Voskresensky Cathedral, Arzamas

In 112 km from Nizhny Novgorod there is an ancient city with rich historical and cultural traditions. The status of the city Arzamas received in 1578. The visiting card of this settlement, located on the shore of Choši, the tributary of the Oka, is the Resurrection Cathedral. Arzamas is proud of this perfect creation dominating the whole city. The handsome-temple is located on a hill and is the central object of the ensemble of the Cathedral Square.

Prehistory of the origin of the temple

Resurrection cathedrals in Russia alone there are more than 20, there are also in other countries, including Japan. Therefore, when describing the central temple of Arzamas, its territorial affiliation will be indicated in brackets. So, the Resurrection Cathedral (Arzamas) was erected in honor of the great victory of the Russian people over the unified army of Europe under the leadership of Napoleon in 1812. Previously, on this square, which repeatedly changed its name, it was the Red, the Bazaar, it. Lenin in the years of Soviet power, was a wood-earth Kremlin. The city itself was built on the orders of Ivan the Terrible, in connection with his third campaign against Kazan - the road ran through these lands.

Founder of the city Ivan the Terrible

By his decree to the southeast of the current cathedral, and then the Kremlin, the women's Nikolsky Monastery (1570) was created, which still exists today, also part of the ensemble of the Cathedral Square. The steep Nikolsky Congress, located between the church and the monastery, is depicted in Troika's painting by V. Perov. Once here at the descent was the Cathedral Garden (now there are new buildings), were at the lower reaches of the descent and Nastasya Gates. According to legend, Ivan the Terrible gave the main entrance to the city from Moscow the name of his beloved wife Anastasia, who was about to give birth. The ensemble of the square also included a warm (heated) cathedral of the Life-giving Spring located to the north.

Former and current objects of the ensemble of the Cathedral Square

Another monastery, male, was located east of the "heart" of Arzamas - Cathedral Square. Vvedensky monastery is famous for the fact that its rector John founded in 1706 the Sarov desert. Now there is no monastery. However, another interesting building is surrounded by the main pearl of the city, which is the Resurrection Cathedral (Arzamas). This building is a magistrate, erected in the middle of the XVIII century. It is remarkable for being the only structure of typical civil architecture in Russia. It should be noted that the life of Patriarch Cyril is connected with the Resurrection Cathedral - his grandfather and father lived near Arzamas.

Authority of Patriarch Sergius

Also, the Resurrection Cathedral (Arzamas) is inextricably linked with the life of yet another Patriarch - Sergius. His grandfather, Ivan Dmitrievich Stragorodsky, served for 32 years in the Resurrection Cathedral as a senior priest. And when in 1943 Sergius was elected to the patriarchal throne, the first thing he asked for was the opening for the worship of the Resurrection Church in Arzamas. One of the few surviving to the present day the cathedral of the Volga region was opened in the same year.

Metamorphoses of a cult structure

At the beginning of the XX century, the entire ancient city was a kind of monastic ensemble - there were more than 40 religious buildings in it. Unique, the only beauty in Europe came to defend, risking their lives, scientists from St. Petersburg. But the militant atheists who came to power in 1917 destroyed 38 objects, leaving two, which survived to our lives - the Resurrection Cathedral (Arzamas) and the Transfiguration Church of the Spassky Monastery, the oldest in the whole district. Residents of the city with their indignation did not let them blow up. In the years of unbelief in the Resurrection Church there was a hostel for political prisoners, later it opened the Museum of Atheism and Religion - on the principle of the Kazan Cathedral in Leningrad.

One of a kind beauty

It should be noted that the Cathedral in Arzamas outwardly resembles the famous Kazan Cathedral of St. Petersburg. This is explained by the fact that the author of the project, Mikhail Petrovich Korinfsky, in his youth was a pupil of the great Andrei Nikiforovich Voronikhin, the author of the project of the Kazan Cathedral. Founded in 1814, the Resurrection Cathedral was designed in the style of Russian classicism by the talented architect - Arzamaz, MP Korinfsky (1788-1851). This temple was built for 28 years. Resurrection Cathedral (Arzamas) is so beautiful and perfect that the connoisseur of Russian architecture, the architect-restorer NN Pomerantsev could not find an equal to him neither in Moscow, nor in other cities of Russia. Compare with him can only two cathedrals in St. Petersburg the work of the famous Russian architect VP Stasov - Trinity-Izmailovo and Spaso-Preobrazhensky cathedrals.

