In the Moscow region, in the city of Zvenigorod, on a high hill is the majestic Church of the Ascension of the Lord. The cathedral is of great historical importance in the spiritual life of both ancient and modern Zvenigorod and is an Orthodox shrine in Russia.
History of the Ascension Cathedral in Zvenigorod
It is known that in the 16th century there was a small wooden church on the site of the current temple, the exact date of construction of which is unknown.
The church was given special attention, as it was located on the route of the Russian sovereigns to the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which for several centuries was the unspoken Orthodox residence of Russian rulers.
In the 18th century, when drawing up the city plan, Zvenigorod was divided into quarters. As a result of this distribution, the Ascension Cathedral ended up in the very center, surrounded by densely populated streets. This gave the cathedral even more parishioners and the attention of the authorities.
At the end of the 18th century, Zvenigorod received the statuscounty town. According to the rules that existed then, in such a city there should have been a large stone temple. So in 1792, on the site of a wooden church, a new stone church appeared in honor of the Ascension of the Lord.
Ascension Cathedral in Zvenigorod was built in the style of classicism. It was a single-domed quadrangle with a refectory and a four-tiered bell tower. The temple had three aisles, the main of which was consecrated in honor of the Ascension of the Lord, and the other two - in the name of the Tolga Icon of the Mother of God and Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Nearby, behind the fence, wooden houses were built, facing the temple. They were the property of parish employees. In one there was a church school and a prosphora, in the second the clergy of the temple lived, and others were rented out. The houses were located in one straight line and separated the church building from the market square.
The rest of the hill near the temple was intended for open worship, religious processions and festive events.
Soviet times
After the revolution of 1917, the property of the temple was confiscated and nationalized. In 1922, the Ascension Cathedral in Zvenigorod was closed and converted into a building for grain harvesting. For the convenience of delivering carts with grain to the building, the wall of the temple from the side of the river was broken.
In 1939, a garage for buses was located in the premises of the Ascension Church. There was also an inspection pit and a locksmith's workshop.
Before the war itself, in the spring of 1941, the authorities decided to break down the temple building, and use the bricks forconstruction of new city buildings.
A monument to I. V. Stalin was erected on the site of the Ascension Church, which was later demolished. The hill on which the cathedral was located was never built up, although the local authorities considered several options for using this territory.
The wooden houses belonging to the temple have survived to this day. Over the years, they housed a kindergarten, residential buildings and an ambulance station.
Recovery
In 1998, the spiritual revival of Zvenigorod began. A small chapel was built on the site of the Ascension Cathedral, in which the icon of the Ascension of the Lord was located.
In 2003, the laying of the new Ascension Cathedral in Zvenigorod was completed. By decision of the authorities, the temple had to be erected on its historical site.
In the summer of 2007, the newly rebuilt cathedral was consecrated in honor of the Ascension of the Lord. On the same day, the first Divine Liturgy was served.
The new temple has the same three aisles as its predecessor. But in terms of architecture, it is completely different. The current building of the cathedral is a four-pillar five-dome, made in the neo-Byzantine style.
Before the construction of the temple, when examining the hill, numerous ancient burials with remains were discovered. And in 2007, when conducting water supply to the temple, the remains of a clergyman were found, presumably - Archpriest Nicholas of Thebes, who from 1853 to 1886 was the rector of this cathedral.
All remains were buried witheast side of the temple when performing a memorial service.
Temple Activities
A Sunday school has been opened at the Ascension Cathedral in Zvenigorod since 2015, which helps children receive an Orthodox education.
Church organized a children's and youth choir "Lik", which performs at many concert venues in the Moscow region.
For those who are older, since 2008, the youth club "Shield of Faith" has been created at the church. Every Sunday, its participants gather for spiritual fellowship. An Orthodox psychologist works in the group, with whom you can talk on exciting topics.
At the cathedral there is a missionary department that conducts Orthodox educational activities.
Parishioners are receiving favorable feedback about the Ascension Cathedral in Zvenigorod and its clergy. This place is considered blessed and of great historical and Orthodox significance.
Schedule of services at the Ascension Cathedral in Zvenigorod
The doors of the cathedral are open to parishioners daily from 7:30 until the end of evening services. A more detailed schedule is as follows:
- Sacrament of confession (weekdays) - 7:45.
- Daily morning Divine Liturgy (on weekdays) - 8:00.
- Evening Service (on weekdays) - 17:00.
- Sunday morning liturgy - 9:00.
- Announcements (on Saturdays) - 14:00.
Baptism, wedding, burial of the dead and other services are performed daily as needed.
Address
Address of the Ascension Cathedral in Zvenigorod: st. Moscow, house 2a.
The current phone number can be found on the official website of the Church of the Ascension.
From Moscow from the Belorussky railway station to Zvenigorod you can take the train. Then transfer to bus number 11, 23, 25. You need to get off at the stop "Pepper".
You can also get from the metro station "Kuntsevo" by bus number 452 to the same stop.
