Verkhoturye: sightseeing of the city. Temples of Verkhoturye

If the capital of the Urals is simply called Ekaterinburg, then the spiritual capital is Verkhoturye. The sights of this city are mostly churches and monasteries. Pilgrims from all over Russia seek this place. There is a city in the Sverdlovsk region on the river Toure.

A bit of history

There was a settlement in the distant 1597 year. True, it is known that earlier in the same section of the Babinov road there was a Vogul town called Neromkar, but by that time it had long been abandoned. More than one hundred and fifty years in Verkhoturye was the main fortress on the way to Siberia. 1600 was marked by the institution of customs. Now here, with all the goods collected duties. This contributed to the rapid development of the city and the erection of beautiful stone buildings.

In 1763, the customs was abolished, which, as you might guess, did not have a far better effect on the development of the city. However, already by this time the most beautiful buildings boasted Verkhoturye. Sights, which today attract a lot of tourists, existed already in the 18th century. Let's talk about them in more detail.

Kremlin

The construction of the stone Verkhoturye Kremlin began in 1699 according to the decree of Peter I. It is interesting that it is the smallest among all the Kremlin's of Russia, and it was erected the penultimate one, if compared with other fortresses.

As originally the Kremlin was the administrative center of the city, and now the registry office, the city duma and other organizations are on its territory. But the main attraction here is the Trinity Cathedral. It was with him that the construction of the Kremlin was started, and after that, the walls and loopholes for the Streltsa bells were laid. About the temple, we'll tell you a little later. Another worth noting is one interesting fact. The fact is that under Peter I it was forbidden to build stone buildings for state institutions. But Verkhoturye can be called an exception city, along with St. Petersburg and Tobolsk.

Holy Trinity Church

Already in 1598 the first church (wooden) was built in the name of the Life-Giving Trinity. Well, the first stone of the cathedral was laid in 1703. The decree was issued by Peter I, and the blessing for the construction was given by Metropolitan Philobey of Siberia and Tobolsk. Work continued until 1709. In the Sverdlovsk region it is the oldest stone church.

The cathedral is built in the Moscow Baroque style. It is airy, light, with five-tier lighting. An unusual architectural solution makes it unique. The temple is a "octagon on the four", which is crowned with a five-headed one, which includes four additional chapters located on the sides of the world, and one central.

The main chapel was consecrated in 1709, on April 16. Soviet power Holy Trinity Cathedral, like many others, closed. Divine services were not performed here since 1932, the buildings were gradually destroyed. Everything returned to normal in 1998. It was in this year that the first divine service was held here again. No other temples of Verkhoturye perform sacraments of weddings and baptisms, since they are all monastic, and here they are held. There are also especially revered shrines in the cathedral: the icon "The Inexhaustible Chalice", the images of the Most Holy Theotokos of Kazan (18th century) and the Resurrection of Christ (Nevyansk letter). The temple is recognized by UNESCO as one of the most outstanding architectural monuments of the world.

St. Nicholas Monastery

In Verkhoturye, the sights of which we describe, is the largest in the Middle Urals Orthodox monastery - St. Nicholas. It was founded in 1604 by the hieromonks of Poshekhonya. However, the monastery is known only after 100 years. On September 12, 1704, the relics of St. Simeon were transferred here from Merkushino. After that, the territory of the monastery was surrounded by stone walls, and also built beautiful temples of stone.

The St. Nicholas Cathedral in Verkhoturye was closed with the arrival of the Communists. Here was placed a children's colony. The relics of Simeon Verkhotursky were sent to the museum, and only in the 90s of the XX century they were returned to Orthodox Christians. Today they are in the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Monastery.

Unfortunately, the Church of St. Nicholas, the main one in the monastery, has not survived until today, but now there are 3 other churches in its territory: the Holy Cross Cathedral, the Simeon-Anninskaya and the Transfiguration Gate churches.

Holy Cross Cathedral

Verkhoturye is rightfully famous throughout Russia. Here is the third largest church in the country - it can accommodate about 4 thousand people. He concedes only to St. Isaac's Cathedral of St. Petersburg and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which is in Moscow. Its foundation dates back to 1905-1913. The opening of the cathedral was timed to the 300th anniversary of the Romanovs' house. Waited in this period in Verkhoturye and Nicholas II, but he could not come.

