In the very center of Moscow, not far from the place where Petropavlovsky Lane intersects with Yauzsky Boulevard, there is the Temple of Peter and Paul - Serbian Compound in Moscow. Unlike many other Moscow churches, it has never been closed: from the time of its construction to the present, and even in Soviet times. During the years of persecution of the church, the temple was a place of shelter not only for the clergy, but also for famous shrines that were transferred here for preservation.
History
The Serbian Compound was supposed to open in the Church of Peter and Paul back in 1948, but then political events prevented this: there was a break in Soviet-Yugoslav relations. Citizens of the USSR were forbidden to be in Yugoslavia, and Yugoslav citizens - in the Union. The agreement between Patriarch Alexy I and Patriarch Gabriel (Dozhich) of Serbia on the opening of the Serbian Metochion had to be postponed.
And only in 1999, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, signed a decree on the transformation of the Church of Peter and Paul into the Patriarchal Metochion, at which a representative office of the Serbian Orthodox Church was opened in 2001.
Rector of SerbianCompounds
Archimandrite Anthony (Pantelić), who represents the Serbian Orthodox Church under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, was appointed Rector of the Church of Peter and Paul in October 2002.
He was born in the city of Valevo on 1970-23-07. He took monastic vows during his studies in 1988 at the Theological Seminary "Three Hierarchs". In 1995 he graduated with honors from the Theological Academy in Moscow. In 2006, he was elevated to the rank of Bishop of Moravici in Belgrade. He is a participant in various scientific conferences and television theological discussions. In 2008 he became a doctor of theological sciences. He writes articles and books of theological content. Awarded several high church awards for outstanding services. Bishop Anthony still serves in Moscow today.
Temple Life Today
For several years, the parishioners, led by the rector, restored and improved the temple, opened a Sunday school for Serbian and Russian children, created a church choir, and provided all possible assistance to the Serbs who found themselves in a difficult situation. Students from Serbia who study in Russian theological schools receive special support here.
Services in the Serbian Compound are held every day, a solemn meal - on major patronal holidays.
There are also unique Shrines here. The Bogolyubskaya icon of the Mother of God is its venerated copy of the 18th century. This image is miraculous, in front of him many people were healed of the plague. They brought him to the Temple of Peter and Paulparishioners in the 1930s, when they began to demolish the Kitaigorod wall where he was.
During the existence of the Compound, many particles of relics and images of saints revered in Serbia appeared here. For example, the miraculous image of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming from the Hilandar Monastery with a particle of a grapevine, helping childless spouses to give birth to a child.
Today, the Serbian Compound in Moscow is an established Russian-Serbian community, where two Orthodox traditions converge, enrich and complement each other - the Serbian and Russian people.
