Всероссийский конкурс исследовательских работ учащихся

“ЮНОСТЬ, НАУКА, КУЛЬТУРА”

Направление: лингвистика (английский язык)

Тема: «История создания Храма Рождества Христова в посёлке Анна Воронежской области»

Капырина Александра

МКОУ «Аннинская СОШ с углублённым изучением отдельных предметов», Воронежская область9 класс

Научный руководитель:Кузнецова М.В., учитель английского языка

г. Обнинск, 2013/2014 учебный год

Content

1. Introduction p 2

2. The building of the Church in Anna p 3

3. Consecration of the Church p 4

4. Closing of the Temple p 5

5. The Temple of Nativity in the years of the Second World War p 6-7

6. The Temple in Khrushchev's period of leading p 8-9

7. Revival of the Church life p 10-12

8. Conclusion p 13

9. Bibliography p 14

10. Appendix p 15

1. Introduction

The history of the Russian Orthodox Church is studied quite well. But the history of individual

churches and parishes is studied much less. Therefore, studying of the past of the church in my

native place seems to me quite interesting and necessary. The history of the church in Anna is

the history of the whole small Motherland.

The purpose of the research: to research the history of the Church of Nativity since the first

historical events till nowadays.

The topicality of the research: The theme of my research is interesting and actual for me

because I live in a period of rebirth of orthodox values not only in Russia but in my native

village Anna. I’m sure it’s is impossible to bring up a real patriot of Russia without knowledge

of historical facts in our native places. Many contemporaries are worried by revival of modern

values. Without doubt the problem of keeping traditional Russian shrines, bringing up of modern

generation in the best Russian traditions is the main goal for Russian nationhood. As for me, I

am keen on learning English language. I’m trying to improve it as much as possible. I’d like to

introduce my research in English.

The main tasks are: 1) to use and learn the documentary literary sources;

2) to collect and classify the material on the topic;

3) to learn archival documents of the Church of Nativity

4) to meet and interview orthodox priests of the Church of Nativity;

The object of the research: historical documents connected with the history of foundation of

the Church in Anna.

Hypothesis: Let’s assume that historical events and government policy influenced both the birth

and closing of the church and also its revival.

2. The building of the Church in Anna

The prince Baryatenskiy instructed to build an Orthodox Church on the territory of Anna. The

famous architect of Voronezh Stanislav Myslovskiy created the plan of building of the Church in

the village Anna Bobrov uezd. The project of building was approved by the Prince Vladimir

Baryatinskiy in March 1892. On the 14 August 1982 the bishop of Voronezh and Zadonsk

Anastasiy blessed the building of the construction. At once people began to prepare building

materials in the estate. In June 1894 the first Temple was laid. It was made in honor of

Baryatinskiy’s silver wedding jubilee. It was decided to build the new temple to the north of the

old temple. Worship took place in the old building. The foundation stone was blessed by the

archpriest Vasiliy Vyshnevskiy. In five years the temple was ready for blessing. Contemporaries

were impressed by such unusual beautiful construction for the countryside. People were admired

by architecture and the size of the temple. Baryatinskiy’s financial opportunities gave a chance

for the architect not to limit his creative skills. The architect was very talented, well- educated

and had great experience. On 10 May 1899 the temple was passed the comission headed by the

engineer A. Kuprinskiy and the local priest Dmitriy Nikonov. The church has been built in

Byzantine style. It is built in the shape of a cross and crowned by 13 domes. On the west side

there is a four-tiered bell tower, the height of which, together with a cross is 43 meters, the

length of the temple with a bell tower is 43 meters, the width is 28. The temple has three pristols: The Chief is in the honor of the Nativity of Christ and two, northern and southern, in

honor of St. Vladimir and the holy matyr Nadezhda. Iconostasises were done in St. Petersburg in

the workshop of the trading house of Slonov and Vitaliev. Iconostasises hasn’t been kept. They

were destroyed in the 30s of the 20th century. In the Temple heating was arranged. It was a rarity

in those days, even in large cities. In the basement of the temple ovens were stacked, from which

the warm air took place in winter and cool in summer. They created heating and ventilation.

