St. George's Church on Poklonnaya Hill is located next to the Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow
Poklonnaya Gora is a historical place where many events related to the history of Russia took place. The ambassadors of the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey came here, and Polish troops stopped when approaching the city. Napoleon was waiting here in 1812 when they brought him the keys to Moscow. Nearby is the Kutuzov hut, in which a meeting of generals took place before the Battle of Borodino.
Previously, the capital was much smaller, and the mountain was higher, with it a beautiful view of the city.
In the 20th century, Victory Park was founded on Poklonnaya Hill. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, a memorial dedicated to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was built. In front of him is a stele 142 meters high; the territory is decorated with fountains. There are exactly as many as the days of the war.
Shrines of Poklonnaya Gora
In 1992, the famous architect A. Polyansky created the design of the St. George Church on Poklonnaya Hill, which was built with some modifications and consecrated in 1995 by Patriarch Alexy II.
In the shape of the temple traced the traditional for ancient Russian architecture forms that resemble ancient Novgorod churches. Naturally, the construction used modern building materials and technologies. The church is very bright inside thanks to the glass walls.
In the Church of St. George on Poklonnaya Hill a magnificent iconostasis and mosaic icons. Famous sculptors Z. Anzhaparidze, I. Tsereteli took part in the manufacture of bronze bas-reliefs on the facades.
In 1997, the relics of St. George, which are in the temple on Poklonnaya Hill, were donated from Jerusalem.
In Fili, next to the Kutuzov hut, there is a church of the Archangel Michael. The church was founded in 1910, closed in 1930, and in 1994 it was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church , restored and re-consecrated in 2000.
George the Victorious and Archangel Michael - the heavenly patrons of warriors
In memory of the Orthodox, who laid their heads on the battlefields, the St. George Church on Poklonnaya Hill was erected.
George the Victorious himself was a talented military man. He was born in Cappadocia into a believing family, his father was killed during the persecution of Christians. Having entered the service, his exploits and courage George soon attracted the attention of the Emperor Diocletian, who promoted him and made him governor, which was a very high rank in those days.
However, the fact that the holy martyr George professed the Christian faith caused the fury of his patron when he found out about it. The emperor highly appreciated his military merits and promised the saint forgiveness if he renounced the faith. He subjected him to terrible torture for several days, and then cut off his head.
The fearlessness of George, his faithfulness to faith, the way he courageously endured suffering for Christ, made him one of the beloved and revered saints. He is considered the patron saint of soldiers in many Orthodox countries.
Archangel Michael, who leads the angelic army, is also a strong patron of those who fight for truth and justice.
Prayer memory of those who gave their lives for victory
There are not only Orthodox churches on Poklonnaya Hill.
The memorial synagogue dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust is part of the complex in honor of the victory in World War II. It was opened in 1998 in the presence of the President of Russia.
In 1997, the construction of a memorial mosque in honor of the fallen soldiers of the Muslim faith was completed.
On November 4, 2014, on the Day of National Unity, a Buddhist temple was laid on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow, which will be a symbol of the blessed memory of Buddhist warriors who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War, residents of Kalmykia, Buryatia and other peoples of Russia following this religion.
When is the church of St. George opened?
Services in the temples on Poklonnaya Hill are scheduled. The liturgy is performed daily.
Baptisms and weddings are often held here, and for newlyweds visiting the St. George Church on Poklonnaya Hill on the day of the wedding has become a tradition.
There are a lot of people here on holidays: pilgrims come here to the relics of the holy martyr George, servicemen come after taking the oath to pray at a prayer for future service, veterans. Sunday school works. Once a year, on Easter week, all the chants in the liturgy are performed by children.
Poklonnaya Gora is a unique place where everyone can pay tribute to the fallen soldiers and pray for a bright future for which they fought.