In the late nineties, when an active process of its spiritual revival was going on throughout the country, a group of activists raised the question of building a new church in the southern part of St. Petersburg to minister to the inhabitants of this densely populated part of the city. Since the autumn of 1999, a specially created initiative group began work, as a result of which the temple of Seraphim Vyritsky appeared in Kupchino.
Chapel, forerunner of the temple
This hard work began with the fact that after agreeing on all the necessary issues with the district administration and the city diocesan authorities, a constituent assembly of future parishioners was held. In those years, there was no Seraphim of Vyritsky among the Orthodox saints, and a new parish was formed in honor of another Saint Seraphim, Sarov.
Before the temple of Seraphim Vyritsky appeared in Kupchino, the photo of which is presented in this article, a wooden chapel was built. A large number of people worked on its creation - residents of the surrounding microdistricts and future parishioners. The case was found literallyeveryone. After the preparation of project documentation, which was entrusted to the architectural studio of G. Sokolov, and the allocation of a land plot by the Investment and Tender Commission of St. Petersburg, work began on preparing the territory for the future construction site.
In their free time, Orthodox residents of the area gathered on the site allotted for construction and were engaged in removing the top layer of soil, backfilling and everything that was in their power. Those with some skill helped the builders set up a temporary chapel and outbuildings. As usual, the work, carried out on the wave of general enthusiasm, moved quickly, and in October 2003 the construction of the wooden frame of the chapel was completed, topped with a wooden cupola, equipped with a bell tower and decorated with a carved porch.
Appointment of Archpriest Father Nicholas
Long before the temple of Seraphim Vyritsky in Kupchino was built, divine services began to be held in the temporary chapel in accordance with their statutory circle. Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir, then still in he alth, by his decree appointed Archpriest Nikolai Mochalkin to care for the parishioners in the newly formed parish.
He combined this duty with the position of a priest of the church of St. Righteous Job the Long-suffering, located at the Volkovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg. On Sundays and holidays, Father Nikolai served prayers and memorial services in the chapel.
The burning of the chapel
To the great chagrin of the parishioners,put a lot of work on the construction of the chapel, it was set on fire twice. The first time this happened was in the fall of 2004, when a fire completely burned out the interior and badly damaged the roof.
But as the witnesses of that sad event say, at the same time a miracle was revealed to the believers as a consolation. Despite the fact that the flames raged in the chapel, the icons of the Lord Almighty and the Most Holy Theotokos in it were practically not affected, and the aluminum baptismal font located between them half melted from the intense heat. The second time arson was committed in 2010. Then the roof was badly burned.
Laying a stone temple
In 2005, two significant events took place at once - Archpriest Valery Klimenkov became rector and chairman of the parish council, and at the same time the stone church of Seraphim Vyritsky (in Kupchino) was laid. This event took place on September 18, immediately after receiving a building permit from the relevant administrative authorities. It is important to note that the work begun did not prevent the restoration of the burned-out chapel, and in the same year, services in it were resumed in full.
As you know, any construction requires significant material costs. The temple of Seraphim Vyritsky in Kupchino was no exception. The rector, Father Valery, showed extraordinary energy and organizational skills in this matter, having managed to attract not only a wide range of future donors to finance the project.parishioners, but a number of fairly large St. Petersburg entrepreneurs. As a result, the problem was solved, and in 2007 the construction of the lower plinth of the temple was completed. In January of the following year, the first Divine Liturgy was served there.
Opening of the upper temple
The Temple of Seraphim Vyritsky in Kupchino continued to be built. In the subsequent period, work was carried out in the same unrelenting rhythm, and by December 2011, a dome and an eight-pointed Orthodox cross were installed on a fully erected building. Six months later, the parishioners were already present at the divine liturgy celebrated in the consecrated upper church shortly before.
This significant event made it possible for a large number of believers to be present at the services - almost everyone who wanted to visit the church of Seraphim Vyritsky in Kupchino. From that day on, the schedule of services was built in such a way that part of the services provided for by the statutory circle were held in the lower, basement part, and part in the upper part. This made it possible to significantly increase the capacity of the temple.
About today's life of the temple
In 2012, significant finishing work was carried out, giving the entire building a finished and grand appearance. However, during the subsequent period, builders and artists made additions in accordance with the general artistic intent of the authors of the project. Its implementation allows us to say that today one of the most interesting temple buildings of recent years is the temple of Seraphim Vyritsky in Kupchino. Feedback from grateful visitors is a vivid confirmation of this.
Even with a cursory acquaintance with them, it is clear that the parishioners and guests are grateful to the people who put their labors into the construction of the temple and the organization of its inner life. A lot of warm words are addressed to the creators of the church choir, whose singing is accompanied by divine services, as well as the organizers of the Sunday school, where both children and adults study.
For all guests of St. Petersburg and residents of the city, we inform you of the basic data - the address at which the temple of Seraphim Vyritsky is located in Kupchino, the schedule of services: St. Petersburg, Zagrebsky Boulevard, 26; on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, divine liturgies are held at 10.00, and all-night vigils at 18.00.
