The Church of St. George the Victorious in Odintsovo - the revival of ancient Russian traditions

Orthodox churches in Moscow truly confirm the well-known phrase "Moscow's gold-domed". Our capital has about a thousand churches and chapels. However, not only ancient temples adorn the city and the region, new ones are being built. Most recently, in 2007, the cathedral was consecrated in honor of St. George the Victorious in Odintsovo, Moscow Region. The temple was built to mark the 50th anniversary of the city on the initiative of Gladyshev AG. - the head of Odintsovo.

Church of St. George in Odintsovo

The new cathedral is built in Russian style. It has two upper floors and a basement space, a bell tower with a set of bells with a total weight of 18.5 tons. Now Odintsovo covers the bell ringing.

During the construction and decoration of the church of St. George the Victorious in Odintsovo ancient styles were used in combination with new technologies. The first floor (semi-basement) is made in the ancient Byzantine style of white stone. The iconostasis of the second floor is executed in the style of the Moscow icon painter Dionisy, who lived in the XV century, the continuer of the traditions of Andrei Rublev. The iconostasis of the upper floor is made in a later style of baroque and empire, the master from Palekh worked on its parts. Stained-glass windows of the upper floor with images of saints are made using new technologies from real alloys.

Holy patrons of the temple

The patron saint of St. George's Church in Odintsovo has a lot. The ground floor is consecrated in honor of the prophet and baptizer John the Baptist. And not by chance, because there is a font here and the Sacrament of Baptism occurs.

The middle floor has a throne in honor of the icon of the Virgin "Iverskaya", which will be discussed below, as well as chapels in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Sergius of Radonezh.

On the top floor there is a throne in honor of the holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, chapels in honor of the holy Monk Alexander Svirsky and the holy martyr Tatiana.

Iveron Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The history of finding the Iberian icon of the Mother of God begins in the IX century. At this time in Byzantium the Emperor Theophilus ruled, who fell into the heresy of iconoclasm. Across the country, his swordsmen seized from the inhabitants of the icon for burning. In the house of one pious woman, soldiers struck the icon of the Virgin with a sword, but real blood blew from the cheek of the Blessed Virgin. The soldiers were frightened and left the house, and the woman decided to save the icon by letting her go to sea. And here also happened a miracle, the icon did not lie on the water, but remained in a vertical position.

The son of a woman later went to the monastery on Athos, where he told about the miracle happened with the icon. This story was preserved in the monastery. And now, 170 years after the revealed miracle, the icon appeared near the shore of the Iberian monastery on Athos. She sailed in a fiery column, also in an upright position.

Only after a zealous prayer did one of the monks, who had a revelation in a dream, could take the icon. In revelation, the Mother of God told him to follow the icon on the water, which he did.

And another miracle happened after the attainment of the shrine. The icon placed in the temple was found several times on the gates of the monastery. The brothers returned her to the temple, until the Queen of Heaven herself in the vision said about her will to be the guardian of the monastery. Therefore, the Iberian icon is called the goalkeeper.

She saved the monastery more than once, many miracles and healings came from this shrine. The icon is simply hung with a lot of gifts brought in thanks for the prayers of both ordinary people and royal families. There are also offerings of Russian tsars.

There is a tradition according to which before the death of the world the icon will leave Mount Athos. Therefore, the shrine itself has not left the monastery since its acquisition. But many lists from it were sent by monks to all corners of the world.

The Church of St. George the Victorious in Odintsovo has a throne consecrated in honor of the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God.

St. George the Victorious

It is impossible not to mention the saint, in honor of which the church of St. George the Victorious was built in Odintsovo. Patron of warriors and farmers, the Great Martyr George - one of the favorite saints in Russia. The memory of the saint was always particularly honored by the Russian people. Yuryev is a confirmation day.

According to the code of laws of the Russian state of the XV century, peasants had the right to go from one feudal lord to another one week before and one week after the celebration of the memory of St. George the Victorious. It's amazing how state laws in Russia combined with faith.