The church in Malaya Gruzinskaya. Moscow's churches: addresses

In Moscow there are several Catholic churches. The church on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street is almost the largest of them. The decision to build it was made in 1894. In those days in Moscow there lived just a huge number of Catholics. They were French, Polish, etc. (30 thousand people). Two Catholic churches (St. Louis and St. Peter and Paul's Apostles ), which were already available in the XIX century in the capital, simply did not suffice. The money for the new church was collected by the parishioners themselves - both Muscovites and residents of other regions of Russia. Donations were also coming from abroad. For example, from Warsaw, it was sent 50 thousand rubles.

Construction of the church

To build the Roman Catholic Cathedral began in the early twentieth century. - in 1901 the project was developed by Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky, one of the most famous architects of the capital and the whole country. Foma Iosifovich was a parishioner of the church of St. Peter and Paul and taught painting, architecture and sculpture in the Moscow School. In order to build a new church, believers had to apply for permission to Nicholas II and the Synod of the ROC. Under the cathedral, 10 hectares of land were purchased. On its erection it took about three hundred thousand rubles in gold.

The church after the revolution

The opening of the new church took place in December 1911. Masses in the temple were held both before the revolution and after it. In 1937 the church in Malaya Gruzinskaya was the first of all that operated in Moscow to be closed. After that, virtually all the church belongings disappeared without a trace. Even the organ and the altar were taken out. The most beautiful facade was disfigured. Various secular organizations began their work in the church. Inside the temple, a huge number of partitions were built and redeveloped, as a result of which the interior changed beyond recognition.

The church after the war

During the Second World War, a bomb hit the Roman Catholic Cathedral. However, the building was not damaged too much. In the first days of the war, the church towers were dismantled, as they could serve as a good guide for German pilots. As a result, the building completely lost its charm. After the war, the main spire of the church was destroyed.

In 1976, the temple was intended to be donated to the organ music hall. However, these plans did not come true. At the time, about 15 secular organizations functioned within the walls of the church. Of course, no one wanted to move to a new place.

Until the 90s the church was used as a warehouse. The need for his return to the believers began talking in 1989. December 8, 1990 priest Tadeusz Pikus on the steps of the temple was celebrated Mass. Despite the frost, a large number of believers came to the church. All of them prayed for the return of the temple to them. The first after 1937 official mass was held in the cathedral on 07.06.1991.

The church in Malaya Gruzinskaya in our days

In 1992, Yu. M. Luzhkov signed a decision on the gradual transfer of the premises of the church to Moscow Catholics. However, for a long time to evict the scientific research institute "Mosspetspromproject", which occupied the temple, it was not possible for a long time. In 1995, believers independently dismantled the wall separating this secular institution from the parish, and tried to free the premises from office furniture. However, the intervening OMON destroyed the plans of the Catholics. Believers were expelled from the church. Some of them even got bodily injuries.

After this incident, Catholic archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz appealed to Boris Yeltsin to resolve the conflict between the parish and the research institute. As a result, Mosspetspromproekt was transferred to another building. By the end of 1995 the church was completely handed over to the believers. He was consecrated 12.12.1999 by the legate of Pope John Paul II by the Secretary of State of the Vatican Cardinal Angelo Sodano. By the end of the century the cathedral was completely restored. The money for the reconstruction, as well as during the construction of the temple, was collected by the parishioners. Supervised by the work of Andrzej Stetskevich. As a result, the cathedral became a real decoration of even such a rich city's architectural monuments , like Moscow. The church in Malaya Gruzinskaya looks great these days, you can see it from the photos posted in the article.

In 2005, the cathedral Basler Munster (Basel, Sweden) was given a gift to the church. This tool allows you to perfectly perfectly perform musical compositions of different epochs.

Today, as in the past, masses are held in the church in Armenian, English, Polish, French and other languages. Priests crown the newlyweds, baptize newborns, see off the last path of the dead. As in all Catholic churches, an organ sounds in the church.

