A large southern city with a long history, hospitable Krasnodar is always glad to guests. In addition to the magnificent nature, there are many attractions, unique monuments of history and culture. Undoubtedly, the Orthodox churches of Krasnodar and the cathedrals of this city, which we will tell you about today, deserve special attention.
Nevsky Cathedral
This beautiful temple is located in the center of Krasnodar, near the Fortress Square. Once upon a time there was a military wooden Resurrection Cathedral on this square.
The temple of Alexander Nevsky (Krasnodar) began to be built in 1872. The construction of the cathedral lasted 19 years due to a lack of funds and building materials. The ceremonial consecration of the temple was performed in 1872. Subsequently, he became a Cossack cathedral. Under him was a military and singing choir - the ancestor of the Kuban Cossack Choir, known not only in our country, but also far abroad .
Post-revolutionary years
After the October Revolution (1917), many cathedrals and temples in Krasnodar were closed. Nevsky Cathedral expected a more sad fate - it was blown up. Its restoration began only in 2003. Today, many tourists and pilgrims come to see the temple of Alexander Nevsky. Krasnodar always welcomes guests warmly, so anyone can visit the cathedral.
Cathedral of Catherine the Great Martyr
This cathedral is the main one in the Krasnodar diocese. Here is a miraculous image of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Parishioners call her Catherine. The temples of Krasnodar are the most valuable sights of this southern city. This magnificent cathedral is no exception. It was decided to build it in 1888, a year after a terrible railway accident, in which the royal family miraculously managed to survive. Shortly before this tragedy, Emperor Alexander III, accompanied by his family, visited Yekaterinodar. On the occasion of the salvation of the king, it was decided to build a magnificent cathedral with seven thrones.
The first service was held in the temple in 1914. Funds for its construction were collected by the townspeople. The temple became the embodiment of the project of the famous architect Malgerba. During the years of Soviet rule, they wanted to dismantle the temple. But they could not do this - during construction, a solution of egg white was used.
Church of the Nativity (Krasnodar)
The solemn laying and consecration of the first stone laid in the foundation of this temple took place in May 1992. It was made by the Archbishop of Novorossiysk and Yekaterinodar Isidor.
A bank account was opened in August 1991 to raise funds for the construction of the cathedral. Local residents and city organizations raised funds.
New Temple Life
For the church, the city leadership allocated temporary premises in a small extension of the house, located on Chekistov Avenue. In July 1992, regular worship services began in this room. The first baptisms, weddings and religious processions to the place of the future church were held here.
In August 1992, at this place, Bishop Isidore served the Divine Liturgy. In mid-1994, a service was held in the lower aisle, and the next in 1995.
The lower temple consists of two aisles. The main one was consecrated in March 1998, and the southern one - in March 1999. At the end of 1999, the construction of the upper church was completed, which was consecrated in early January 2000 by Bishop Isidore.
Charity
All tourists who come to Krasnodar visit the Church of the Nativity of Christ. It must be said that the first Orthodox school in the Kuban appeared in it, a Sunday children's school is open, an orphanage and a well-known charitable institution in the city have been opened.
Not all tourists come only on vacation in sunny Krasnodar. The Church of the Nativity is one of the most revered places of worship in the city. This is a two-story five-domed brick church, which is crowned by a tented bell tower. The authors of this project are architects Peter and Yuri Subbotin, natives of Krasnodar.
Krasnodar: Church of the Holy Spirit
With the blessing of Isidore, Metropolitan of Kuban, in 1993 a parish in honor of the Holy Spirit was opened in one of the residential buildings of the new Komsomolsky microdistrict of the city.
The project of the temple was ready in 1999, and at the same time a place for construction was obtained. In 2000, a stove was solemnly consecrated at the site of the construction of the cathedral.
In September 2007, small domes were installed on it, and a year later the main dome crowned it.
If you come to Krasnodar, the Temple of the Holy Spirit must definitely be included in your excursion program. The cathedral has two thrones. The main, upper throne of the temple was created in honor of the Holy Spirit. The lower throne is consecrated in honor of the Confessors and New Martyrs of Russia.
Shrines of the temple
In July 2011, Bishop Herman of Yeisk consecrated the lower aisle of the church. It contains several unique Orthodox shrines. This is the ark with the relics of God's saints. As well as particles of the relics of St. Luke Voyno-Yasenetsky, Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Peter and Fevronia. You can follow them on holidays and Sundays.
