On December 25 of the year, on the day of the Nativity of Christ, a wooden church was erected at the Krestovsky cemetery, consecrated by the name of St. Paraskeva of Serbia, later the cemetery became known as Pyatnitsky. In 1778, during a summer thunderstorm, the church was badly damaged: the entire roof was blown off and the bell tower was damaged. With the joint efforts of the priest and parishioners, the church was repaired, but soon, due to meager donations from the poor people and low attendance, it fell into decay.
In the year through the efforts of the rector Fr. Simeon managed to obtain permission from the Theological Consistory to establish a circle for collecting donations from pilgrims going to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, to build a new stone church instead of a wooden one, for which a chapel was even built on the Trinity Road, where the icons were transferred from the old church. Construction was slow for the same reason - lack of funds.
In September, the merchant Sveshnikov bequeathed his estate and money (for the remembrance of his soul) for the construction of a new stone church and two houses.
When drawing up a plan for the construction of the temple, it turned out that there was not enough land for its implementation, which had previously been allocated to the cemetery by the city authorities. Another well-wisher was found - the donor Count Dmitry Sheremetiev, who gave part of his land for the construction of the temple. The best architects of the city, A. V. Balashov and F. M. Shestakov, became the designers of the facade of the temple. There is an opinion that A. G. Grigoriev was the author of the design of the temple building, but this is not confirmed by archival data.
The architecture of Moscow at that time was dominated by the so-called Russian classicism (Empire), as a response to the memories of the recent victory of Russia over Napoleon in 1812. This style is distinguished by its monumental forms with the indispensable erection of columns along the facade, decorated with elements of military paraphernalia, which gave the building majesty and evoked a sense of peace in the souls of people. All this was reflected in the construction of the temple, the construction of which began in 1830.
Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna Filaret (Drozdov) not only supported the petition for the construction of the temple, but took an ardent part in its implementation.
In the year the chapel of St. Paraskeva of Serbia was consecrated, the next year the chapel of St. Sergius of Radonezh, as well as the refectory with four tables, a bell tower with a spire and new iconostases. However, the built main temple was not heated and was considered summer, while the previously built side chapels were insulated.
Priest John of Tabor, who is related to Metropolitan Philaret, turned to him with a request to rebuild two previously built side-chapels in order to expand them, to connect the summer church to the already existing calorific heating system and to update the dilapidated iconostases. Such a request was granted, which was an important factor of that time, since there was already a ban on any changes in new temples.
During 1861-1862, the altars of these aisles were expanded and decorated at the expense of the donor, the merchant Andreev, and the summer and winter parts of the temple were united by a single calorific system that still exists. After all the reconstructions, the temple externally acquired the shape of a cross: in front is the main altar, facing east, the chapels of Paraskeva Serbian and Sergius of Radonezh. On the western side there is an entrance with a porch decorated with cast iron columns and at the top with an icon of the Holy Trinity.
According to the will of the merchant Sveshnikov, in addition to the temple, two houses were built: on the western side and along the central axis, one for parables, the other for an almshouse; both houses are surrounded by a fence, in the middle of which, there were beautiful gates. All this corresponded to the architectural style of the temple and created a single ensemble. In subsequent years, the fence with the gate was dismantled, and this violated the integrity of the perception of the entire ensemble around the temple. Unfortunately, in the 20th century, all this architectural harmony was further distorted by modern buildings both around and on the territory of the temple.
After the revolution of 1917, the temple was not closed, but in the 1920s it was captured by the Renovationists and returned to the Moscow Patriarchate in Moscow.
The permanently reconstructed highway Prospekt Mira - Yaroslavl Highway is one of the most important in the capital. Many sights are located along it, in particular, VDNH, which recently celebrated its anniversary. But breaking out of the cramped quarters to the expanded Krestovsky overpass, no one notices a lonely church among the greenery of trees, although it is clearly visible from the bridge.
But the Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity (architects A. V. Balashov and F. M. Shestakov) in the Empire style truly deserves attention. And these places along the ancient Trinity Road, which from ancient times led to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, have a rich history.
At the meeting place of the relics of Metropolitan Philip, an oak cross was placed here, which gave the name to the Krestovskaya outpost. And behind this outpost in 1771, a site was allocated for the creation of a cemetery, which became known as Krestovsky. A year later, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa's chapel made of wood stood, which gave the cemetery a new name. It stood for almost 60 years, but gradually fell into disrepair, and then in 1827 permission was given to build a stone church. There was a fundraiser, the merchant Sveshnikov bequeathed his estate and a large sum of money, Count Dmitry Sheremetev donated part of his land.
