St. Vladimir's Church, St. Petersburg: address, photo and history

The northern capital of Peter I originally conceived as the center of Russian Orthodoxy. According to his grandiose plan, the city was to eclipse many European settlements with its grace, grandeur and beauty. Almost every important event in the life of St. Petersburg and the Russian state throughout the history of the Northern Capital was marked by the construction of the temple. Many cathedrals and churches of the city on the Neva became monuments of the UNESCO World Heritage. Every year thousands and thousands of people come to St. Petersburg. One wants to enjoy the marvelous architecture of the city, see all its sights, others - to attach to its great shrines. One of the places where pilgrims flock to, is the Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

General information: address

It is difficult, having arrived in the Northern capital for two or three days, to see all the monuments of architecture with which it is famous. Most of them are in the center of the city. The Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg) is no exception. The address of this temple is known to every native inhabitant of the city. Here often come tourists. And this is not surprising. After all, many of them were married here, baptized their children and ordered the sobbing of their loved ones. The address of the church: Vladimirsky prospect, building 20.

The cathedral stands on one of the central squares of the city, next to the metro station with the same name. A landmark for him can serve as a monument to Dostoevsky and the house-museum of this great classic. Vladimir Cathedral was built in honor of the icon of the Mother of God, which was considered the defender of the Russian land.

Many theologians believe that it was thanks to her patronage that the temple was preserved unscathed until today. Not only divine services are held here, but also the sacraments of wedding and baptism. The Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg), which takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Lent, has long been a place where people come for help to the Mother of God.

History

Initially, this place was a wooden abode, which was also consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God. But in the second half of the eighteenth century, it was decided to build a stone church. The works were carried out according to the architectural drawings of the Moscow Assumption Cathedral. I must say that in Petersburg before that nothing was built on the project. The Cathedral of St. Vladimir is the first in this plan, and all subsequent church buildings were erected in his likeness.

The construction began with the efforts of the rector of the church, Father John Kirikov. It was he who began raising funds. Already in 1761, laid the foundation stone of the cathedral. The work was led by the architect Pietro Trezzini. It is he who is considered to be the initiators of the restoration of the five-headed church in Russian church buildings.

In 1768 the first floor of the temple was completed. It housed a three-folded warm church, the central throne of which was consecrated in the name of St. John of Damascus. On the day of the consecration of the lower church, the Empress-Empress Catherine II sent the altar richly decorated with the Gospel, which was printed in 1744 in Moscow.

Description

The upper church of the church was consecrated in 1783 in the name of the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir. Unfortunately, the rector of the church, Father John, did not live to see this long-awaited day: he was brutally murdered by robbers. He was buried in the monastery enclosure and a monument of marble was erected on the grave.

The Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg) is a two-story five-domed structure with crosses on domes, an apse and three vestibules. The building is built in Baroque style and represents a section with a truncated corner. Experts believe that the Cathedral of St. Vladimir has a special architectural purpose. Against the background of neighboring buildings, he looks unusually majestic. The temple is the apogee and the main building of the square, on which goes Vladimirsky Prospekt.

Its yellow walls, ending with black domes, create an amazing image, as if it came from a long time ago. Many say that the St. Vladimir's Cathedral carries a special energy. It is said that people, touching its walls, seem to gain strength.

Architectural features

Built in the Baroque tradition, the Vladimirskaya Church (St. Petersburg) is decorated with lush window frames and columns. The domes of the cathedral on tall cylindrical drums look great in the proportions and beauty of silhouettes. The composition is complicated by protrusions on the southern and northern sides. The five-domed church in which the Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg) was built, was made especially well: the high drums seem to be carried away beyond the graceful bulbous headlands. Their surfaces are decorated with widely paired pilasters and high windows that have a semi-circular finish.

Schedule of services

In the northern capital there are a lot of temple buildings. Most of them today, in addition to their high spiritual mission, are magnificent monuments of Russian church architecture. Vladimir Cathedral is not an exception. It is open daily. The schedule of services is not difficult to learn both in the temple itself and from its official site. On Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, Akathists to Jesus Christ, Seraphim of Sarov, Nicholas the Wonderworker and, of course, the Mother of God are performed within the walls of the temple. Judging by the reviews, this is a very beautiful and fascinating service, executed without fail standing. Believers and just townspeople can come to the cathedral at any time and order a prayer service about the health of their loved ones, as well as a service for the deceased - memorial service, lithium, funeral service.

Today, with such remarkable monuments of architecture as the Smolny or St. Nicholas Epiphany Cathedral, the Vladimirskaya Church (St. Petersburg) stands in one line. The temple's phone number can also be viewed on its official website. On it you can contact the abbot - Metropolitan Volodymyr.