The Total construction costs 150 thousand rubles. Solonov’s and Vitaliev’s House set for the

Temple different accessories worth over 24 thousand rubles. Our ancestors describe their

memories about delivering of the big bell to the temple. Its weight was nearly five tons. Special

roads were built for such occasion. Peasants were driving the bell from the station to the temple

on their shoulders. 1[1. с.8]

3. Consecration of the Church1 Жемчужина Воронежского края, Протоирей Леонид Патрахин - Анна 2012

The Baryatinskiys have got a postcard from the empress Maria Fedorovna on the day of the

consecration of the church. Senior people arrived at Anna for such important event. They were

Pavel Aleksandrovich Sleptsov, the head of Gubernia, Vasiliy Aleksandrovich Vvedenskiy,

managing the south-west railway and others. Consecration was taken place on 1-2 June 1899.

Worshipers have started to come to the temple from Anna and different surrounding villages

since early morning. People were allowed to enter into the temple according to special tickets. It

was organized for keeping order and protection. The bishop Anastasiy has being waited by

everybody. It was 7 a.m. when people could hear the sounds of the bell, which gave a sign that

the train came to Anna. In ten minutes all bells began to sound. They informed gathered public

about coming of the bishop. Anastasiy bowed the Holy Cross and came into the church. The

crowed followed after him and solemn service started in the new temple. The church service

took place in honor of the new temple and Nativity of Christ. There were a lot of splendid lamps

and candles. Luxury clothes of priesthood were shining because of much light. Choristers were

dressed in a special uniform. The conductor of the choir was Polyakov. 2 He was invited from St.

Petersburg. This outstanding event was over at 11 p.m. After that anointing with oil began. A

plenty of people gathered in the church. This ceremony finished at night, nearly at 12 p.m. Not

everyone could take part in this ritual. On 1 June the last liturgy was held in the old church.

Consecration of water was in the new temple at 8 a.m. and at 8.30. a.m. the big bell began to

sound. At 9 a.m. the Overlord arrived, who was met with “great glory” At the end of the

vestments, the Bishop Anastasius wore a silk srachitsu at the top of sakkos. Everything it was

unusually, especially for the common people, and all eyes looked at the Archbishop.

Consecration was made with full reverence and due solemnity. 3 [1. с. 23]

.

2 http://www.vob-eparhia.ru3 Жемчужина Воронежского края, Протоирей Леонид Патрахин - Анна 2012

4. Closing of the Temple

At the end of 1917 soldiers began to come back from the fronts in the villages. The first Sovety

of Peasants’ Deputies were formed. In 1930 local authorities prohibited worship in the local

temple. The destroyed a belfry and domes. Grain was kept inside of the Church of Nativity. All

the icons and utensils were taken to the util. Utile was called a barn of waste and things unfit for

consumption. Clothes and expensive icons were packed into bales and sent to Voronezh. Then

they threw the bell and began to dismantle the bell tower. People say that a senior person was

driving passed Anna. He was disgusted by communists’ activities. He couldn’t understand who

ordered to break monuments of architecture. He ordered to stop work. Corrupted and ravaged

church had stood before 1942. The fact that the temple was converted into a granary, has

played in its life a positive role: It has been survived much better than other churches

which were turned into shops and auto repair shops, or in1960s salt and chemical

fertilizers were kept in them. They corrode bricks. 4 [1. с. 43]

5. The Temple of Nativity in the years of the Second World War

4 Жемчужина Воронежского края, Протоирей Леонид Патрахин - Анна 2012

The Day of June 22, 1941 was sunny and warm and it began from usual peaceful affairs like in

many places of our huge country. The news about war people has got working in the fields and

being on haymaking. In a month or two only women, small children and old people were in

villages. All adults and young girls and boys went to struggle with the enemy. At the end of June

1942, German troops began to attack Voronezh. At the beginning of July they captured almost

the right bank. The Front was 100 kilometers from Anna. People remember that evacuated

people of Voronezh were walking through Anna with herds of the cattle from the west to the

east. On July 7 Voronezh Front was formed and the army headquarters was settled in Anna. In

this difficult time believing citizens of Anna addressed in the front headquarters with permission

to worship in the temple. The Temple was opened, cleaned floors were washed and surviving

icons were brought. Believers in God prayed for their alive and dead relatives and friends. It

seemed that church life was lost, but it was resumed with even greater force. Mobilization to the

front was going on. “Everything for the Front. Everything for the Victory!”- the slogan said.