In 1830, the construction of the temple began. A year later, the insulated winter chapel of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa was consecrated, and a year later, the winter chapel of St. Sergius of Radonezh was also consecrated. Later, the main summer temple also became heated. At the same time, a four-table refectory and a bell tower with a porch were built, which were decorated with cast iron columns. An icon of the Holy Trinity was placed above the entrance.
As Sveshnikov bequeathed, a clergy house and an almshouse were erected on the sides of the temple. There was a gate in the middle. They did not reach us, and the church itself was surrounded by the buildings of the Impulse Research Institute, which in our time has turned into the Peace Park Business Park. But the classic architectural ensemble of the Pushkin era, hidden a little in the depths of the alley, continues to please the eye.
How to get there
- From m. Rizhskaya, Riga station, pl. Rizhskaya (Leningrad direction) and Rzhevskaya (Kursk and Smolensk direction): on foot 850 m or by trolleybuses No. 9, 14, 37, 48, by buses No. 85 and 714 to the stop. "Krestovsky bridge" (1 stop) and by minibus No. 14m, 270m and 379m.
- From metro station Alekseevskaya: on foot 880 m or by trolleybuses No. 9, 14, 37, 48, by bus No. 85 (2 stops) and fixed-route taxi No. 270m and 379m, as well as by bus No. 714 (1 stop) and shuttle bus taxi number 14m.
- From metro station VDNKh and st. monorail " Exhibition Center": by trolleybuses No. 9, 14, 37, 48, by bus No. 85 (6 stops), by fixed-route taxi No. 270m and 379m.
- From Prospekt Mira metro station: by trolley bus No. 9 (5 stops) and fixed-route taxi No. 379m.
- From metro Sukharevskaya (8 stops), metro Lubyanka (11 stops), metro Chistye Prudy, metro Turgenevskaya and metro Sretensky Bulvar (12 stops), metro Krasnye Vorota (14 stops): by trolley bus number 9.
- From metro station Komsomolskaya, Leningradsky, Yaroslavsky, Kazansky railway stations (10 stops), metro station Krasnoselskaya (11 stops), metro station Sokolniki (14 stops), metro station Preobrazhenskaya square (18 stops), metro station Elektrozavodskaya (23 stops), pl. . Kalanchevskaya (Kursk, Riga and Belorussian directions) (9 stops): by trolleybus No. 14
- From m. Vladykino (24 stops) and pl. Okruzhnaya (Savelovskoye direction) (25 stops): by bus number 85
- From Medvedkovo metro station: by fixed-route taxi No. 270m
- From sq. Malenkovskaya (Yaroslavl direction): by bus No. 714 (5 stops) and fixed-route taxi No. 14m.
- From sq. Severyanin (Yaroslavskoye direction): by trolley bus No. 14 and by fixed-route taxi No. 270m, (12 stops)
On October 27, Friday of the 21st week after Pentecost, the day of remembrance of the Monk Paraskeva-Petka of Serbia, rector of the church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki, Bishop Tikhon of Podolsky, Administrator of the North-Eastern Moscow Vicariate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery in Moscow , one of the aisles of which was consecrated in honor of the Monk Paraskeva.
Bishop Tikhon was co-served by: Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, Secretary His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and All Russia in Moscow; Archpriest Georgy Klimov, dean of churches in the Trinity District of Moscow; Archpriest Fyodor Rozhik, rector of the church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" in Pereyaslavskaya Sloboda, Moscow; Archpriest Georgy Gutorov, Rector of the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky, Moscow; Archpriest Andrey Pashnin, Acting rector of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitsky cemetery in Moscow; Priest Philip Ponomarev, Acting Rector of the Church of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of the Patriarchal Metochion in Ostankino, Moscow; temple clergy.
The deacon rank was headed by Protodeacon Sergiy Kuranov, cleric of the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky, Moscow.
Liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery in Moscow under the direction of A. Naumova.
The sermon after the singing of the communion verse was delivered by Priest Philip Ponomarev.
After the Divine Liturgy, a prayer service was served for the Monk Paraskeva-Petka of Serbia and a Litany for the dead for the servants of God, Archpriests Michael and Evdokia Drozdov, parents of St. Philaret of Moscow. (Evdokia Drozdova was buried within the walls of the temple).
At the end of the service, Bishop Tikhon was greeted by I. about. Archpriest Andrei Pashnin, rector of the temple. In response, the Administrator of the Vicariate congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the patronal feast of the temple and addressed the worshipers with the words of a sermon.
