Penza, Assumption Cathedral: description, history, schedule of services

The ancient cities preserve the memory of the past centuries in pavements, houses, palaces, preserved documents, and in Russia - also in temples with graveyards. The Penza Uspensky Cathedral almost did not interrupt the service, remaining a spiritual support for the inhabitants in the most difficult times. Built on the outskirts of the city, it is now located in its heart.

History

Since 1663 on the banks of the river Sura stands the ancient city of Penza. The Assumption Cathedral appeared somewhat later. Its construction was preceded by a small church, built in 1836 on the territory of the Myronoshitsky cemetery. In 1899, it burned down, and the need arose to build a new church. The heads of the church Ivanovskiy ME, Tyurin SL, Gutorov AD and the rector-archpriest GN Felixov took up a difficult task of arrangement. The new church was built on the donations of the parishioners.

The project of the cathedral was developed by the well-known engineer A. G. Starzhinsky in 1895. Donations to the temple were collected by the whole world, a blessing for construction from the Holy Synod was received in 1901, the discovery was expected by the whole of Penza. The Assumption Cathedral opened the doors in 1905. Three chapels were consecrated in the church - the left was consecrated in honor of Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow, the right one - in honor of the holy Myrrh-Bearers, the central throne is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin. The sacrament of consecration was performed by the rector of the church Bishop Tikhon.

From the Revolution to Our Days

Approximately in 1922, the Assumption Cathedral (Penza) was transferred by the Soviet authorities to the priests of the new formation - to carry out the services to the Renovationists. From 1931 to 1937, the church housed the episcopal department of the Renovationists and, probably, there was the revered Penza-Kazan miraculous icon of the Mother of God.

Priests of the Renovationists were arrested in 1937, and the cathedral was closed. For some time in it the army warehouses of skis settled down. Only after 1945 the service began to be held in the temple. Together with the temple, Penza also revived. The Assumption Cathedral became the episcopal cathedral. In the late 1970s, the lower chapel for funeral services was consecrated, consecrated in honor of Seraphim of Sarov.

Modernity

In 1996, near the temple was built administrative building, where the premises for Sunday school, the office of the abbot, a conference hall, a hostel, etc. are located.

In 2000, the Assumption Cathedral (Penza) moved one of the main shrines of the city - the power of Innokentiy Penzensky. In 1994, next to the Assumption Cathedral, the baptismal Blagoveshchensky church was opened, and its consecration was held that same year. In 2015, the cathedral opened a museum dedicated to the memory of Archbishop Seraphim of Kuznetsk and Penza.

Architecture

Cross-domed five-domed Uspensky cathedral (Penza) rises on top of a hill, breaking off from the ground and rushing upwards with domes. When approaching the temple, its monumentality, the thickness of the walls becomes evident. In terms of the structure has a rectangular outline.

On three sides the church is surrounded by porches marking the entrances to the room. The two-lighted temple is crowned with a central drum, on each dome there are gilded crosses, with which Penza is consecrated. The Assumption Cathedral inherited the best traditions of ancient Russian architecture. The author of the project managed to avoid unnecessary details in the decoration of the facades.

In the complex there is no bell tower, it was replaced by a small belfry, located above the western wing. The central entrance to the cathedral is decorated with two icons - the Resurrection of Christ and the Women of the Myrrhbearers. In the eastern part of the temple there are three semicircular apses - according to the number of sanctified altars. On the front part of the apses, in niches, icons are installed, thanks to which, even without going to the temple, you can find out in whose honor they are consecrated.

Sunday School

Uspensky Cathedral (Penza) leads an active social and educational life. For the church community and all comers, several institutions work. For the youngest, a Sunday school is open. For more than 20 years, it has helped children to comprehend the world from the standpoint of the Orthodox faith. The school is consecrated in honor of St. Innocent Penza.