Symbol of the Greatness of Russia

The project to erect a new church in place of the dilapidated church of the Resurrection of Christ, which King Fedor Ioanovich in 1598 donated the cross-relic, was considered very ambitious - several brick factories were built, which were called "cathedral". The construction of the temple was a great event and was overgrown with legends and sayings.

The strictness and symmetry and, at the same time, the grandeur, solemnity and monumentality of the temple, were called to symbolize the greatness and power of Russia. This was seen by the author of the project and the creator of the architect M.P.P. Corinth of the Resurrection Cathedral (Arzamas). The photo, attached below, demonstrates that dreams and aspirations have come true to the full.

Temple architecture

The construction is based on a stylobate - a high stepped base, which is a Greek cross placed on a square. Length and width, equal to each other, reach 64 meters. The building is decorated with five spherical domes, the largest of which, central, has 12 windows. Four porticoes, located on four sides, and high pediments, supported by 13-meter columns (48 pieces), form a kind of necklace along the circle of the building.

On the pediments are large frescoes on biblical subjects. 24 windows, none of which is straight - each has a slope for insulating from the street of the inner room - make it spacious, light, full of light. The floor, laid out with wooden beams, the general calm, sustained in light brown tones, the color of the interior - everything has a prayerful mood.

Temple painting

It should be noted that in this city the efforts of the artist-teacher A. V. Stupin created the Arzamas School of Painting, whose pupils were V. Perov, the architect M. P. Korinfsky, and O. S. Serebryakov. The latter with his son Alexander and other artists from Stupino from 1834 to 1837 painted with ink on the damp plaster walls and arches of the temple, which Arzamas is so proud of. The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is famous for 14 huge canvases, on which the life of Jesus Christ is depicted. The figures are made in human growth. Masterpieces of world western painting were taken for samples. In the main dome between the windows are figures of 12 apostles, just below - 4 evangelists.

The iconostasis and thrones of the cathedral

The carved, fine iconostasis of the work of the Lomakins, Klim and Vasily brothers has survived to this day. The royal gates are decorated with icons of Our Lady and Christ, made in human growth by the talented painter Alexeyev (Stepin's son-in-law), who is known for painting the St. Isaac's Cathedral. In honor of the Resurrection of Christ, the Holy See is consecrated. The right chapel is consecrated in honor of Alexander Nevsky and Mitrofan of Voronezh. The left is in honor of the holy martyr Johan the warrior. On the left and right in the semi-circular niches of the porticoes there are two more chapels with single-tier iconostases - in honor of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin (right), in honor of All Saints (left). The thrones were consecrated as they were built.

The main patron saint's day and shrines of the cathedral

Every Orthodox church in Russia has the main patronal feast. Since 1887, he has the Resurrection Cathedral (Arzamas). The history of this holiday goes back to 335, when the Church of the Resurrection of Christ was consecrated by Queen Helen in Jerusalem. This day is called "Resurrection speaking". In each parish of Arzamas it was customary to have two temples - heated by furnaces warm and cold, which was the Resurrection Cathedral. The services in it were held, beginning with Easter and ending with the Veil. When the cathedral was the Museum of Atheism, things were taken down to it from the destroyed religious buildings. So from the church of Elijah was brought the Honest and Life-giving Cross of the Lord, which was purchased in the XVII century (its manufacture is dated to the XVI century). The most ancient shrine of the church is the "Sovereign tribute" - the icon of the Resurrection of Christ (descent into hell) of the 16th century. It was donated by Ivan the Terrible. There are several other shrines here, of which you can write more than one article. See them, and learn the wonderful history of the temple can be, visiting the Resurrection Cathedral, whose address is: pl. Sobornaya, 19, Arzamas, Nizhny Novgorod region., Russia, 607720.