The cathedral is built in the Russian-Byzantine style. Its main temple was consecrated in 1913, on September 11, the left side-chapel on May 27 of the following year, and the right chapel on September 10 of the 16th year of the 20th century. The unique earthenware iconostases (three) that were in the church were destroyed during the Soviet era, and were restored by the end of the 20th century - in 1998.

Simeono-Anninskaya Gate Church

The temple was erected by 1856 in the Asian style. Originally it was a two-story building with bevelled corners and a through passage in the form of an arch. The light quadrilateral also had bevelled corners, and above it was an onion glaucosa. Supplemented with decorative decoration of the form, close to the architecture of classicism, and inside the church was decorated with a two-tier iconostasis. Divine services were held here quite rarely, because a small room could accommodate quite a few parishioners. The same fact and served as the reason that in 1904 the church was abolished, and construction began to be used as a sacristy.

As already mentioned, the restoration of temples in Verkhoturye was started in the 90s of the 20th century. A photo of their modern appearance shows their greatness and unearthly beauty. Simeon-Anninsky Church was one of the first in the line of buildings to be restored. Already on October 18, it was renewed, it was consecrated. Initially, divine services were held regularly, but later, when other churches were restored, more, the liturgy was performed only on Mondays.

Church of the Transfiguration

Between the Orthodox Museum and the Holy Cross Cathedral is the Transfiguration Church. The day when it was laid, - August 28, 1821. Completely construction work was completed only in 1829, although it was planned that they will take no more than four years. The following decades, the church was improved.

Since 1868, the body of the Archbishop of Verkhoturye and Perm, the Most Reverend Neophyte, is here. The following year, a grate and a plaque with information about the date of his death were arranged over his grave. The ecclesiastical icons of the archbishop are inserted in a small kiot, located in the wall deepening, in 1877.

Under Communists, the church served as a gym for the colony's employees. Temples of Verkhoturye were restored from 1990 year. Works in the main side-chapel of the Transfiguration Church ended in 1992. August 8, he was consecrated. The relics of the righteous Simeon were moved here on September 25. The refectory part of the church was finished painting in 1994, and in 4 years the belfry was rebuilt. The relics of Simeon Verkhotury in 2006 were transferred to the Holy Cross Cathedral.

Pokrovsky Monastery

Pokrovsky Women's Monastery (Verkhoturye) was founded in 1621. It is the oldest abode for women in the Trans-Urals. It is located below the St. Nicholas Monastery in the course of the Tours. Initially, it was well provided for - was built, expanded due to support from the state treasury. On the territory of the monastery in the 17-18 centuries, eight churches were built. Buildings made of wood were damaged more than once by fires, until in the middle of the 18th century they were rebuilt from stone.

In 64 years of the 18th century the monastery was abolished, and it was rebuilt after more than 100 years. In Soviet times, there was an orphanage on its territory. The Intercession Church, now in force, was converted into a bathhouse in the year 25. It was again consecrated in 1996. Here are the relics of Blessed Cosmas.

The main shrine of the monastery is the icon "Tenderness". This list is from the miraculous Serafimo-Diveevskaya icon. The image of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, which is on the wall of the Intercession Church, was painted many times during the reign of the Communists, but each time it appeared again.

Local History Museum

Interesting history has Verkhoturye. The sights of the city are not only temples and monasteries, but also the Museum of Local Lore. In 1913 a wooden house for honorary guests was erected near the Kalachik pond. As already mentioned, during this period Nicholas II was expected to arrive. For him and his family, and built a tower. What is noteworthy, not a single nail was used for its construction.

Unfortunately, the building was badly damaged in the fire in 2010. The museum exhibits were moved to the storage for a while.

Conclusion

Come to the stunningly beautiful city - Verhoture. The sights described in the article are not all that he can surprise and please the guests. At the Aktay zaimke there is a life-giving source. The water from it is considered truly miraculous. You can make a bath here at any time.