- Full name: Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitskoye Cemetery.
- Short everyday names: Trinity Church, Trinity Church, Church of the Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity Church.
- Refers to the Trinity Deanery of the North-Eastern Vicariate of Moscow.
- The rector of the church at the Pyatnitsky cemetery is Archpriest Andrey Pashnin.
- The nearest metro stations: "Rizhskaya", "Alekseevskaya".
- In the Trinity Church at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery, you can submit a note of repose and order trebs - a funeral service, a memorial service, a magpie.
The Trinity Church of the classical style with chapels in honor of Paraskeva of Serbia and Sergius of Radonezh was built in the first half of the 19th century. After the revolution, worship services were discontinued, the building was used as a residential and industrial premises. Restoration began in 1990. Currently, the temple has been completely restored.
The address of the temple at the Pyatnitsky cemetery:
Moscow, Droboliteiny lane, house number 5, building 1.
Temple features:
The main shrines of the temple are a rare icon of the Mother of God "Help for women to give birth to children", the icon of the holy martyr Simeon. Bishop of Persia and the icon-painting image of the Monk Paraskeva of Serbia.
How to get to the temple at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery
Archpriest Georgy Klimov
On the eve of the patronal feast of the central temple of the Trinity deanery, we asked the rector, Archpriest Georgy Klimov, to tell readers about the history of the Trinity Church at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery and about his own life path.
In history Christian Church there were several saints with the name Paraskeva. Thus, we know the Monk Martyr Paraskeva, who suffered for Christ in Rome in the 2nd century, the Monk Paraskeva of Serbia, who became famous in the 11th century for her severe asceticism and pious life. In Russia, saints with the name Paraskeva were especially revered, because in translation it means “Friday” - the day of the Cross Suffering and the death of the Savior. In honor of Saint Paraskeva, roadside chapels were often erected, they prayed to her when going on a journey, they ask for her help in illness and sorrow. The patrons of our church are also St. Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, and Hieromartyr Simeon, Bishop of Persia.
Historically, on the site of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery, there was a wooden church in honor of St. Paraskeva of Serbia. It did not appear by chance: in 1652, the relics of St. Philip of Moscow were met at this place during their transfer from the Solovetsky Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery to Moscow. In memory of this event, a worship Cross was erected, and the area was called "At the Cross." Pilgrims going on a pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra performed prayers here, and the road leading "from the Cross" to the monastery St. Sergius, was called "Trinity Way". Thus, the place where the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity now stands is truly unique. Here the Holy Trinity, St. Sergius and St. Paraskeva of Serbia, revered by the Russian people, "met". Behind the temple is the famous Pyatnitskoye cemetery, founded in 1771, where many hierarchs and clergymen of the Russian Church, pious laymen are buried.
When the wooden church of St. Paraskeva fell into disrepair, it became necessary to build a new stone church. However, there were not enough funds, construction was postponed. Then the parish turned to Metropolitan Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow. Vladyka provided not only administrative, but also material assistance. Through the prayers and diligence of the Saint, the stone church was finally built. The central altar was consecrated in honor of the Holy Trinity, the northern side-chapel in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and the southern one in honor of St. Paraskeva of Serbia. A lot of people always came to the church at the Pyatnitsky cemetery. In 1917, with the diligence of parishioner Simeon Zaitsev, a stone chapel was built on the territory of the cemetery in honor of Hieromartyr Simeon, Bishop of Persia. Funerals were held in the chapel for the dead.
In the aisle of St. Paraskeva is the burial place of Evdokia Nikitichna Drozdova (1853), the mother of St. Philaret. A wonderful event is connected with her grave. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the grave of Evdokia Nikitichna was depersonalized and virtually destroyed - there was no tombstone, no cross, no fence. In the 1950s, St. Philaret himself appeared to a pious doctor, whose name was Victor, with a request to take care that the grave was restored. Later it turned out that Viktor was a distant relative of the Drozdovs. The doctor began to bother to restore the grave, went to various authorities, but to no avail. So two years passed. From the lack of results, Victor became discouraged, his hands dropped, and he was no longer sure whether the Saint really appeared to him. But one day the vision came back. Saint Philaret encouraged Victor, urged him not to lose heart and continue his efforts. After some time, Victor received a call to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I. His Holiness listened to him, questioned him in detail and released him. After this meeting, the grave of Evdokia Nikitichna was restored, and by order of His Holiness the Patriarch, every year on the day of the death of the mother of the Saint, they began to serve a memorial service for the ever-memorable servant of God Evdokia. This tradition continues to this day.
