Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Novosibirsk). Sights of Novosibirsk, photo

It's hard to believe, but only some 120 years ago, on the site of a 1.5 million-strong Novosibirsk, there was a small Krivoshchekovskaya Sloboda, where 685 people lived permanently. Today it is one of the most important economic and cultural centers of our country, where tens of thousands of tourists come every year who want to see the historical and modern sights of Novosibirsk. Of particular interest to the guests are numerous Orthodox churches, including the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky. This magnificent building in the Neo-Byzantine style is the oldest stone building in the city and is among the sights that are worth a visit.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Novosibirsk): prehistory

It is commonly believed that Novosibirsk was founded on April 30, 1893, as it was on this day that a settlement was built for workers employed in the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Thanks to this important transport artery, in just a few years, Novonikolaevsk, as it was then called Novosibirsk, turned into a thriving city through which trade between the European regions of the Russian Empire and the Far East went. As a token of gratitude for the construction of the Transsib, its inhabitants decided to establish a memorial temple in honor of Alexander III, and in 1895 organized a collection of donations in which active members and members of the royal family took an active part. In particular, the Romanovs allocated a land plot for the construction, donated 11,500 rubles from personal money and donated brocade vestments for priests and deacons.

Construction of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

At the moment there is no accurate information about who developed the architectural project of the first stone temple in Novosibirsk. However, experts agree that the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Novosibirsk) was built on the project of the Church of Our Lady on Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg. Managed the work of the famous engineer-traveler NM Tikhomirov, who put a lot of effort to the work was completed in the shortest time. As a result, construction lasted only two years, and by the summer of 1899 the church was already ready to receive believers.

History of the temple

In 1937, the cathedral of Nevsky (at that time, Novosibirsk was adorned with several churches) was closed. He even tried to blow up, but the building was built, as they say, for centuries, and only some partitions collapsed. Then the authorities handed over the cathedral to the design institute Promstroyproekt, and in 1957 the West Siberian Newsreel studio moved there. The new owners carried out a cardinal re-planning of the internal premises in order to adapt them to their own needs. To do this, with the help of internal ceilings, the building was divided into three floors, the painting was removed from the walls, and the dome was turned into a room. Another reconstruction of the cathedral was planned for 1988, as it was supposed to arrange a concert hall for performances of the chamber choir. Fortunately, the public managed to defend the temple, and in 1989, according to the decision of the city authorities, the cathedral of Alexander Nevsky (Novosibirsk) was returned to the believers. Regular services began, and a center for fighting sects was opened here.

Description of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

After the transfer of the cathedral of the Orthodox Church, large-scale reconstruction works were carried out in it, as a result of which today he appears before believers in a form close to the original. In particular, the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky (Novosibirsk) got rid of the overlap, and it is again adorned with a magnificent painting of the work of contemporary artists. In addition, the bell tower was built, the domes were covered and covered with gilding, an iconostasis was installed. Also, visitors can see the new baptismal temple with a large font for full immersion.

Ascension Cathedral

Novosibirsk is rightly called the city of Orthodox churches. After all, there are about 30 churches belonging to the RIC, the main one of which is the Ascension Cathedral. This temple, founded in 1913, suffered less than others in the years of the God-struggles, although it was still closed for 7 whole years, given under a granary. Particularly significant for the cathedral was the 1974th year, when its full reconstruction was begun. As a result, by 1988 the church received its modern appearance, becoming completely stone. In addition, to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, the Ascension Cathedral (Novosibirsk) was decorated with mosaics and paintings.

The Church of the Sign

In recent decades, the population of Novosibirsk has grown several times, reaching a 1.5-million mark. The number of Orthodox believers also increased, so there was a shortage of temples. In connection with this, several new churches were built, including the five-domed, three-nave Znamenskaya church, founded in 1992. Architecturally it is modeled after Russian churches of the 16th and 17th centuries and occupies a special place among the modern architectural sights of Novosibirsk.

The Trinity Cathedral of St. Vladimir

On the left bank of the Ob River there is another new two-level temple, the construction of which was started in 1999. This is the six-table Trinity-Vladimir cathedral in Novosibirsk, which is also a cellar of the Mikhailo-Arkhangelsk monastery located in the village of Kozikha. The temple is exceptionally beautiful. It has silvered domes, and in appearance it resembles the churches of medieval Russia. In August 2013, during his stay in Siberia, Patriarch Kirill consecrated the Trinity Cathedral (Novosibirsk), which is located on the second level of the Trinity-Vladimir Church. A solemn service was attended by thousands of parishioners, as well as representatives of the authorities of the city and the region.

Chapel of St. Nicholas

In the distant 1914, on the eve of the First World War, it was decided to build a temple in Novonikolayevsk in honor of the 20th anniversary of the construction of the bridge over the Ob. As a place for the chapel, later consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas, the point was chosen which is the geographical center of the Russian Empire. Today, this snow-white temple with a dome in the form of a helmet of an ancient Russian soldier decorates the Red Avenue of the city, and wedding corteges are constantly approaching him, so that young people can put a candle and ask for blessings from St. Nicholas, who is considered the heavenly patron of Novosibirsk. In addition, next to the chapel is a park with shady alleys, where you can relax during a walking tour.

Attractions in Novosibirsk

Photo on travel agency websites can not convey the beauty of these places. In addition to visiting numerous churches, Novosibirsk can offer tourists to get acquainted with their secular architectural masterpieces. For example, among the architectural symbols of the city is the largest in Russia building of the Opera House, which after the reconstruction of 2005 is considered one of the most modernized and technically equipped in our country. Another significant construction is the building of the railway station, built in 1939, which is one of the largest in Russia and is designed to receive up to 4,000 passengers at a time.

Among the recognizable architectural attractions of Novosibirsk is the Stockhouse, whose project received a first-class diploma at the Paris Exhibition of Arts and Technology in 1937.

Museums

Although the oldest surviving building in Novosibirsk - the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky (Novosibirsk) - only next year will celebrate its 120th anniversary, people in these parts lived in ancient times. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds, which can be seen in the Museum of Local Lore of the city. In addition, there are magnificent ethnographic and numismatic collections.

The Novosibirsk Art Museum also enjoys great popularity among tourists. In his halls there are works of Russian and European painters of the 16-19th centuries, there is a large collection of icons, and you can see graphic works of contemporary artists. In addition to museums that have a long history, several modern ones operate in Novosibirsk. They are less known, but of great interest. For example, the Museum of the Sun invites to see images of the daylight taken from ancient civilizations, but in the museum "Siberian Birch" you can get acquainted with handmade craftsmen.

As you can see, Novosibirsk is a city that is worth a visit, to see magnificent monuments of architecture and get acquainted with its hospitable and hospitable inhabitants.