Catholic Church in Moscow (photo)

Many tourists coming from Europe and America are interested in the question of which Catholic churches in Moscow can be visited and where they are located. One of the oldest and most frequented Catholic churches in the Russian capital is the Church of St. Louis of France. But, of course, in Moscow there are other churches belonging to the western direction of Christianity. About which ones, and we'll talk further.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary

This Catholic church in Moscow was built in 1899-1911. Initially, they wanted to build only a branch of the church of Peter and Paul. However, by this time in Moscow there were already more than 30 thousand Catholics. Churches were not enough, so it was decided to build a separate large temple. Funds for its construction came mainly from Poland and Belarus. A lot of donations were made by the parishioners.

This temple operated until 1938. In the days of Stalin's repression, it was closed, and the priest was shot. The Catholic organ was broken at the same time, and the facade was disfigured. Several government institutions moved to the building. For the convenience of officials, the church was rebuilt. He was divided into four floors, and turrets and spiers, so that nothing reminded of the religious affiliation of the structure, was demolished.

With the advent of perestroika, the temple was returned to the believers. Rector of his became Tadeusz Picus. In 1990, he held the first mass on the steps of the temple. However, officially the Catholic parish the building was transferred only a year later. Photo of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is located below.

After the restoration, the church was again consecrated. It happened in 1999. From that moment he was given the status of a cathedral. In 2005 the church was presented with a new organ. They sent him from Basel's Lutheran Cathedral. There is a Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Malaya Gruzinskaya Street, in the house 27. How exactly are the Catholic churches of Moscow on the map of Moscow, look at the end of the page.

Temple of St. Louis of France

This temple was consecrated on 24.11.1835. Originally in its place stood a wooden Catholic church. The initiative on its erection was made by the vice-consul of France himself. Immediately after the fall of the Bastille - July 15, 1789 - he asked Catherine II to ask for permission to build a Catholic church in Moscow. The Empress gave permission to erect it. However, first construction of the church was planned in the German settlement. But the petitioners managed to persuade the queen and get permission to erect a temple near the Kuznetsk bridge. It was in this area that a lot of French people lived at that time.

The temple of Louis is noteworthy that worship services here did not stop even after the revolution. However, they were conducted, of course, under the supervision of the Cheka first, and then the KGB.

In 1950, the temple of Louis was solemnly handed over to the Catholic Church of the Baltic States. However, in 1991 he was returned to the French church. After that, restoration work was carried out in the temple .

The church of St. Louis is located on Malaya Lubyanka street, house 12.

Activities of the Temple of Louis

This Catholic church in Moscow has become a haven for several parishes and communities. In addition, church rituals are allowed to tourists who come to the capital with their priest. The services in this temple are held in different languages - English, French, Italian, Russian, Lithuanian, Polish, etc.

The parish of St. Louis leads an active charitable activity. For example, it helps African students who came to study in Moscow. At the temple, an aid station was opened for those in need. People who have fallen into difficult life situations can come here for warm clothing or food.

The Catholic Church of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

This is a new temple, consecrated very recently. The decision to open it, since the existing Catholic churches were already lacking, was made in 2000. In 2003, the parish was allocated an old building of the House of Culture. At the moment it is a functioning temple. In its walls, among other things, there is a club of anonymous alcoholics, charity events are held. The rector of the church at the moment is Pelyak Dariusz Stanislav. There is a church of the Equal-to-the-Apostles princess Olga at the address of Kirova, house 6.

Church of St. Andrew

This Catholic church in Moscow has been operating since 1814. The building in which the services are held today was rebuilt in 1882-1884. The project was made by the English architect RK Freeman. After the revolution, in 1920, this church was closed. At the moment, it is returned to the believers. Anglican Church of St. Andrew can be visited at: Voznesensky Lane, 8.

Lutheran Church of Peter and Paul

This evangelical Lutheran church in Moscow was built in 1664. Originally it was erected from a tree. The land under it was purchased by the artist Peter Inglis and General Bauman. In 1667, in its place, a larger church was built, but also a wooden one. At the same time, the pastor's house and school were attached to him. In the official possession of the Catholic community, the land passed, however, only in 1670. In 1685, the church of St. Peter and Paul was illuminated.

This wooden Catholic church in Moscow burned three times and was finally destroyed in 1812. The community at that time had to relocate to the temporarily constructed prayer house.

In 1817, the Catholic community of Moscow bought the Lopukhins' estate, located not far from the German Sloboda. The house under the church was rebuilt at the expense of the King of Prussia. In addition, the Russian emperor also lent money for erecting the church. The new church was lit in 1819. In the middle of the 19th century, it was slightly expanded.

The building in which the parish operates today was built in 1903-1913. The author of the project was the English architect VF Valcott. The Russian architect VA Kossov built the church.

In 1924, this temple became the main Lutheran church in the country. However, soon the persecution of the church begins, and the activities of this parish are banned, and the building itself is transferred to secular institutions. At the same time, as in the case of the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, a spire was demolished. Again, the church was transferred to believers in 1988. Divine services in the church are held in Russian and German. The address of this church is Starosadsky Pereulok, house 7. Photos of the church of Peter and Paul are located below.

Concerts in the church of Peter and Paul

The first organ was purchased by this church as far back as 1892 in Germany. For a long time it was the best concert instrument of the capital. However, during WWII, in 1941, this organ was taken to Novosibirsk and disappeared. There is evidence that it was partially scrapped and partially used as decorations.

In 1996, the community was presented with another body. Shortly before that, the old Lutheran church in Moscow in the German settlement was destroyed, and the instrument was decided to be given to the church of Peter and Paul. Thanks to this body, the church at the moment is not only a religious building, but also one of the cultural centers of the capital. Acoustics in the hall of this church is simply wonderful, so very often there are quite secular concerts here.

Chapel of the community of Spanish-Portuguese Catholics

Catholic tourists can visit not only churches and churches in Moscow. In the capital there is also a chapel belonging to the community of this Christian trend. It is located not far from the Cathedral. The members of the community are mostly students from Africa and Latin America. The chapel was opened in the 90s. The services in it are held regularly. Also, the community organizes festive meetings, fundraising, clothing and food for the needy, country meetings for Muscovites, etc. Its members take an active part in the life of foreign students, support single mothers, etc. Divine services are held in Portuguese and Spanish . There is a chapel at Volkov Pereulok 7/9, building 2, apt. eleven.

Chapel of the German community

This church is run by the German Embassy in Moscow. It is located on the avenue Vernadsky, in a normal apartment. Sometimes services are performed here, sometimes in the big hall of the embassy itself. Liturgies are held once a week. Like all other Catholic communities, German is engaged in charity. Also in the chapel there is a library of religious literature.

Chapel on Kutuzovsky

In 1982, the Catholic chapel, previously located on Sadovaya Samotechnaya in the diplomatic corps, on the territory of the diplomatic corps, was moved to Kutuzovsky Prospekt, into an ordinary apartment. There is no permanent priest in it. Services are conducted by chaplains of specific communities.

The Catholic churches in Moscow (photos of some you can see above on the page) experienced both blossoms and hard times. Today they, as before, receive believers and are major centers of charitable activity. People who have fallen into difficult life situations can come here and get help.

How are the main Catholic churches of Moscow on the map of Moscow, can be seen below.

It is around them that the life of the Catholic communities of the capital is concentrated.