Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rostov-on-Don: description, history

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Rostov-on-Don was founded to protect the southern borders of our country more than 265 years ago. Its historical and cultural attractions annually attract thousands of tourists to the city, including those from far abroad. Among them there are objects that must be visited. For example, the majestic Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Stanislavsky Street).

Rostov-on-Don is proud of this building, which is extremely similar to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (Moscow), so its image adorns almost all tourist brochures.

Backstory

At the end of the 18th century, the oldest Soldiers' Settlement of Rostov-on-Don began to be intensively populated, and there was an urgent need for its own temple. In February 1781, near the place where today the central market is located, the construction of a wooden church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was begun. It went on for aboutsix months, and on September 5 the temple was consecrated. He served the Rostovites for only 10 years and burned down during a thunderstorm from a lightning strike.

History (before desecration)

In 1795, the mayor MP Naumov turned to Metropolitan Gabriel with a request for permission to build a stone church. The petition was granted, and soon the city center was decorated with a new stone Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Rostov-on-Don eventually became one of the economic centers of the region. It was actively built up and decorated. In 1854, it was decided to build a new Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos instead of the dilapidated church with wooden domes. Rostov-on-Don was decorated with a building designed by the famous architect K. Ton. That is why modern tourists are always struck by its resemblance to the exterior and silhouette of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in the capital by the same author.

Revival of the Cathedral

In 1937, it was decided to close the temple. The Soviet government did not find anything better than to place a zoo on the territory of the cathedral. A little later, they began to use it as a warehouse, and at the beginning of the Second World War, the upper tiers of the bell tower were dismantled, as they were afraid that the enemy would use this structure as a guide during air raids.

In the middle of the summer of 1942, during the occupation of the city, believers themselves opened the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and began to hold services there. After 9 years, the main iconostasis was installed in the temple, which has fourtiers. It was made in the capital according to the sketches of the altar partition of the blown up Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

By 1999, the bell tower of the cathedral was completely restored, at the consecration of which His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II himself was present.

Description

Almost all excursions in Rostov-on-Don include a visit to the Cathedral, the Russian-Byzantine silhouette of which is considered one of the architectural symbols of the city. It has five domes, and the layout of the temple is shaped like a cross.

In the interior of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, the paintings of pylons, walls and vaults, made by the artist K. Volkov, as well as the main iconostasis, are of particular interest. It is made in the form of a chapel, which is crowned with a cupola with a cross. The same altar partitions are located in the Peter and Paul and Preobrazhensky aisles.

For the celebrations dedicated to the millennium of the Baptism of Russia, the domes of the temple were covered with copper and gilded, the same was done with crosses that are visible from different parts of Rostov-on-Don.

Cathedral Bell Tower

In 1875, in the west of the temple, the construction of another landmark of the city began. According to the project of the military architect-engineer A. A. Campioni and at the expense of patrons S. N. Koshkin, P. R. Maksimov, V. I. Asmolov and I. S. Panchenko, a bell tower was erected in 1887.

It was 75 meters high and its architecture combined elements of Russian Renaissance and Classicism. The cupola of the dome of the bell tower was made in blue and decorated with gilded stars. On its upper tier there was a clock with a quarter chime and four dials. They were visible from most of the city, and for a long time many Rostovites compared their watches to them.

Bells were placed in the middle tiers. The main one was cast in Moscow at the expense of I. Panchenko. He weighed 1,032 pounds. The bell was decorated with images of saints, the Mother of God and John the Evangelist. There is evidence that its iridescent ringing was heard for 4 dozen miles.

In 1882, on the first tier of the bell tower, a small baptismal church was built in the name of St. Nicholas.

As already mentioned, at the beginning of the war, the two upper tiers of the structure were destroyed, and after 7 years it practically ceased to exist, since its lower part was dismantled.

The bell tower was restored in 1999, and today many sightseeing tours of Rostov-on-Don start at its foot.

New bells

For many years, no blasphemy sounded over the cathedral. The situation changed by the beginning of the new century, when new bells were made. This responsible task was entrusted to the Voronezh MP "Vera".

The new bells are not exact copies of those whose ringing once called the Orthodox residents of Rostov-on-Don to the temple. They were named after the heavenly patrons of the secular and spiritual leaders of the region.

Today the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Rostov-on-Don) notifies parishioners by ringing bells:

• Martyr Panteleimon weighing 4 tons;
• St. Prince Vladimir (2 t);
• Archangel Michael (1 t);
• Sergius of Radonezh (0.5 t);
• Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (0.25 t).

Cathedral Square in Rostov-on-Don

Not only the temple is of interest, but also the territory adjacent to it. In front of the cathedral, between Moskovskaya and Stanislavsky streets, there is a small Cathedral Square. Her story is inextricably linked with the difficult fate of the temple.

In April 1890, grateful Rostovites erected a bronze monument to Alexander II there. The monument was erected according to the project of M. O. Mikeshin. In 1920, a plywood box with a red star was put on the monument, and after a while it was completely demolished. After that, the square was empty for a long time.

Monument to Saint Demetrius of Rostov

In 1999 Cathedral Square was transformed. Near the place where once there was a monument dedicated to Emperor Alexander II, a monument to St. Demetrius of Rostov was erected. The authors of the new statue are V. G. Belyakov and N. F. Gmyrya.

The monument was hastily mounted during the celebrations dedicated to the 250th anniversary of Rostov-on-Don, at the insistence of the city administration. This decision caused a mixed reaction from the public. First of all, the reason for dissatisfaction was the low artistic level of the monument. The vestments of the Saint and the inscription on the pedestal were also criticized. Many experts pointed out that in order to install this new attractionThe city has chosen an extremely unfortunate place. They called for a monument to be erected on the territory where the fortress used to be, or on Stepan Shahumyan Street (formerly called Dimitrievskaya).

Parish life

The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Rostov-on-Don) has a courtyard, which is a harmonious architectural ensemble. In addition to the temple itself, on its territory there is a functioning church, consecrated in the name of John the Baptist, and a temporarily non-functioning church of St. Nicholas, located in the bell tower.

The courtyard complex also includes several service buildings. In particular, the chancellery is located there, as well as departments and commissions of the Rostov Diocesan Administration.

The parish of the cathedral is actively involved in acquainting the residents of Rostov-on-Don with Orthodox traditions. A lot of work in this regard is being carried out by the Educational Center. St. Demetrius, located in a building located next to the church of St. John the Baptist.

The diocesan publishing house, a printing house, shops selling church utensils and Orthodox literature are also located in the courtyard.

How to get there

Temple address: Russia, Rostov-on-Don, Stanislavskogo street, building 58. You can get there by your own car, by taxi or by tram number 1. The stop where you need to get off is called "Central Market". The temple is open to believers on any day of the week from 10:00 to 17:00.

Now you know when the Rostov Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded and what a difficult fate it had. Be sure to visit this magnificent monument of church architecture and admire the murals decorating its interior.