In the very center of Moscow, not far from the Tretyakovskaya metro station, in Maly Tolmachevsky Lane, the magnificent Church of St. Nicholas rises. In Tolmachi, as the people call this place, this temple has been located for a long time. For the first time, the wooden church of the wonderworker Nicholas is found in manuscripts as early as 1625.
Temple History
The first stone church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, inside which there were two thrones, was designed and built in 1697. The main altar was consecrated in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and the second altar, Nikolsky, was decided to be transferred to the refectory, located at the temple.
In 1770, the widow of a we althy merchant Demidov allocated a large amount of funds for the construction of a new chapel inside this refectory.
At the end of 1812, when it was decided to set fire to Moscow, the clergy house and the almshouse that stood next to the temple burned down, but the building of the Church of St. Nicholas itself remained untouched by fire. Even before the fire, all the valuables stored in it were hidden, and only the antimension could not be hidden from the eyes of the French,which was defiled by them. The temple remained closed until February 1813, and when it was reopened, both aisles were re-consecrated.
Around 1834, the famous architect F. M. Shestakov, with the blessing of Metropolitan Filaret, was able to rebuild the refectory, in which two symmetrical aisles were made, and then designed a new bell tower, in which as many as three tiers were planned. They were erected soon after the design. The interior decoration of the bell tower was made of artificial marble. Also, several new bells were cast for it, one of them is a festive one. Twenty years later, the main altar was rebuilt at the expense of Daniil Tretyakov's daughter Alexandra Danilovna and her sons.
In 1922, more than 150 kilograms of gold and silver items were confiscated from the temple, and seven years later, in 1929, the temple was closed. He resumed his work only in 1993. All these years it was used as a service building of the Tretyakov Gallery, and everything inside the temple was blocked off. Only the slightly altered first floor reminded that divine services were once held here. Almost three years after the opening, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow consecrated it.
By the middle of 1997, one of the largest reconstructions of the temple was completed. During the event, the bell tower was rebuilt. In addition, several iconostases and all wall paintings were recreated.
Our time
Today, the temple has not changed much: outwardly it looks like a quadrangle of the 17th century with a refectory of the 19thcentury with two aisles.
The Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi has been a landmark of the Russian capital for a long time and has the status of a temple at the Tretyakov Gallery. Therefore, all the conditions suitable for keeping the shrines, which are the property of the entire Russian people, were specially created in it.
For more than a dozen years, on the celebration of the Holy Trinity Day, the icon of the great Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev "Trinity" has been brought here, which is specially taken out of the Tretyakov Gallery for this purpose.
Three-handed in the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi
With the blessing of Patriarch Kirill, from June 28 to September 2, 2018, as part of the opening of a temporary exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery dedicated to Bulgarian masterpieces of icon painting and other church art, inside the church of St. Nicholas during worship, as well as after them, there will be an icon of Our Lady of Three Hands, brought to Moscow specially from the Bulgarian capital.
Everyone who visits the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi at this time, the Three-Handed Icon will bestow its warmth and help those who pray. Everyone will be able to see it, because the temple will be open for prayer every day except Monday.
During liturgical time, absolutely everyone can visit the temple, and the rest of the time its doors are open for those visitors of the State Gallery who want to look at the masterpieces of icon painting and visit the temple of God.
Service Schedule
Entrance to the temple is through the door in the main building of the Tretyakov Gallery, located slightly to the left of the bell tower. Before going upstairs, you must leave outerwear in the wardrobe.
For visitors to the State Gallery, the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi is open on any day except Monday, from 12-00 to 16-00. You can go inside through the main entrance to the Tretyakov Gallery, which is clearly visible, and therefore cannot be confused with any other.
On weekends, as well as during Great Feasts, the Divine Liturgy begins at 9:00, and before the All-Night Vigil at 17:00.
On Fridays at 17:00, an akathist to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is read (but not during Great Lent).
On the days of the icons of the Mother of God, Matins is held at 8-00, and after it - the Divine Liturgy.
Also, there is a church library at the temple. Library opening hours:
- Saturday - from 15-30 to 17-00
- Sunday - after the end of the Divine Liturgy and until 14-00.
Address of St. Nicholas Church in Tolmachi
The temple is located in the heart of Moscow. Address: Maly Tolmachevsky Lane, 9. Art. metro station – Tretyakovskaya.
