Start your story about St. Simeon Cathedral in Chelyabinsk with the fact that he is this one with a happy fate. Initially, it was not a temple, but an attached cemetery church, which did not even have its own staff. Services for parishioners were conducted by clergy from a nearby church. This was commonplace in those years. And this church appeared not by chance, but at the great request of its parishioners. They turned to the Bishop of Orenburg with a request for the blessing of the construction of the temple.
From the history of the construction of the temple
Permission from the ruling bishop was received, in January 1873, construction began on the site of the collapsed wooden chapel, which was located on Kyshtymskaya Street in Chelyabinsk. From the documents of the local history museum of Chelyabinsk, it is known that the construction of the temple wasprivate donations were used. The construction went on for ten years. In 1883, the temple was consecrated, giving the name of St. Simeon of Verkhoturye, who was considered the heavenly patron of the Urals and Western Siberia.
History has not preserved reliable information about the status of a separate parish by the temple. From some sources, it was before the revolution, from others, after it. But this happened before 1929, when the Holy Trinity Church was closed by the Bolsheviks.
In 1930, the city authorities planned to close the St. Simeon Church and use its buildings for the needs of the city. However, as believers say, the ways of the Lord are inscrutable, literally at the last moment came the decision of the Council of People's Commissars "On Religious Associations", which allowed the worship services. The temple was neither withdrawn nor destroyed. Divine service at St. Simeon Cathedral resumed.
War and post-war times
During the war, people helped the front in any way they could. The arrival of the temple was no exception. It also collected funds for veterans. The archpriest of St. Simeon Cathedral led patriotic activities among the parishioners.
Starting from 1940 and throughout the post-war period, the construction of administrative and utility buildings has continued in the temple. A small chapel is attached to the temple in honor of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. A brick fence is erected around the temple. In 1947, a bishop, Bishop Yuvenaly, was appointed to the Chelyabinsk diocese. Histhe appointment is connected with the adoption by him of the temple in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin.
50s of the twentieth century - not the best time for believers. The years were marked by Khrushchev's persecution of the church. In 1960, the parishes of the Chelyabinsk diocese were transferred to the Sverdlovsk Bishop Flavian. The temple in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin is closed. His parish is transferred to St. Simeon Cathedral in Chelyabinsk, which again turned out to be the only functioning one in the city.
Temple reconstruction
During the second reconstruction of the cathedral, which took place in 1977, extensions were made on both sides of the temple, increasing its area. Reconstruction was also carried out in the altar part. It has been expanded. From 1986 to 1990 - the time of the third major reconstruction of St. Simeon's Church. It was started thanks to a letter from believers sent to various authorities: to the city council of Chelyabinsk, to the archbishop of Sverdlovsk and the manager of the affairs of the patriarchate. The letter contained a request to expand the area of the temple, since it did not accommodate all believers even on Sundays, not to mention holidays.
In 1986, the city council made a decision allowing the church council to propose a reconstruction plan, and a year later, according to the developed document, work began on the global reconstruction of the St. Simeon Cathedral of Chelyabinsk. The reconstruction was carried out by professional builders, as well as by volunteer parishioners. For parishioners, this was a difficult obedience at the construction of the cathedral. Some of them took shape onwork at a local brick factory so that the money earned could buy bricks. It was very difficult with building materials in this period of time in the country.
Reconstruction result
The periodically reconstructed temple ended up inside a new building. The view of the bell tower and the head of the temple have been preserved. The building took the form of a cross. All domes of the temple with crosses are covered with gold leaf. The result of all the reconstructions was the three- altar St. Simeon Cathedral, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich was now three times the original.
During the period of perestroika, the Orthodox library resumed its work, a professional choir and kliros appeared in the temple, which included professional musicians. In 1987, a service was held with the participation of the kliros. In 1988, a solemn service was organized in the renovated church, timed to coincide with the millennium of the baptism of Russia. In Chelyabinsk, he was conducted by Archbishop Melkhizedek (Lebedev), who came from Sverdlovsk.