In the twentieth century, the history of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery was dramatic, like the entire history of the Russian Church. The temple was repeatedly tried to close. From 1935 to 1944 it belonged to the Renovationists. After the return of his Church, many well-known clergymen served in the church, among them Archpriest Vasily Romankov and priest Sergei Nedumov, who were buried behind the altar. A year ago, by decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, I was appointed rector of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitskoye Cemetery. Of course, this was unexpected. When I began my ministry, I tried to learn as much as I could about the temple and was amazed at how interesting and rich its history was.
I can say about myself that I was born in Sergiev Posad, so I had the opportunity to often visit the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. In my childhood and youth, I was not a church person and came to the monastery of St. Sergius simply out of curiosity, wanting to get to know Russian culture better. But over time, I came to realize that the Orthodox faith preserves the truth that a person is looking for and that his soul needs.
When I was drafted into the army, I ended up in a platoon where guys from almost all 15 republics of our country served. Many soldiers experienced a certain inner tension, because they often did not understand what kind of worldview and what national and religious traditions their brothers in arms had. On the one hand, the service was physically and psychologically difficult. On the other hand, such a test made me think: what is the basis of my personal worldview and attitude? It was 1988 - the year of the millennium of the Baptism of Russia, a very important milestone. Temples began to open, a lot of literature appeared, including the Holy Scripture, which until that time could not be found in Soviet Russia. Once, after combat duty on guard duty, one of my fellow countrymen gave me a book - New Testament in Synodal translation. I still thank the Lord for the moment when I first started reading it. Of course, I did not understand everything that was written, but my heart felt somehow joyful, calm and quiet. Already after the army, my attitude to faith became clear, if I may say so, clearly expressed. I graduated from the service and entered the Moscow Aviation Technology Institute, after graduation I worked in my specialty for two years.
In my student years, I often visited the Moscow Danilov Monastery, and on weekends I invariably came to worship at the monastery of St. Sergius. There I had the opportunity to communicate with the Lavra residents, among them - Archimandrites Georgy (Tertyshnikov), Macarius (Veretennikov), Ilya (Reizmer), who had a great influence on me, helped me make the decision to enter the seminary. It is quite difficult to explain, but at one fine moment a person realizes that he must become a priest in order to serve God and people. After graduating from the seminary, I continued to study at the Moscow Theological Academy, and shortly before graduating from the leadership of the Moscow Theological Schools, I received an offer to teach there. I am very grateful to the Lord and the teaching corporation for the fact that for many years I have been breathing the air of the large cell of St. Sergius!
While studying at the seminary, I received the priesthood. The first years of my priestly service were spent in the Academic Church of the Intercession Holy Mother of God. Later, I was transferred to the Moscow parish of the Patriarchal Metochion to the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in the Sviblovo estate, where the rector is Archpriest Sergius Kiselyov, Dean of the Sergievsky District. I served in the parish in Sviblovo for ten years. Moscow parishioners are educated, intelligent people who often have difficult questions requiring answers. Against the backdrop of the provincial city of the Moscow region, where I come from, this difference was especially noticeable. In the provinces, people are simpler, but in the capital's residents there is an element of some kind of claim, even a bias: people often perceive the church as an organization from the service sector, which is designed to serve the spiritual needs of a person. As a young priest, due to my inexperience and lack of understanding of many subtleties of ministry in the metropolis, I often had to go through acute moments, to be in great tension. But over time, knowledge and experience came, confidence appeared, it became easier to communicate with people. It gives me great joy to realize that in Orthodoxy one can find answers to any questions, with faith one can solve any problem.
Now, having become the rector and dean, I experience many things anew, I have to learn a lot, rethink a lot. The main problem of our parish is the small number of parishioners. It should be remembered that even 10-15 years ago there were a lot of people in the church, and one cannot see the reason for the impoverishment of the parish only in the fact that many other churches were opened around. So there were other, internal reasons. Our task is to make the parish begin to live a full life in all areas that guide a person in life, help to go to salvation. Now we are actively engaged in social and youth work. Other problems of the parish are the lack of premises for work, a lot of property issues. Those areas that we now occupy and which historically belong to the temple are in disrepair, and, no matter how trite it sounds, there are not enough funds for repairs.
In conclusion, I will say: every day I thank God for giving me the opportunity to serve and work in this wonderful church, and I believe that the Lord, in His great mercy and philanthropy, will instruct, direct and establish our parish.