Training is conducted in four stages, corresponding to the age groups of children:

• From 3 to 6 years. Most of the classes are devoted to creativity - modeling, drawing, playing, singing and other developing lessons. Children spend up to 1.5 hours in school accompanied by adults, the beginning and the end of classes are crowned with a short prayer.
• From 7 to 9 years. Duration of lessons - up to 3 hours, classes are visited independently. Children take part in productions, organize general events, receive small assignments.
• From 9 to 12 years. For children of this age are introduced the first theoretical studies - the Law of God, the study of Church Slavonic language, singing. Some of the students begin to take part in choral singing on the choir along with adults. Children's Liturgies are held accompanied by Sunday school students only. Creative classes are open to all comers, and the basics of icon painting are taught.
• From 13 to 15 years. A new subject is added to the traditional lessons - the history of the church from ancient times to the history of the twentieth-century novices. Students take part as voluntary assistants in charitable actions, bishops' services. Boys, if desired, help priests in the altar.

Accents in the upbringing of children are put on the cultivation of inner morality, churching and widening of horizons.

Youth Society

His people and history are proud of the city of Penza. The Assumption Cathedral actively participates in the upbringing of the youth. At the parish there is an Orthodox youth society. Participants provide assistance to those in need, conduct educational activities and simply communicate.

Activities:

• Social work includes visits to shelters, orphanages and social homes for the elderly. Much time is spent on caring for the sick, infirm, elderly, disabled. Charitable fairs, actions, concerts and other events are often organized in the parish, where the youth wing acts as organizers, participants, volunteers.
• Missionary. The range of activities includes trips to schools with stories about Orthodoxy, talks with the priest, joint reading, discussion of the Gospel and other spiritual literature. During the holidays, young people distribute booklets in order to attract parishioners to the temple.
• Difficult mission. As part of the activities, the members of the society assist the parish, make trips to monastery monasteries, temples of Penza and the region.

Cultural, historical, spiritual heritage

The Assumption Cathedral (Penza) is located on the ancient Myronositsky Cemetery. While laying these objects were outside the city, and are now part of the center of urban infrastructure. Pogost was intended for the burial of the inhabitants of Penza, but historically it turned out that it was the last refuge for the majority of Penza merchants. Preserved gravestones reflect the ancient traditions of the burial, there are memorials in the form of analogs, urns, vases with the image of cherubs. A few chapel-tombs attract attention.

The Uspensky Cathedral and the eight objects of the Myronoshitsky Cemetery are the cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. List of Protected Cultural Heritage:

• Assumption Cathedral with an interior interior.
• Individual burials - SM Zhuravlev (Hero of the Soviet Union, participant in two wars), AA Igoshev (Hero of the Soviet Union, participant in two wars), L. M. Samborskaya (honored worker of culture of the RSFSR, director, actress), AND V. Gribova (Russian and Soviet scientist, professor, leading specialist in the field of internal combustion engines), NM Savkov (MD, outstanding surgeon and public figure), NA Shchepetilnikova (doctor, public figure).
• Fraternal graves of soldiers who died from wounds in Penza hospitals during the war. In total, 648 soldiers were found at the Myronosis Cemetery.

Volunteers, public organizations and the Orthodox community of the Assumption Cathedral take care of the graves.

Services and patronal holidays

Patronal holidays, especially revered in the cathedral:

• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 28).
• Holy Myrrh-Bearers (the second Sunday from Easter).
• St. Alexis of Moscow (February 25 and June 2).
• Reverend Seraphim of Sarov (January 15 and August 1).
• Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos (April 7).

How does the Assumption Cathedral (Penza) work? The service schedule is standard:

• Weekdays: 08:00 - Liturgy, evening service - 17:00 (from the Feast of the Intercession till the day of the Annunciation, the evening service starts at 16:00).
• Festive and Sunday liturgies begin at 07:00 and 09:30.
• Saturday and festive night service starts at 17:00.

The temple is open daily from 07:00, without days off, closes with the end of evening service. The church is a tourist attraction, many townspeople and visitors are eager to get to the ancient Assumption Cathedral (the schedule of services is given above). Information can be found by contacting the phone number indicated on the official website.

Address

Get to the cult construction is not difficult. As already mentioned earlier, the Uspensky Cathedral (Penza) is located practically in the center of the city. Address: Zakharova Street, Building 6 (on the territory of the Myronoshits Cemetery). You can go to the temple by public transport:

• Bus number 165, 130, 30, 102.
• The route taxi № 5к, 21, 93, 86.