After the revolution

In 1930 the cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was closed. Its building was given to the Public Library. In the post-war years, knitting was staged in it. Exactly six decades the Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg) did not have the opportunity to conduct services and receive parishioners. And only in 1990, through the efforts of Lev Gumilev and Dmitry Likhachev, she again returned to the ownership of the Leningrad Diocese.

Since then, the temple has been gradually restored. Eight gilded crosses were mounted on it, the cupolas were covered with copper. The restoration of the upper church, as well as the facades of the chapels, was carried out. In 2000, the Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg) officially received the status of a cathedral.

The interior of the temple

In this cathedral, the attention of any person is first and foremost attracted by a truly remarkable iconostasis. He is in the main throne in the name of the Vladimir icon of the Mother of God in the upper church. This iconostasis, according to experts, is a real masterpiece of Russian church art. It was created under the leadership of the famous B. Rastrelli, the best architects of the time of Empress Elizabeth. The iconostasis has survived to its present day in almost its original form. The architects refer to this art as a St. Petersburg baroque school. On both sides - and with the parish, and with the altar - it is decorated with icons.

The interiors of the upper church are defined by massive pylons, stucco decorations at the base of the dome, bas-reliefs of evangelists in sails. The latter, according to experts, belong to one of the leading sculptors of that era. The lower temple seems more squat. This impression is created due to the lowered vaulted cover and massive polonium. Unfortunately, the interior of the lower part, including the iconostases of its three thrones, has not survived until today.

Shrines

The main value of the temple is the iconostasis of the upper throne. He is one of the ten unique creations of church art. The project of the iconostasis was designed by Rastrelli himself. In his life the best craftsmen of the Elizabethan era embodied it.

But the most important thing that the Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg) really boasts is icons. In the first place is the very image of the Mother of God, who came to Russia in the early twelfth century from Byzantium. Its author is Luke the Evangelist, who sealed Mary with her husband and little Christ for the adoption of the meal.

If you look at the icon from the back, you can see the image of the throne and the instruments of passion.

Another shrine of the cathedral - "The Holy Face saved". This icon with the image of the Savior is famous for that, according to legend, it gives strength to overcome difficulties, helps to overcome illnesses and gives clues in solving problems. It is this miraculous image of the Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg).

Opening Hours

The temple is one of the most beloved cultural places, where many diverse events are organized. There is a Sunday school at the church. For tourists, the Vladimir Cathedral is of interest both as a model of architecture of its era, and as a monument of national culture, and as one of the points of the excursion program for St. Petersburg. In addition, the church is the center of spiritual life, a place where believers gather. The schedule of the temple is as follows: from Monday to Saturday it is open from eight in the morning until nine in the evening. On Sunday the cathedral opens its doors an hour earlier.

The church service is performed every day. At nine in the morning, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, on Sundays - at seven and ten. Confession is made half an hour before its beginning, and in the end - the Holy Communion.

Not only believers, but also townspeople come here. On great holidays with great difficulty people can hold the Vladimir Church (St. Petersburg). The hours of Easter (Holy cakes come to many townspeople) are read instead of morning and evening prayer during the Seventh Week.

Temple today

Since 2000, the Vladimir Church has been given the status of a cathedral. Today it has two altars: the main one, again consecrated by Metropolitan Alexy, and the throne in the name of Faith, Hope, Love, their mother Sophia. The cathedral is an object of cultural heritage, of federal importance. It is protected by the state. In 2015, the belfry of this amazing temple was raised "Vladyka" - a new bell.

Sunday schools

Today at the Vladimir Cathedral there is a children's Sunday school. It is called the Logos. One of the main goals of the Sunday school is the revival of lost family traditions and the introduction of children to Orthodox culture. Classes in this center are held only on Saturdays and Sundays. Schooling is mainly built in the form of a dialogue that occurs during a conversation with a minister of the church. Here any boy can feel like an altar boy. Girls attending Sunday school, in addition to such indispensable subjects as temple studies and the study of the New Testament, are engaged in a circle of needlework. At the temple there is also a theater studio, drawing classes are held. The Vladimir Cathedral publishes its own newspaper.

Interesting Facts

Many remarkable people have seen the walls of this temple. In 1828, it was in the Vladimir Church that the famous Pushkin's nanny Arina Rodionovna was singing. It is said that the poet personally attended the burial service and was terribly depressed. In 1887-1888, on the territory of the Vladimir Church, part of the celebrations dedicated to the 9th century of the baptism of Rus took place. It is said that the writer of the church, F. Dostoyevsky, was a parishioner of this church in the last years of his life. Every year in the church they commemorate this famous person, and just outside the cathedral is his house-museum.

Petersburgers are very fond of this cozy and at the same time having a grandiose, grandiose view of the cathedral. Many of them say that when they enter it, they feel that even on a cloudy day they immediately feel light. It was in St. Vladimir's Cathedral some time ago brought a wonderful icon of the Virgin, constantly located in the Kostroma monastery.