In the spring of 2014, among the new high-rise buildings, a bow cross was erected as a sign that the church of Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikovo would stand in this place, to the delight of local residents. The land was allocated free of charge by the Moscow authorities under the "Program-200" (two hundred new churches in the city for residents within walking distance). Already in the summer, they began to build a temporary temple-chapel made of wood and, working tirelessly, with God's help, completed it by autumn. On October 25, it was consecrated, and after the festive Divine Liturgy, the new parish took on a life of its own.
Temple-chapel of Xenia of Petersburg
In a new modern microdistrict, built on the site of five-story "Khrushchev", people reached out to a small church, the rector of which was appointed Archpriest Orest Orshak. Divine services and rites of the sacrament began to be held here immediately. Parishioners who have fallen in love with their small church of Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikovo visit it on holidays and weekdays, rejoice at the opportunity to pray, visit God's house, meetnew acquaintances find attention and care here.
The higher clergy, visiting the temple, hold services, meet with ordinary people. The Moscow authorities also do not ignore him. Church ministers from neighboring parishes are frequent guests here. The temple has many friends. They rejoiced with the whole world, when in March 2015, bells rang out on a wooden bell tower built nearby. A small ensemble of five bells, cast in a Moscow workshop, is carefully selected for euphony.
Today the temple lives an active life. Services are held here according to the schedule, a Sunday school for children is open, an icon painting class is open, a youth club is organized, social assistance is provided to those in need, pilgrimage trips are made and much more.
The Life of Blessed Xenia
A prosperous woman who lived in St. Petersburg in the middle of the 18th century suddenly became a twenty-six-year-old widow. The imminent death of her beloved husband, without repentance and communion, shocked Ksenia so much that, from the point of view of her relatives, she began to do “insane” things. Having distributed all her property to poor people, including her house, she devoted her life to atonement for the sins of her husband, which he did not have time to pray for, choosing for this a strange way for others.
Assuring that her husband is alive, she walked in his clothes, responded only to his name and prayed, prayed. The inhabitants of the city at first persecuted her, and then got used to the holy fool at the temple of the Apostle Matthew. Doing no harm to anyone, she asked the Lord for them and distributedmoney received by other beggars. Over time, people noticed that the one who warmed and fed Xenia received a hundredfold from God. Things were going uphill, sick relatives were recovering, heart affairs were getting better.
When the church was closed for the night, Ksenia went to pray in the field. Kneeling in winter and offering prayers to the Almighty, she acquired the gift of clairvoyance, which she generously shared with others. Blessed Xenia loved people, helped them in every way she could, asking nothing for herself. People believed her, asked for help, asked for intercession. Many good deeds are described in her life. Among others - anonymous help at night to the builders of the church at the Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg, where she was buried, who died at 71. That church no longer exists, the chapel built in Xenia's memory has also been destroyed, and people, having built a new one, still go to her grave with a plea for help.
Church of Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikovo in the future
Residents of the microdistrict are proud of their temporary wooden church, because there are only two of them in Moscow built in honor of this saint. They believe that a large stone church of Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikovo will stand on this site. There is every reason for this. In February 2016, at a meeting in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, it was announced that work had begun on the design of a new church in Beskudnikovo.
“The temple will be crowned with golden domes, the brick walls will be white. Mosaic icons will be installed in the niches…”.
By collecting donations for project work, parishioners believe that in the near futureIn the future, next to their beautiful houses, a new large church of Xenia of Petersburg in Beskudnikovo will grow. How to get from the center to Beskudnikovsky proezd, 4, possession 4? Very simple: from the Petrovo-Razumovskaya metro station by bus 149 or 677 to the stop "Universam".
