Temple of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky: history, description, schedule of services

The hot faith of the Orthodox people in the miraculous icon, dedicated to the Tikhvin Mother of God, has appeared for a long time. The image was in high esteem among the Russian people. The first location of the icon was the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, which burned three times during the fire, but the icon miraculously remained unscathed.

The main thing

The second half of the 17th century was marked by the fact that Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich laid the first stone of the temple, but the construction was completed after the death of the sovereign. The new church in honor of the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky was consecrated by the Patriarch and the young ruler Fyodor Alekseevich. The temple was loved in the royal family, and therefore, for the royal couple, two small chapels were specially built in the church. During the reign, he did much for the holy abode, allocated a lot of financial resources to help. After all, the Tsar often visited the church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky and knelt before the shrine. He was a very devout and religious church monarch.

A bit of history

Interesting events that occurred in the holy abode throughout its existence. The temple of the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky is located on the ancient Troitsk road, which leads to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, which preserves the relics of one of the most revered saints in Russia - Sergius of Radonezh. Once, during the Streltsy rebellion, Tsar Peter 1 stopped in this temple. Upon learning of this, a large detachment of streltsi arrived there, who, repenting and asking for mercy, fell to their knees before the king, bowing their heads. Peter 1 forgave them all and pardoned, although the other streltsy were executed. In 1812, Moscow captured the army of Napoleon, which desecrated many Russian shrines, was no exception to the church in honor of the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky. The temple was gradually transformed by the French army into a grocery store, where it placed its provisions, and used the refectory as a stable. For a long time everything was in desolation, and only in 1824 Emperor Alexander 1 allocated from the treasury about 20 thousand rubles for the restoration of the temple. At the same time they built the bell tower. In 1836 there was an important event for the temple itself and for the entire church flock. For the first time the temple was painted by a talented artist D. Scotti. The entire temple complex in its architectural style is a model of church building in the form of "Russian uzorochya."

Description of the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky

In the first half of the 19th century, the ceiling of the refectory room was dismantled, and since then it has become a single-tiered room. From the second floor there were only choirs that walked along the walls along the western, southern and northern parts of the building. On these choruses are preserved old chandeliers, fenced with handrails. At the expense of the merchant Konstantinov, at the corners of the refectory, under the choirs, special altars of St. Nicholas and St. Sergius were built. Known at that time in Russia, the architect Bykovsky invested his soul and all his skills in the architectural style of the altars, the consecration of which took place in 1848 in May.

It is known that a pilgrimage to the temple of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky was made on foot. Even members of the royal family for the time of travel refused all comforts in order during this time to prepare for the great sacraments of confession and communion.

Life during the Revolution

In 1917, in November, under the northern end of the temple, in symmetry with the Alekseevsky side-chapel, the chapel of the Great Martyr Tryphon was created. The believers had an opportunity to bow to the saint and honor his memory.

And in 1922 in the church they set up the Church of the Resurrection of the Speaker, which is located in the basement of the church. In addition, at the same time, the fence of the temple and the house of the parable were erected.

During the reign of godlessness and terrible repression in Russia during the Soviet era, the temple of the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky was opened. And everyone who wanted to touch the great shrine, could visit him, visit the worship service and worship the miraculous icon. But this did not prevent the Soviet government in 1922 to withdraw from the temple part of the premises for the location of a vegetable base there, and then use it for an art workshop. In addition, property belonging to the temple was confiscated. This is 114 kg of silver and 58 diamonds. Bells on the bell tower were not touched, but they did not ring for a long time and did not please the parishioners' hearing. The trees around the church so expanded that it became almost invisible and disappeared from view. And only in 1998 all the premises were completely transferred back to the temple.

Miracles done by the shrine

There is a tradition of our days that in 1941, during the Hitler invasion, Stalin ordered Stalin to fly around Moscow by plane, taking the great miraculous icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God. They did this to maintain the morale of the army and the people. Surprisingly, the offensive of the Soviet army soon ended successfully, and the city of Tikhvin was liberated from the Germans, in which the original of the icon was kept. Perhaps this is only a legend, but believing people sincerely believe in it, because they know many other miraculous phenomena from the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky. The temple is now famous and became a haven of souls for many believers.

Postwar Life

The temple of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky heavily got up from his knees. After the end of the Great Patriotic War, internal repairs were made, and already in the 70-90s of the 19th century the restoration of the holy monastery was carried out. Then were opened to the gaze of numerous parishioners beautiful murals of the famous Italian painter D. Scotti, who were hiding under a large layer of records.

In 1945, Father Vladimir Podobedov assumed the post of abbot of the Tikhvin temple. Known in the Orthodox circles, Archpriest Solertovsky Alexander Vitalievich was the abbot of the monastery since 1953. And in 1982, Archpriest Arkady Tyshchuk was appointed to this responsible post.

A wonderful tradition of the Tikhvin temple

Very interesting and important for all Orthodox parishioners is the tradition that began in 1962 in this church. Annually on March 30, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II served the Liturgy. It was dedicated to the memory of the patron of Patriarch Alexy - the Man of God, in honor of which he was christened during the rite of baptism. This solemn event was a great holiday for the entire parish and for all believers who prepared for this event in advance.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy loved to visit the temple of the Tikhvin icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, to conduct service. This holiday takes place on July 9th. At this time, many believers come who widely celebrate a wonderful holiday.

In our time, anew opened to all who wish a restored temple, which everyone can visit, and any believer can commemorate the memory of the great martyr Sergius of Radonezh. On the official site of the holy abode you can find the address, telephone number, schedule of services. The Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God has become a place of pilgrimage for not one thousand believers, and I want to believe that this is not the limit.