Murals in the Cathedral
The description of the St. Simeon Cathedral should begin with the fact that after the reconstruction it was decorated with portals, the corners of the building and windows with platbands were decorated with a tiled frieze. All over the facade of the building there are murals and masonry made of full-length mosaics of saints revered in Russia: the Savior, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov.
Painting in the interior of the templeconstantly updated and added. In the 90s of the XX century, Moscow artists completed the interior work of the temple. St. Simeon Cathedral is decorated with monumental scenes from the New Testament and images of many saints revered in Russia. The shrines kept in the museum funds of Chelyabinsk were transferred to the cathedral. These include the reliquary, which contains the relics of saints, ancient shrouds and icons, vestments of clergy and church utensils, as well as miraculous icons of the Virgin. During the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the temple, the once-lost relics of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called were handed over.
Works in the temple and beautification of the territory
In 2002-2005, the iconostases of the southern and northern aisles were updated. You can admire the temple both outside and inside, and it will take more than one hour. The painting on the walls and vaults, which was made by Moscow artists, really turned out. Visiting this cathedral and looking at the completed artworks, even atheists can think about the meaning of life. The delicate color makes everything seem to be floating in the air.
In 2004-2005, work continued in the buildings adjacent to the temple. The appearance of the temple territory was constantly changing, flower gardens, rock gardens with outlandish plants were equipped, an area was created for parishioners where you can relax on a bench and admire the flower beds, a three-tiered waterfall began to work.
The next was a stone fence, which was updated, speakers were brought out so that the service could be listened to both in the vestibules and on the territory of the temple. In 2009year, a porcelain iconostasis was installed in the temple, as in New Athos, Yekaterinburg and Rome.
Sunday school work
St. Simeon Cathedral in Chelyabinsk in 1990 opened the doors of a Sunday school, where both children and adults got acquainted with the Law of God, church hymns were taught, and iconography was introduced to the audience. The school is still open today. Children study for two years. The first year is devoted to the Law of God, the Church Slavonic language and educational lessons about the temple. The second year of study is devoted to biblical history and correct life guidelines. Adults study for three years, studying the history of the Christian church and the foundations of the Orthodox faith. The course of study includes the art of Orthodox icons, chants and gospel discourses. The school is located in the St. Simeon Cathedral in Chelyabinsk. Address: st. Kyshtymskaya, 32.
Pastoral courses and workshops
At the same time, pastoral courses began to work in the cathedral. They received the status of a religious school in 1995. The school operates to this day. In the first decade of the 21st century, the youth club "Hold on!" began to work at the temple. The Orthodox gymnasium was opened in 2002. It bears the name of the patron saint of St. Simeon Cathedral in Chelyabinsk (address: 454018, Chelyabinsk, Kommunalnaya st., 48).
In 1991, under the leadership of N. V. Chekotina founded an icon-painting workshop. It develops in line with the traditions of ancient Moscow icon painting. The icons of the Simeonovsky Cathedral were made by studentsN. V. Chekotina. There are many icons of saints, even those recently canonized. A gold embroidery workshop and a wood carving workshop were opened in the temple. They have been working for more than ten years and have made a colossal contribution to the culture of the region. All these workshops are currently closed.
Church services
The St. Simeon Cathedral in Chelyabinsk hosts daily liturgies and evening services. Exceptions may be some days of Lent. Holy baptism of infants and adults takes place daily. To do this, you must first register at the registry office of the temple. There is an Orthodox library. Anyone can come to it by registering with a passport. Over the years of the existence of the temple, it has collected interesting and useful material for knowledge.
Social assistance and charity
There is a social service at the temple that helps lonely elderly people, large families and single mothers. St. Simeon Cathedral provides food for an orphanage, a children's boarding school and a home for veterans.
For many years St. Simeon's Church has provided assistance to a kindergarten for disabled children with impaired functions of the musculoskeletal system. Medical equipment is purchased with funds allocated by the temple. Priests and Sunday school students patronize a boarding school for orphans.
This temple is the decoration of its city. He is beautiful both externally and internally. Parishioners come to this church both with grief and with joy, and always find solace by visitinghim.
