Top 10. The oldest churches in Moscow and the Moscow region

Moscow is a city with a thousand-year history (founded in 1147). A lot of ancient buildings and architectural monuments have been preserved here, in particular churches and temples – an uncountable number. It is for this reason that Moscow is called “golden-domed”. Wherever you are in the city, you will always see the domes of churches.

The capital of Russia has long attracted the attention of pilgrims from all over the world. Here are the most famous shrines and small churches – a variety of religious sites will amaze even seasoned tourists. In this article we will tell you about the oldest churches in Moscow and the Moscow region. They are worth seeing even for those people who do not consider themselves believers, because, first of all, this is the history of our country.

10 Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God in Blachernae, 1486

The church was built in memory of the saving miracle. The Tatar army besieged the city. The inhabitants had no choice but to pray. The next morning the Tatars left, leaving all the stolen goods. True, the first wooden church burned down, and this one was built in its place.

The church for a long time was a brownie (located in an institution or a private house) for metropolitans, later for patriarchs. In 1635 it was handed over to the sovereign. At the same time, a passage was built that connected the church with the chambers of the queen.

At the moment it is one of the most beautiful buildings in Moscow. This is the smallest church in the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin. Now services are not held in it. In 1965, she received the status of a museum exhibit.

9. Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God, 1479

One of the most important cathedrals in Russian history. It was built by order of the Moscow Prince Ivan III. Significant events took place here: weddings to the kingdom, the coronation of emperors, the announcement of state acts, prayers before military campaigns.

Assumption Cathedral had a leading position. The heads of state made sure that its decoration corresponded to the status. Only the most outstanding artists from all over the country could paint walls and paint icons. The interior of the cathedral is a unique collection of monuments of Russian medieval art. In 1917 the cathedral became a museum. Since 1990, divine services have been resumed here.

8. Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, 1422

The main cathedral church, the oldest of all the buildings of the Trinity Monastery. It was built in honor of Sergius of Radonezh. His relics are kept there. There are always many who want to venerate the shrine.

Trinity Cathedral is an outstanding architectural monument. Andrey Rublev was in charge of interior decoration. Unfortunately, the ancient painting has not been preserved. Everything you see there is iconography, in other words, an exact copy.

The cathedral is functioning, divine services and prayer services are regularly performed here, the brethren of the monastery are tonsured.

7. Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin in the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, 1405

The initiator of the construction of the monastery was Prince Yuri Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod, founded by the monk Savva. The Cathedral of the Nativity is the first stone building of the ensemble, one of the few surviving examples of Moscow architecture of the early 1913th century. The four-pillar one-domed cathedral church is built of white brick, its feature is a minimum of decor, modesty and austerity. The interior decoration is the result of a radical reconstruction, which was carried out in the XNUMXth century. There is information that the masters of the circle of Andrei Rublev were originally engaged in the design of the cathedral. In XNUMX, restorers discovered the remains of frescoes dating back to the XNUMXth century.

As noted above, the cathedral is located on the territory of the monastery, acting.

6. Church of the Assumption in Zvenigorod, 1399

The history of this temple echoes the history of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. It was built by order of Prince Yuri Dmitrievich in honor of a successful campaign against the Volga Bulgars. Style – the early Moscow school of Russian architecture. It was also painted by Andrei Rublev and Danila Chernykh, but only a small part of the frescoes has survived to this day. White stone church – it seems that there are hundreds of such in Russia, but no. It managed to be preserved almost in its original form, and this is the most ancient temple of Zvenigorod. Operating, it was not closed even in Soviet times.

5. Spassky Cathedral of the Andronikov Monastery 1399 – 1427

Little is known about this cathedral. The monastery was founded by Metropolitan Alexy. Two construction attempts were made, but the cathedrals suffered a sad fate. The first burned down, there is no data on the second building at all. The Third Cathedral of the Savior was built in 1399.

The first mention of it dates back to 1763. In the 50s of the 1933th century, the cathedral underwent significant changes – an unsuccessful reconstruction. For a long time no one was interested in the temple. It was considered a late construction, but in 60 a study was carried out that showed the true age of the structure. In the XNUMXs of the twentieth century, the temple was returned to its original appearance, all layers were removed, and the upper forms were restored “on a whim”.

The temple is active.

4. Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin (first floor), 1390s

The Annunciation Cathedral is located in the historical center of the capital. It was built by order of Vladimir Prince Andrei Alexandrovich. At first it was a small single-domed house church of the princely family. At the beginning of the 60th century, the building was replaced with a new, more spacious one. Over the course of two centuries, the cathedral was supplemented with buildings. It acquired its modern look in the XNUMXs of the XNUMXth century.

A distinctive feature of the temple is a high iconostasis, the oldest in Russia.

The cathedral is available for inspection, divine services are performed here, but only on special occasions or on patronal holidays.

3. Church of the Nativity of the Virgin “in the hallway”, 1394

The temple is located in the Moscow Kremlin. It was built by order of Princess Evdokia (widow of Dmitry Donskoy). There is an assumption that it was laid in honor of the Battle of Kulikovo. The temple was not completely preserved, the upper half was damaged in a fire. The building was rebuilt many times and you can see what it was like before only on the old drawing. Now it is a single-domed white-stone church.

The temple does not work, it is not possible to get there. Access to it is closed, there are no museum expositions.

2. Church of the Conception of John the Baptist in Kolomna, 1320s

The church is called the pearl of ancient Russian architecture. It is located in the central part of the village Gorodishche. At the moment it is included in the city limits of Kolomna. Only a part of the church has survived to this day. As a result of numerous studies, it was found that the temple was rebuilt in the 1780th century. Great changes in the external and internal appearance of the church took place in 1965. In XNUMX, the church was restored again, this time trying to restore its original appearance. True, he is only “an alleged XVI century.” An outstanding shrine is the icon of John the Baptist, the Angel of the Desert. It is stored not in the church, but in the Tretyakov Gallery.

The temple operates, services are held on its territory and a Sunday school is open.

1. St. Nicholas Church in the village of Kamenskoye, 1300s

A small single-domed temple made of white stone is located on the banks of the Nara River. It is assumed that the initiator of the construction was the Prince of Moscow Ivan Kalita himself.

The first mention of the church dates back to 1612. In the sentinel book, they wrote that it had long since turned into ruins, and there was no one to serve there. In 1649 it was restored.

St. Nicholas Church has witnessed many battles. She miraculously survived. In Soviet times, it was restored. It received the status of a museum exhibit, but there were no visitors there, the church was closed.

Another restoration in the 2000s. The church had a vestibule, it was consecrated. Now the temple is functioning, everyone can visit it and pray.