Novocherkassk cathedral (Ascension military cathedral): history, description, architecture

The history of the Don Cossacks, which passed a difficult and dramatic path, was embodied in the majestic monument, which is the Novocherkassk Ascension Cathedral. He is rightfully considered one of the masterpieces of Russian temple architecture. In it, everything is unusual - both the history of its creation, and even the size by which it concedes only to the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior and St. Petersburg St. Isaac's Cathedral.

The temple is the same age as the city

The foundation date of Novocherkassk is 1805. Then there was a bookmark of the future cathedral, which was to become the pride of the entire Cossacks. However, as it often happens in Russia, the case dragged on, and work began only after the expiration of six years, in 1811. The author of the project was a talented Italian architect Aloisius Rusk - a convinced adherent of the classical style in architecture. But it so happened that, having become a victim of bureaucratic intrigues, he was forced to leave Russia, and his compatriot P.N. Amvrosimov.

The collapse of an almost completed building

Construction was carried out for thirty-five years and was nearing completion, when the unforeseen happened - when the canopy was collapsing, a significant part of the facade collapsed. By a lucky chance there were no victims, as there was a misfortune on the day off, and there were no workers inside the temple, but the result of the accident was terrible - the almost finished Novocherkassk cathedral turned into ruins.

An urgent message was sent to Petersburg about the incident, and the reigning Nicholas I sent a commission to Novocherkassk to identify the perpetrators.

Upon arriving at the site, the state peasants discovered the grossest violations committed in the course of construction work, as well as engineering mistakes in the project itself. A special place in their report was taken by the unacceptably low quality of building materials. Apparently, the theft of funds released from the treasury occurred, but the case was hushed up, and for a while the work was suspended.

Another setback

When the Ascension Cathedral was built in Novocherkassk, it seemed that the success of the undertaking was hindered by some evil rock. The fact is that when, a few years after the accident, the construction was resumed and in 1863 it was already approaching its final phase, the history of seventeen years ago was repeated with striking accuracy. Everything went smoothly, but at the moment when they began to reduce the dome, a deep crack suddenly appeared on the facade, and it collapsed. Again, as before, the building close to completion turned into a pile of construction debris.

Again, the dispatch flew to the capital, and the investigation began again. The commission that came from St. Petersburg saw the technological failure as the main reason for the collapse, which resulted from unacceptable haste during the work.

This time the construction was led by the architect I.O. Valdred is an experienced specialist and a very circumspect person. He was not charged with the incident, as he presented copies of reports to the commission, in which he repeatedly pointed out to the city authorities and to the Cossack atamans about the danger of unnecessarily fast rates of work.

Beginning of new construction

But the city of Novocherkassk could not live without the church of God, and the Cossacks are well known to people as stubborn. The failures that followed the construction of the cathedral did not diminish their determination to bring the matter to an end, and in 1889 the project of a new - the third temple - was approved in the capital. Its author was a resident of Novocherkassk, the Don Army architect A.A. Yashchenko. Shortly before that, he became an academician, and this work was his debut in the new rank. However, this was not without the intervention of evil fate. When the foundation was laid, the Don architect died suddenly, and the Novocherkassk cathedral continued to be built without him.

The same rock played a cruel joke and the next head of work - AP. Malice. He, like his predecessors, had to give testimony to the investigative commission. Discovered the same violations of technological standards and suspiciously low quality materials. This time only a miracle saved the builders from a new collapse. Under the fear of eternal torment in the future life and the criminal court in this high city authorities took action, and the matter finally entered the necessary rut.

Finale of the construction epic

But sooner or later everything comes to an end. All the long-term ordeals associated with the construction of the temple have ended. Completion of work and consecration of the Novocherkassk cathedral took place at the very beginning of the new XX century - in 1901. The size of this third largest cathedral in Russia is admired. His dome ascended to a height of seventy-five meters, and the area was almost four and a half thousand square meters.

To build a building of this size, it was required to build for his needs a brick factory, a power plant and a water pipe line. In order to avoid the risk of a new collapse, a special laboratory was created, in which all the building material was tested for strength. Record was and the amount spent on the work, it amounted to two million rubles.

The former grandeur of the temple

Everyone who happened to see the Novocherkassk Cathedral celebrated the extraordinary beauty of its domes covered with red gold. The impression was supplemented by the main cross, the decoration of which was the crystal incrustation made by Bohemian masters.

There are many memories of witnesses of his former glory. They paint a picture of how, on sunny days, the bright radiance of the main cross, visible over many kilometers, served as a living beacon on the way to God.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Novocherkassk Cathedral was equipped with a unique system of ventilation and heating, which at that time was a real breakthrough in technical thought. Thanks to bold engineering developments, not only was a comfortable environment created inside the church, but, very importantly, the preservation of the iconostasis painting and wall murals was ensured. Unfortunately, now it is lost.

In addition, Novocherkassk Cathedral was famous for its interior decoration. Its floor was covered with marble slabs, specially made in France and Italy. The original addition to the construction of the building was the underground passage, connecting the temple with the nearby bishop's house. Today, the House of Officers is located within its walls.

Years of total atheism

Novocherkassk Cathedral, whose history is inextricably linked with all the Russian events of the XX century, fully shared the fate of most of the temples of our country. In the thirties, the God-fighting authorities closed it and put an end to the services that were held in it.

From such magnificent once domes, crosses were removed and barbed copper sheets were barbarously torn off. The building itself - an architectural monument and a work of art - was used as a warehouse for fuel and lubricants.

During the Great Patriotic War, the city of Novocherkassk was in the zone of temporary occupation. The Germans opened the temple, and the worship services resumed. The inhabitants of the city in those years prayed for the victory over the enemy and asked for God's blessing and intercession. When the Nazis were expelled, the Soviet authorities did not close the temple or interfere with the services, but all the basements of the cathedral were still used as a warehouse.

Return to the spiritual origins

When the country came to democratic change, and people awoke from an atheistic obsession, many cathedrals and monasteries were returned to the church. It was a joyous, but very difficult period. Most of the temple buildings after decades of their barbaric ruin required restoration or at least serious restoration. Among them was the Novocherkassk Cathedral. Patriarch of All Russia Alexy II blessed the work, and many leading specialists-restorers were invited to the funds allocated by the city authorities.

Reborn Cathedral

In 2005, Novocherkassk residents celebrated a double anniversary - the bicentenary of the city and the laying of a temple in it. To these festivities, the end of works on the restoration of the cathedral facade was timed. Its appearance was restored in accordance with the drawings and drawings of the beginning of the last century. In the queue, the gilding of domes and the installation of crystal inlays, so famous in previous years.

Service in the Novocherkassk cathedral today is conducted with the same piety and observance of church canons, which is in the whole Orthodox world. The bells of his bells are again carried far by the district and calls on everyone to pray, whose heart is open to God. In conclusion, information for those who would like to visit the Novocherkassk Cathedral. Address: Rostov Region, Novocherkassk, Sq. Ermak, 2.