Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Rostov-on-Don: description, history

Rostov-on-Don was founded to protect the southern borders of our country more than 265 years ago. Its historical and cultural attractions annually attract thousands of tourists to the city, including from the far abroad. Among them there are facilities that are required to visit. For example, the majestic Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (Stanislavsky Street).

Rostov-on-Don is proud of this building, which is very similar to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (Moscow), so its image adorns almost all tourist avenues.

Prehistory

At the end of the 18th century, the oldest Soldatskaya Sloboda of Rostov-on-Don began to be heavily populated, and there was an urgent need for its own church. In February 1781, near the place where the central market is located today, the construction of the wooden church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was begun. It lasted about six months, and on September 5 the church was consecrated. He served the Rostovites only 10 years and was burnt during a thunderstorm from a lightning strike.

History (before desecration)

In 1795 the mayor of the city MP Naumov appealed to Metropolitan Gabriel with a request to allow the construction of a stone church. The petition was granted, and soon the center of the city was decorated with a new stone cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.

Rostov-on-Don eventually became one of the economic centers of the region. He was actively built up and decorated. In 1854, it was decided that instead of a dilapidated church with wooden domes, a new cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary should be built. Rostov-on-Don was decorated with a construction designed by the famous architect K. Ton. That is why modern tourists are always struck by its external similarity with the exterior and silhouette of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior of the same author.

Revival of the Cathedral

In 1937, it was decided to close the temple. The Soviet government did not find anything better than to place a zoo on the territory of the cathedral. A little later, it was used as a warehouse, and at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the upper tiers of the bell tower were dismantled, as they feared that the enemy would use this structure as a reference point for air raids.

In the middle of the summer of 1942, during the occupation of the city, the faithful themselves opened the cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and began to conduct services there. After 9 years in the temple was installed the main iconostasis, which has four tiers. It was made in the capital according to the sketches of the altar partition of the blown up Christ the Savior Cathedral.

By 1999, fully restored the bell tower of the cathedral, at the consecration of which was attended by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II.

Description

Almost all excursions in Rostov-on-Don include a visit to the Cathedral, the Russian-Byzantine silhouette of which is considered one of the architectural symbols of the city. It has five domes, and the layout of the temple in form resembles a cross.

In the interior of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, paintings of pylons, walls and arches, made by artist K. Volkov, as well as the main iconostasis are of particular interest. It is made in the form of a chapel, which is crowned with a cupola with a cross. The same altar partitions are located in the Peter and Paul and Preobrazhensky chapels.

To the celebrations dedicated to the millennium of the Baptism of Rus, the domes of the temple were covered with copper and gilded, as did the crosses, which are visible from different parts of Rostov-on-Don.

Belfry of the Cathedral

In 1875, in the west of the temple, the construction of another city sight was started. According to the design of the army architect-engineer A. A. Campioni and the means of the patrons of S.Koshkin, P. P. Maksimov, V. I. Asmolov and I. S. Panchenko, in 1887 a bell tower was erected.

It had a height of 75 m, and its architecture combined elements of Russian renaissance and classicism. The head of the dome of the bell tower was made in blue and decorated with gilded stars. On its upper tier there were watches with a quarter fight and four dials. They were visible from most of the city and many Rostovites for a long time checked the clock precisely for them.

In the middle tiers were placed bells. The main one was cast in Moscow at the expense of I. Panchenko. He weighed 1,032 poods. The bell was decorated with images of saints, the Mother of God and John the Theologian. Evidence has survived that his jerky ringing was heard for 4 dozen versts.

In 1882, on the first tier of the bell tower, a small church-baptismal church was built in the name of St. Nicholas.

As it was already said, at the beginning of the war two upper layers of the structure were destroyed, and after 7 years it practically ceased to exist, since its lower part was dismantled.

The belfry was restored in 1999, and today many sightseeing tours around Rostov-on-Don begin at its foot.

New bells

For many years, there was no sound of blagovest over the cathedral. The situation changed by the beginning of the new century, when new bells were made. This responsible task was assigned to Voronezh MP "Vera".

The new bells are not exact copies of those whose ringing was once called to the temple of Orthodox residents of Rostov-on-Don. They were named after the heavenly patrons of secular and spiritual leaders of the region.

Today the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos (Rostov-on-Don) informs parishioners by ringing of bells:

• Great Martyr Panteleimon weighing 4 tons;
• The holy Prince Vladimir (2 tons);
• Archistrategus Michael (1 ton);
• Sergius of Radonezh (0.5 t);
• Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (0,25 t).

Cathedral Square of Rostov-on-Don

Interest is not only the temple, but also the surrounding area. Before the cathedral, between the streets of Moscow and Stanislavsky, there is a small Cathedral Square. Its history is inextricably linked with the uneasy fate of the temple.

In April 1890, grateful Rostovites erected a bronze monument to Alexander the Second there. The monument was erected under the project of M.O. Mikeshin. In 1920, the monument was put on a plywood box with a red star, and after a while and completely demolished. After that, the area was empty for a long time.

Monument to St. Dimitry of Rostov

In 1999, the Cathedral Square was transformed. Near the place where once there was a monument dedicated to Emperor Alexander the Second, they erected a monument to Saint Dimitry of Rostov. The authors of the new statue of steel VG Belyakov and NF Gmyrya.

The monument was hastily assembled in the days of celebrations dedicated to the 250th anniversary of Rostov-on-Don, at the insistence of the city administration. This decision caused a mixed response from the public. First of all, the cause of discontent was the low artistic level of the monument. Criticized also the vestment of the Saint and the inscription on the pedestal. Many experts pointed out that an extremely unsuccessful place was chosen to install this new city sight. They called to erect a monument in the territory where the fortress was formerly located, or on Stepan Shaumyan Street (formerly called Dimitrievskaya).

Life of the parish

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Rostov-on-Don) has a farmstead representing a harmonious architectural ensemble. In addition to the temple, on its territory there is an active church consecrated in the name of John the Baptist, and the temporarily non-functioning church of St. Nicholas, located in the bell tower.

The complex of the metochion includes several buildings for official use. In particular, there are offices, as well as departments and commissions of the Rostov Diocesan Office.

The arrival of the cathedral carries out an active activity aimed at acquainting the inhabitants of Rostov-on-Don with Orthodox traditions. The great work in this regard is carried out by the Enlightenment Center. St. Demetrius, located in a building located next to the church of St. John the Baptist.

At the metochion there is also a diocesan publishing house, a printing house, shops selling church utensils and Orthodox literature.

How to get there

The address of the temple: Russia, Rostov-on-Don, Stanislavsky street, building 58. You can get there by your own car, by taxi or by tram number 1. The stop on which you need to get off is called the "Central Market". The temple is open to believers on any day of the week from 10:00 to 17:00.

Now you know when the Rostov Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was founded and what a difficult fate it was. Be sure to visit this magnificent monument of church architecture and admire the paintings that decorate its interior.