The Church of the Blakherna Icon of the Mother of God in Kuzminki is one of the oldest Orthodox churches. Its patroness is the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God, which is of Greek origin.
Temple history
The Church of the Blakherna Icon of the Mother of God in Kuzminki has a rich history. The first wooden church was built in Kuzminki in 1716-1720. It was erected by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who at that time was the owner of the estate. In 1759, Prince M. M. Golitsyn ordered to destroy part of the buildings and build a new stone church in the style of early classicism. The construction lasted about 30 years and was completed under the direction of Rodion Kazakov.
In 1812, the buildings were destroyed, but very quickly rebuilt after the war. In the middle of the 19th century, a clock was installed on the main building, and an iconostasis was built in the temple. In 1924 the temple was closed and the premises were disfigured by new buildings, cut through windows and destroyed walls. At first, the buildings housed a dormitory, and then a branch of a research institute. In 1990, the reconstruction took place and the church was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Modern temple
In 1995 the church was consecrated. Architecturally, the Church of the Blakherna Icon of the Mother of God in Kuzminki can be attributed to mature classicism. A round bell tower, an abundance of cylindrical shapes and rounded corners give the buildings a very unusual and attractive appearance. The interior of the temple has changed several times over the years. The wall painting was completely lost at the end of the 19th century, and after reconstruction at the end of the 20th century, the walls were painted again. The painting is made in white and blue colors. Due to the non-standard solution of the rotunda-drum, the lighting is organized in a very unusual and effective manner.
The round turret (storage room of the church) deserves special attention. From an architectural point of view, it is simple but monumental. Compared to the temple, its dimensions are quite small, but it looks heavier than the main building. At the beginning of the 20th century, an aquarium was organized in this building.
Location of the temple
The Church of the Blakherna Icon of the Mother of God in Kuzminki is located at: Russia, Moscow, st. Kuzminskaya, 7, building 1. You can get to it by car or by metro. The nearest metro stations are Kuzminki, Volzhskaya, Lyublino.
The main icon of the temple
The Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God is a shrine in whose honor the temple was named. She was brought from Constantinople in 1653. It was originally brought to the city of Blachernae, which is why it got its name. The holiday of the icon is celebrated on July 2. The shrine is of Greek origin. It is made using the waxing technique. Fragments of the relics of saints are added to the wax, so the icon is considered a reliquary and this is its value.
The chapels of the temple are dedicated to Saints Alexander Nevsky and Sergius of Radonezh. The church also has attributed spiritual organizations:
- Church of St. Blessed Xenia of Petersburg (located at the Kuzminsky cemetery);
- Temple of the Great Martyr George the Victorious (located in the hospital for the treatment of war veterans).
Service Schedule
The doors of the church are open to visitors every day from 7.00 to 20.00. Divine services are regularly held in the Temple of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God in Kuzminki. Matins are served on weekdays at 8.00. Early and late Liturgy are served on Sundays at 7:00 and 9:30. All-night vigils are held on certain church holidays. More details about the upcoming services can be found on the official website of the temple or directly when visiting it.
If a person needs a personal conversation with a clergyman, you need to contact the rectors. In the temple you can confess and attend the sacrament. On certain days, rituals of baptism, weddings, and funeral services are held in it. Before baptism, parents and godparents must definitely come to a conversation with the rector. Individual baptism is possible only for a fee. Contributions for a standard ceremony, which may be attended by several people who are ready to accept the Orthodox faith, are voluntary.
Charity
The Church of the Blakherna Icon of the Mother of God in Kuzminki is actively involved in charity work. On an ongoing basis, the church helps a family orphanage in the village of Pustyn, Kasimovsky district, Ryazan region, as well as large families, single parents. Help consists in collecting food, stationery, clothing for those in need. You can bring everything you need to the temple or transfer money to an official checking account with a corresponding note.
The temple provides targeted assistance to people who find themselves in difficult life situations. At the same time, the emphasis is placed not only on material, but also on spiritual support.
Temple Rules
When visiting the temple, it is very important to follow some rules. It is prohibited on its territory:
- take photographs and filming without obtaining permission from the rector;
- drink alcohol;
- swear, talk loudly.
You need to pay attention to appearance. Women should wear neat, non-defiant clothing to attend divine services. There must be a scarf or a suitable headdress on the head. It is better to refuse bright makeup. It is not customary in church to talk on a cell phone. Before visiting the temple, it is better to turn it off so as not to be distracted and not disturb other parishioners.
Temple Youth Association and Sunday School
A youth association "Blakherny" was created at the temple. The purpose of its creation is the moral education of young people, the inculcation of spiritual values. Young people who are members of the association can do:
- excursions to temples and other interesting places;
- cycling;
- youth picnics;
- conversations for those who applied to the temple;
- collective reading of the Holy Gospel.
Volunteers provide support to people who visit the parish. Anyone can join the team. To do this, you need to contact the leaders of the movement.
Since 1992, a Sunday school has been functioning at the church. It was created for the purpose of the Orthodox education of children and their parents, for the formation of a Christian attitude and the acquisition of experience of communication in an Orthodox environment. Education at the school is free of charge. Registration is made at the beginning of the school year after passing an interview. All those who wish and have passed the interview are assigned to certain classes by age category.
Adults can also attend Sunday school. The church even provides for correspondence courses in the basics of Orthodoxy. There is a church library at the Sunday school.