The interior of the temple

Entering the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Malaya Gruzinskaya, the believer immediately sees a cross hanging on the wall, adorned with flowers. The icon, as in all Catholic churches, is not in the church. But there is an altar, near which mass is held. The interior of the church is extraordinarily beautiful. The special charm to it is given by stained-glass windows - color panels collected from slices of glass. Darkness, high arches, flickering candles and organ music set the believers to appropriate harmony.

Architectural features

The building is built of red brick in the Neo-Gothic style. This architectural direction can be considered to some extent traditional for Catholic cathedrals. The Gothic style originated in France and spread very quickly throughout Europe. Its main distinguishing feature is the monumentality and aspiration of all elements to the sky. Many Catholic cathedrals, including the church in Malaya Gruzinskaya, decorate a huge number of towers with thin spiers. The main axis of the temple is located strictly on the North-South line. This is one of the differences between the church and the Orthodox Church, in which the main entrance is usually in the west.

The church in Malaya Gruzinskaya is a basilica, built in the form of a Latin cross. The eastern facade of the church is very similar to the facade of the famous Westminster Cathedral in Britain. To the main gate of the temple is exactly 11 steps. This means the 10 commandments, plus the symbol of Christ Himself. Only by observing the instructions of Jesus, you can enter the kingdom of heaven.

What is the difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy?

Temples are built by Catholics and Orthodox. The difference between these two directions of Christianity, however, is quite significant. But first let's talk about their similarities. Both these churches are distinguished by the existence of a rigid hierarchical structure, their laws, and also religious and cultural traditions. Of course, the main object of worship here and there is Jesus Christ, as well as the one God the Father. Both Catholics and Orthodox especially revere the Virgin Mary and all the apostles. In both these directions there are their great martyrs and saints.

What is the difference? The division of Christianity into Catholicism and Orthodoxy took place a long time ago - in the 11th century. In 1054, the Patriarch of Constantinople anathematized the representatives of the Pope, who answered him the same. Since then, Catholics and Orthodox services have not been held together. The unification of these two areas of Christianity seems extremely problematic today. Too great changes in the original traditions occurred over the centuries of schism.

Catholicism is first and foremost an integral church. All its members and components are rigidly subordinated to the Pope. The Orthodox Church is not so monolithic. In this regard, it is more democratic. There are Constantinople, Russian, Georgian, Serbian and other Orthodox churches. There are differences in the religious canons. For example, Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit can come from both the Father and the Son. The Orthodox believe that it is only from the Father. Differences exist also in relation to churches for their parishioners. In Catholicism, for example, divorce is strictly prohibited. Sometimes the Orthodox Church permits them.

What other Catholic churches are in Moscow at the moment

The church in Georgian is not the only Catholic church in the capital. There are also others:

1. Church of Sts. Louis. This church was founded back in 1791. At the beginning of the XIX century (1827-1830) on the site of the old building a new one was built in the style of the basilica. The church was erected according to the design of architects DI and AO O. Zhilyardi. After 1917, this temple was not closed, and the Mass in it continued to serve. In 1992, all the buildings that belonged to the church before 1917, including the building of the Lyceum, were returned to believers.
2. Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul. This is another church in Moscow, founded a long time ago - in 1817. The new building was built in 1903-1913. By the project of architect VF Valcot. After the revolution, the temple was closed, and it housed various secular organizations. Today this church is again given to believers.
3. Anglican Church of St. Andrew. This church was founded in 1814. The present building was erected in 1882-1884. The temple project was designed by the Englishman RK Freeman. In 1920 the church was closed. At the moment it is passed on to the believers.

Church of Moscow. Addresses

Catholic churches of the capital can be visited at the following addresses:

1. Roman Catholic Cathedral: st. Malaya Gruzinskaya, 27.
2. Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul: Per. Milyutinsky, 19, Apt. 18.
3. Church of St. Louis: M. Lubyanka, 12.