You can visit the unique historical temple by visiting the city of Rybinsk. Transfiguration Cathedral is located on the central Cathedral Square, in its very heart. Nearby is the Volzhsky bridge. This is a real business card of the city. When it was first built, the first wooden church was erected on this site.
Early story
One of the shrines of Russian Orthodoxy, located in a city called Rybinsk, is the Transfiguration Cathedral. His story is interesting in many facts. The first temple, built on the site of the Transfiguration Cathedral, was laid in 1654. It was a stone structure dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord. It was built on the site of two wooden churches of the early 17th century - Preobrazhenskaya and Peter and Paul.
The temple was installed on four pillars and a high basement. The building was surrounded on three sides by a gallery with small cubic aisles decorated with tents. Subsequently, they were replaced by onion chapters. In one of the corners of the gallery, a bell tower with eight faces was installed. Later, this bell tower was rebuilt in the aisle of the prophet Elijah.
In 1779, by decree of the Yaroslavl Spiritual Diocese, the church was given the status of a cathedral.
First Cathedral Church
The population in the city was growing rapidly. The city cathedral could no longer accept such a number of people, and its dilapidation made itself felt. It was decided to build a new cathedral church building. In the center of Rybinsk at that time a five-tier bell tower had already been installed, to which it was necessary to tie a new cathedral.
There were only two options for resolving this issue. But both of them suggested the destruction of old buildings. The first option involved the construction of a new cathedral on the east side of the bell tower, in place of the old temple. In the second option, the new cathedral was to take the place of the Red Gostiny Dvor on the west side of the bell tower.
For more than 20 years, the question of building a new cathedral has been resolved. The merchant elite of Rybinsk wanted to keep the old one. But another part of the city’s inhabitants, especially the trading layer, was against the destruction of the courtyard.
And only in 1838 the question of construction was decided. They chose the first option and on July 14 in the old cathedral served the last liturgy. The construction site was consecrated on September 8, 1838.
The construction of the second cathedral church
Not immediately, everything was arranged in a city like Rybinsk. Transfiguration Cathedral was also built in several stages. This was influenced by many factors. The construction of the cathedral was funded by local merchants. Over 195 thousand rubles were spent. The construction of a new cathedral church was completed in 1845. In 1851 they completed the decoration of the interior. The cathedral and the previously built bell tower were connected to the refectory. Now it was a single architectural ensemble. The cathedral was solemnly consecrated in the middle of the summer of 1851.
At that time, the Transfiguration Cathedral (Rybinsk) was a cold summer temple. Near it was a warm cathedral church of St. Nicholas, built back in 1720. In 1930, it was disassembled.
New History of the Transfiguration Cathedral
At the Transfiguration Cathedral, several parishes were founded, in particular, guardianship of the poor and a church school.
The year 1909 was significant for the Transfiguration Cathedral. He was assigned the status of the cathedral. In 1942, the cathedral lost its status, but in 2010 it was restored again.
In 1929, the cathedral was closed, the bell tower was dismantled. The reason for this was the design of the bridge. For its construction, the cathedral had to be completely destroyed. Work has already begun, but they were stopped by the war. A dormitory was arranged in the cathedral. Before that, they were going to make a theater, a warehouse, a circus and a train station.
Rebirth
The design of the automobile bridge was nevertheless carried out in 1963. The cathedral building was not only preserved, but its historical appearance was restored. During the restoration, all the damage was restored. But the cathedral did not fulfill its direct purpose. In 1999, its building belonged to the Rybinsk branch of the State Archive of the Yaroslavl Region.
The first divine services in the cathedral began after the transfer of the Russian Orthodox bell tower and refectory gallery. The main building was transferred to the Rostov and Yaroslavl diocese in 1999. Entrepreneur V.I. Tyryshkin helped to carry out a comprehensive restoration. The Cathedral again opened its doors to believers.
Today, thousands of people can daily visit the holy monastery - Transfiguration Cathedral (Rybinsk). The schedule of services is simple and short. They are held every day. The cathedral is open for visits from Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 18.00, on Saturday - from 7.30 to 19.00, on Sunday - from 6.30 to 18.00. Cathedral address: Rybinsk, st. Cross, 23.
Building architecture
Buildings of unusual architecture are located in a city like Rybinsk. Transfiguration Cathedral also applies to them. Firstly, the bell tower, other temple outbuildings and the cathedral itself are a single architectural complex. Secondly, the building has not lost its historical architectural significance, despite the fact that some details have been completely changed.
What the cathedral looks like today
Transfiguration Cathedral is a five-domed church with a central dome. Above its central part rises a majestic spherical dome, which is held by spring-loaded arches thrown over heptagonal pillars. At the corners of the main space are small light domes. Cylindrical arches rise above the refectory and other parts of the cathedral. The shape of the cathedral is a cross enclosed in a square. Around the central room, side naves are harmoniously located, at the end of which are six-columned frontal porticoes and wide staircases and an altar. On the west side, the central nave is connected to the refectory gallery, which on the other hand is connected to the bell tower. At the same time, about 4 thousand people can be in the cathedral.
The scenery of the temple belongs to the era of late classicism and have quite expressive details. The real decoration of the temple are the windows. Below they have an arched appearance, and above - round. At the porticoes - pilasters and columns of the Corinthian order. On light drums - Corinthian half-columns. Initially, the cathedral was decorated with frescoes, which, unfortunately, have not been preserved. The iconostasis has also changed.
What does the bell tower look like
The height of the bell tower is 94 m. It is one of the highest bell towers in all of Russia. Its architecture has its own characteristics. Angular foundations inside have round chambers. You can enter the ringing ring by two stairs located in the western chambers. The bell tower, unlike the cathedral itself, is made in the Baroque style. Pilasters, ionic columns, rustics - all these elements are decorated with pillars of the bell tower. In the upper tier are the clocks. The roof is octagonal, with a gilded spire and a cross. It seems that the bell tower is just flying up. This impression is created thanks to 52 columns.
One of the main attractions for everyone who visits the city of Rybinsk is the Transfiguration Cathedral. His abbots made every effort to make this place not only a delight for the eyes, but also a home for the soul. One of the first priests who arrived at the Transfiguration Cathedral (Rybinsk) is Pavel Petrov Novsky. Since the opening of the cathedral, 11 priors have already been replaced, the last of which - Denisov Vasily Nikandrovich - serves to the benefit of people to this day.
The schedule of services in the Transfiguration Cathedral of Rybinsk is the same as in other Orthodox churches. Morning services and liturgies are held daily. In the days of remembrance of saints and holidays solemn services are held.