the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, which is the main one in the regional Lutheran church in the European part of Russia. It is one of two officially operating temples in Moscow. In addition, it is one of the oldest parishes of this church in Russia.

He is also one of the most beautiful. A lot of work has been done and significant funds have been invested in its interior and exterior decoration. And also purchased all the necessary church utensils for worship.

Church of Evangelical Christian Baptists

One of the oldest Baptist spiritual institutions is located in Maly Trekhsvyatitelsky Lane. This church was built in the middle of the 19th century. Initially, the building in which it is located was an ordinary residential building. But it was rebuilt into a church by the architect Hermann von Nissen.

As we can see from the above, Protestant churches in Moscownew spiritual institutions are being actively developed, restored and built, a lot of social work is being carried out among the parishioners.