Nizhny Novgorod is a very old city, with a long and diverse history, with a rich spiritual life, with a significant cultural heritage. Until now, buildings have been preserved in the Lower, the construction time of which dates back to the 16-17th centuries; however, it is not superfluous to clarify that they relate for the most part to the category of "religious buildings." Those that are considered civilians are not “older” than the 17th century; however, and this is a great value.
Nizhny Novgorod is replete with temples, churches and cathedrals. Most of them are still valid, some of them are only memories and barely visible remains of the walls; new ones are being built in their place (and partly the old ones are being reborn).
The temples of Nizhny Novgorod are the cultural and historical heritage of the Russian people. Many of them still have artistic value. And in any case, they are interesting to those who remember and keep their roots. The temples of Nizhny Novgorod (photos clearly illustrate this) testify to this until now.
The oldest architectural object
The oldest in the Lower remains the Pechersky Ascension Monastery. Its age is almost seven hundred years (according to various sources, from 14 to 16 years remain until the anniversary, which, against the background of the monastery’s longevity, can be ignored). Unfortunately, at the end of the 16th century, the original version was destroyed by a landslide, and rebuilt a bit away from the original place, so now historians date back to the beginning of the 17th century. However, even with such clarifications, few temples of Nizhny Novgorod can boast such a long history.
The second oldest can be considered the Annunciation Monastery. We can say that he is the same age as Nizhny Novgorod, in any case, his name. Its history began in the thirteenth century, but the view in which the monastery came to us begins to count towards the end of the seventeenth, and the “additions” refer to the nineteenth at all.
Where did Minin find the last shelter
No less famous is Michael the Archangel Cathedral. Its foundation dates back to 1227, although it has not survived to the pristine to our times. Like many other temples of Nizhny Novgorod, in the first version it was wooden, and such structures are easily burned and destroyed. It was given its present form only in the seventeenth century; most of all he is famous for the fact that since 1962 the cathedral has preserved the ashes of the brave citizen of the city of Kuzma Minin.
It is these temples of Nizhny Novgorod that give the city a unique atmosphere of antiquity.
Piety of the Lower
This city has always been distinguished by zeal in church institutions. It is enough to mention that before the victory of the “Great October” there were two monasteries in it, 52 different church capacities and as many as 4 cathedrals, not counting house churches (there were more than three dozen of them).
Unfortunately, after all the "fighting" events of the twentieth century - the revolution, the civil and domestic war, the disbandment of the Union - there are very few "alive" left. The temples of Nizhny Novgorod retained in their composition more than half of the original number, but the same house churches survived only a third of them.
Sormovo and its main temple
Now Sormovo has become part of Nizhny Novgorod, its district component. At the end of the 19th century, it was an ancient, but still a village, not far from the outskirts of the city. The temple of Alexander Nevsky (Nizhny Novgorod now, the village of Sormovo then) was originally erected in 1882.
An interesting historical fact can be considered that this temple did not have a permanent parish. The worshipers consisted of merchants who gathered at the time of the fair. Therefore, a feature of the church was the frequency of its work. So, in particular, the building did not even have a heating system - in winter it was closed.
Towards the end of the century, the temple became small in order to accommodate everyone. Sixteen years later, a collection of donations began, the purpose of which was to build a new church that could accept the whole parable. It is noteworthy that the money was collected mainly by employees of the Sormovsky plant, who deducted a penny from their salaries for the construction. For some time the temple of Alexander Nevsky (Nizhny Novgorod) even bore the name Kopeechny - on the one hand it seemed to be derogatory, on the other hand it was proud: after all, even the poorest "fell off" it.
The story does not end there
The time of completion of construction is considered to be 1903. From that moment, the Sormovsky temple (Nizhny Novgorod) was named "Transfiguration" and became a cathedral. However, this did not become the permanent quality of the building. With the advent of Soviet power, destruction began. First, the belfry was destroyed, then a metal roof. Like many other temples of Nizhny Novgorod, this one was badly damaged and lost its significance. First, a culture palace for children was organized there, then the building was blocked by temporary piers and arranged the so-called pischetorg - warehouse store. So for some time the most remarkable Sormovsky temple ceased to exist. Nizhny Novgorod existed without it until the year 90 of the last century, when the former cathedral was returned to believers, and they began to restore it bit by bit.
Modern look
Nowadays, the Sormovsky Transfiguration Cathedral (previously named after the Church of Alexander Nevsky, Nizhny Novgorod) is a landmark of modern and historical architecture, made in the style of the new Byzantium. The facades with columns, blue glasses and white cornices attract the most attention. The appearance of the former church of Alexander Nevsky (aka Transfiguration Cathedral) did not leave indifferent filmmakers. His appearance in the 50s was used in the film "Mother" based on the work of Gorky, whose name was Nizhny Novgorod for a decade.
New acquisitions: Panteleimon
Life does not stand still, and the temples of Nizhny Novgorod can serve as evidence of this. Instead of churches destroyed in the flames of revolution, civil and World War II, the city builds new temples, remaining a faithful follower of Christianity. It is possible that over time they will make up for the loss that Nizhny has suffered spiritually.
The most outstanding religious buildings are now considered two. The first is the temple of Panteleimon the Healer. Nizhny Novgorod habitually abbreviates the name; the full name sounds like "the church in the name of the holy martyr and healer Panteleimon." In 2001, a temporary, while wooden, church was consecrated, on the site of which, over time, a stone, permanent one was erected. The place was not chosen by chance: the icon and fragments of the relics of the healer Panteleimon are stored here, in addition, church keepers are concerned that all the places of worship are located in the city center, which is why parishioners of the outskirts are deprived of it. It is assumed that in the summer of 2014 the temple of Panteleimon the Healer will open its doors to the prayers. Nizhny Novgorod, in any case, is striving for this. It is estimated that almost a thousand people can fit in the new church at the same time.
Another future church
The city is not going to stop there. Conceived another temple - "Tenderness." Nizhny Novgorod planned it in the microdistrict of Molitovka, which is located in the Leninsky district of the city. This place is also not covered by churches. At the same time, it is known for certain that before the coup of 17, somewhere in this place, on the territory of Molitovka, there was a church destroyed by a revolution or civil war.
A prayer service has already been held here and the bishop’s letter has been laid. The temple will be dedicated to the icon of the Mother of God, known as "Tenderness." Initiation is associated with the abundance of difficulties that accompanied the intention to build a holy house. Modern myths say that only the appeal to the Virgin and the patronage of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov removed the tightly tied project of the Church of God.
Nizhny Novgorod not only preserves the historical heritage, it continues to create history. As was customary for him in the past, to this day he remains faithful to Christian traditions.