Another shrine of the temple is the icon of St. Demetrius of Rostov with a particle of his relics. It is written in Rostov the Great, in a man’s monastery.
St. George's Church
And now we will visit the oldest religious building in the city - St. George's Church. Krasnodar has a great variety of cathedrals and churches. But this temple must be visited. Its history goes back over 1000 years. According to legend, in the place where the ancient temple is now, in 891 a terrible hurricane began. People began to beg for help. Hearing their prayer, St. George came down from heaven and pacified the wind.
In gratitude, people built a temple on this place and named it in honor of their savior. Due to the fact that nearby was the village of Balaklava, they began to call it the Tauride Balaklava Monastery.
During the construction of Yekaterinodar in its northern part, a small monastery was opened, subordinate to the Balaklava temple. The ministers of the temple turned to the city authorities for help in building a church on the site of the monastery.
St. George Church (Krasnodar) was founded in July 1895. This year marks 100 years since the founding of the city. Unfortunately, the names of the author of the project and the architect were not preserved. But it is known for certain that the famous architect I.K. Malgerb, who is the author of many magnificent temples.
The cathedral was built with elements of Byzantine architecture, which is characterized by the presence of a large number of domes. Its facade is faced with brick made by craftsmen. Above the main part of the building are five domes. There are eleven in all.
Trinity Cathedral
The temples of Krasnodar are striking in their diversity of architecture. Trinity Cathedral, which is the main attraction of the Kuban Cossack army. The decision to build this amazing temple was made in 1899. However, preparations for its construction dragged on for several years. It was hard to find a suitable place for the cathedral. The best places already occupied other temples of Krasnodar.
The foundation stone of the structure was laid in October 1899. The cathedral was decided to build on the site, which belonged to the widow of the officer S. Shcherbina. Construction work continued until 1910. The author of the project is architect I.K. Malgerb.
Trinity Cathedral was built in traditional Russian architectural style. It was consecrated in June 1910. In 1912, after the consecration of the cathedral, the restoration of the lower church began, which suffered when construction was temporarily suspended. Consecrated the lower temple in November 1912.
In Soviet times, the temple suffered the fate of all Russian churches - it was closed in 1934. It resumed services in 1942, but after the war it was closed again, now for many decades. Priceless icons, unique church utensils were taken out of the temple. In the postwar years, the temple was used as an economic and storage room. In 1972, the sculpture workshop of the city branch of the Soviet Union Art Fund began work here.
Since 1979, the Trinity Church has become a historical monument. And only in 1990 he was returned to the Orthodox Church. The temple was in a deplorable state, but thanks to the parishioners and the efforts of the clergy, 4 years later it was transformed. After the restoration, a bell tower appeared, a new roof, golden crosses shone over the domes.
All the temples of Krasnodar (photo you can see in our article) are roads for the townspeople, but for the Cossacks this cathedral is important for one more reason. In 2008, F. Scherbin, academician, writer, poet, chronicler of Cossack history, was buried on its territory.
St. Elias Church
The construction of this rather modest-sized temple was preceded by tragic events. In 1892, a cholera epidemic raged in the Kuban region, which claimed 15045 lives. Parishioners and all believers of the Kuban decided that this was a punishment for sins, so it was decided to hold a nationwide prayer addressed to the holy prophet Elijah. Believers have promised to build a temple if the disease leaves the city.
It is not known whether prayer or the work of doctors helped, but by the end of the fall the epidemic waned. In 1901, it was decided to begin construction of the church in the name of St. Elijah.
The new temple was consecrated on February 25, 1907 with a huge number of people. And then the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated. In 1918, this small church received parish status. In 1931 it was closed. Only during the German occupation (1941) the temple was opened. A little more than twenty years passed - and it was again closed (1963), the dome was removed. For over 25 years, the temple was used as a warehouse for storing sports equipment. His condition worsened every year. In 1990, restoration work began in the temple. In early August 1990, the temple was again consecrated. The dome returned to its former place, which was installed using a helicopter on the restored building.
Since 2002, internal work began - wall painting. This work took more than four years. Today it is an active temple, in which parishioners come with their joys and sorrows.