This amazing historical and architectural complex can be seen by everyone who comes to Volgograd. Sarepta is located on the southern outskirts of the city. This miraculously survived building of the Lutheran settlement - the colonists, which was founded and was the religious community of Hernguters.
History of Sarepta (Volgograd)
Today, the largest district of the city, both territorially and in terms of population, is Krasnoarmeysk. But 230 years ago on this earth was a small town founded by immigrants from Germany. He was called Sarepta.
In the XVIII century, Empress of Russia Catherine II invited her compatriots to take part in the development of the empty southern outskirts of Russia. Herguthers who lived in Saxony were the first to respond to her call. They were Christians, descendants of the Moravian and Czech brothers, who were forced to leave their homeland after the suppression of the Hussite revolution. A few decades before they moved to Russia, the Czech brothers received shelter in Saxony in the village of Gerngut. During this period of time, their society expanded significantly. New adherents joined them.
The Gernguters agreed to relocate, provided that they were given the opportunity to engage in missionary work. They wanted to carry the Word of God to all those suffering, to take care of the sick, the destitute and the crippled. They chose the place of settlement themselves from many offers. When the time came to name the settlement, the brothers turned to the Bible. They read the words of the Lord that he addressed to the prophet Elijah sent to Zarephath of Sidon. The Lord made it so that in the widow’s house, where the prophet stayed, the flour was never depleted in a tub, and the oil from the jug did not decrease. This saved the woman and her son from hunger.
This is probably a wonderful coincidence, but our Sarepta (Volgograd) was famous for the production of vegetable oil and flour. Even today you can see on the shelves products with the name "Sarepta."
Settlement development
Years passed, the colony flourished. Several plants appeared in it, orchards, vineyards, and melons were planted. Sarepta became one of the best resorts in Russia, it became famous for its mud baths and mineral springs. It seemed that the Lord himself was protecting the inhabitants of the settlement from epidemics and natural disasters. That's just missionary activity by royal decree was banned after several decades. This was explained by the fact that the spread of the gospel is an obstacle to trade and economic development.
From that moment, life in Sarepta began to fade. Most of the Gernguter colonists left the settlement, and those who stayed became part of the Lutheran community. Their descendants were destroyed or exiled to Kazakhstan and Siberia during the repression of the 20th century.
The creation of the museum and its purpose
In September 1990, the Council of Ministers of the Russian Federation decided to create a huge open-air museum on this territory. He occupied at that time five hectares. The main goals of its creation was to preserve the unique historical model of urban planning of the XVIII – XIX centuries. In addition, it was planned the revival of traditional technologies and industries, national traditions of the peoples that have long inhabited this land. Today “Sarepta” (Volgograd) is a museum that has been ranked with the leading research institutions of the country. He popularizes the cultural and historical heritage of Russia.
The Sarepta Museum (Volgograd) has centers for German, Russian, Ukrainian, Tatar, Belarusian and Kalmyk peoples. Here conditions have been created and are constantly being modernized for the preservation of the ethnic multiculture of this region, the development of interethnic communication and folk traditions.
With the active participation of local residents in a relatively short period of time, the museum became the owner of beautiful collections of ethnography, archeology and numismatics. The pride of the museum is the archive fund of photographs. Its expositions present materials covering the originality of life and culture of German immigrants, Kalmyks, and Russian peasants.
Museum-reserve "Sarepta" (Volgograd)
Today the museum-reserve has become a major tourist, cultural, research and methodological center of Volgograd. Now it occupies an area of more than 7 hectares. On its territory, 26 buildings have been preserved. Moreover, 23 of them are monuments of the XVIII-XIX centuries of federal significance. The Sarepta Museum (Volgograd), the photo of which you can see in our article, has qualified personnel and high scientific potential, which allows you to save, study and popularize the heritage of the Volga peoples.
Kirche
One of the main architectural objects of Sarepta is the church. It is located in the north of the central square of the village and separates the settlement from the cemetery, thereby symbolizing the fine line that separates life and death.
The first hall, intended for prayers, was consecrated by Bishop Nichman in 1766. However, a year later the church was transferred to another building, which was previously intended for the assembly house. Later, an outbuilding with living quarters was attached to him for the head of the colony and the pastor.
The construction of a new church was begun in 1771 with funds that the colony received as a gift from Catherine II. In addition, donations from brothers were used. The new building was consecrated a year later (1772).
The church hall in Lichtenburg served as a model for the church in Sarept. The building is characterized by an extremely ascetic architectural style. It is fully consistent with the canons of the "Herngut Baroque." Kirche was a rectangular two-story building with a gable roof and almost devoid of architectural decoration. An outbuilding was attached to it on one side. There were apartments of the chairman of the colony and the clergy.
After the October Revolution of 1917, services in the church continued for almost another 20 years. But still, in 1930, a decree was issued on its closure. In fact, this happened in 1937. After the Second World War, the cinema “Kultarmeets” was organized in the building. During perestroika, the tower was demolished, the organ was dismantled, the bells were removed, some window openings were laid. On the north side there was an extension, which housed the lobby of the cinema. In 1967, the cinema was closed, and a warehouse was located in the premises of the church.
Today, for numerous tourists coming to Volgograd, Sarepta is included in the obligatory excursion list. They can see the significantly changed building of the church, which became part of the museum in 1991. Four years later (1995), the first solemn worship service for many years took place here.
Organ
Many unique historical monuments are famous for Volgograd. Sarepta takes a worthy place among them. One of its main attractions is considered to be an organ that is installed in the church.
It was donated by the community of the city of Wechtersbach (Germany). Its pedals allow you to switch registers during the game. Instrumental and organ concerts are constantly held in the church. Today it is the only organ in the region that has live sound, without electronic effects.
Equilibrium sculpture
In the museum you can see a symbolic sculpture of harmony and balance - Equilibrium. This is a gift to the hero city from his twin Cologne. It was installed in 2004 during the celebration of German culture days.
The work was done in stone by Rolf Schaffner, a famous sculptor from Germany. This is part of a grandiose composition consisting of five elements. They are installed in five European cities - Cologne (Germany), Cork (Ireland), Santii (Spain) Krondheim (Norway). Now the composition is in Volgograd.
Educational activities
All tourists coming to Volgograd, Sarepta makes a huge impression. And not only preserved historical monuments. The Museum-Reserve regularly holds interregional scientific seminars, round tables, conferences, publishes its own scientific yearbook and the newspaper Sarepta News.
The museum houses the best experimental German library in the region; Russian, German and Kalmyk cultural centers operate.