Women and children worked hard, practically without having a rest. Conditions of work were

terrible. People were hungry and tired. But nobody thought about themselves. Everybody dreamt

about the quickest victory over Nazi Germany. Citizens of Anna gathered money and things for

our soldiers. In this action not only teachers but pupils took part. Fundraising was also in the

temple of Christ. In the report for the 1st half of 1994 the following information was: " Clergy

and church parishioners collected 10550 rubles in cash. 373 rubles the Red Army got for gifts,

sick and wounded soldiers got 5830 rubles in hospitals. So, 16733 rubles were given to soldiers

of our army from religious people. After opening of the temple of Christ in 1942, the first service

was committed by protorierey Aleksey Obraztsov. Soon the archbishop Pete Sviridov arrived

who send Aleksey to Nickolskiy Cathedral in Voronezh and appointed him the regional

Reverence. Parish life was revived in Anna. On 1 August 1943 Georgiy Sadovskiy became the

abbot of the church in Anna. Soon the archpriest Nikolay Borisoglebskiy was sent to Anna like

the second priest. Legally Orthodox community was formed in 1944. On 30 May 1944 citizens

of Anna got a stone church building without a tower from the executive committee of the

regional council of workers' deputies for unlimited free use. In October 28, 1944 the Community

of the Church of the Nativity of the village Anna was registered by V.Gostev, the Council for

Russian Orthodox Church in the USSR of Voronezh region. In six months after the patriarch

Sergey’s death the Council elected the Metropolitan Alexey the Patriarch of Moscow and of

Russia. Regulations of the Administration of the Russian Orthodox Church were adopted. These

regulations kept in order parish life. On 18 June 1945 the archpriest Evgeniy Lukin arrived at

Anna. He organized a meeting where "The situation at the Local Council in Moscow, January

31, 1945” was announced. At the meeting in November 1944 it was decided to appoint Sergey

Boldyrev as the churchwarden of the temple. About the situation and conditions in the church

Georgiy Borisoglebskiy reported. He told that economic status of the church needed to be

improved in many ways. During past six months in 1945 the temple was corrected in some

places floors were replaced, gradually windows were glazed. Instead of the church-porch a small

paved platform with steps was built at the entrance. In June people started to make the fence

around the temple. There is a need for a partial correction of the roof of the church, in the

completion of the c utensils and resume painting. On 24 August 1945 Nikolay Bogoyavlenskiy

was appointed the archpriest of the Nativity Church in the village Anna. Contemporaries told

about the archpriest Nikolay Bogoyavlenskiy. They say that in 1930s he worked in Anna. He and

his wife were condemned according to the Article 58 when communists started to keep down the

clergy. His wife was suggested to recant from her husband but she didn’t do it. Nikolay was

sentenced to ten years of prison and his wife got 8 years. Citizens from Anna loved Nikolay and

his family. After their arrest the parish took their children to bring up. On 8 June 1947 after

Nikolay’s death the archpriest Peter Tkachenko was appointed in the local Nativity Church.

Peter Tkachenko reported that there was much work done by the clergy of Anna. The roof of the

temple is repaired. Interior view of the temple has a decent form, walls are whitewashed,

evangelists are written on the main dome. Above the iconostasis the holy Nativity is painted.

Though, the iconostasis, brought from the nearest village. was very bad. Restoration and

improvement of the temple continued. In 1948 the altar cross was built and two bells. People of

Anna were preparing for the golden jubilee of their temple. Solemn celebrating was appointed in

May 29, 1949 , on Sunday of the blind. The Bishop of Voronezh and Ostrogozhsky Iosif warmly

congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the fiftieth anniversary of the consecration of the

temple. Despite the fact that regular worship took place , it has been used as a granary by the

village council for many years. In those years, the temple didn’t have the premises, all housed

were under the bell tower, where now the is library, there was a large Russian stove, communion

bread was baked there. Later a small house for the clergy was built on the territory of the church.

After that apartments for christening and refectory were done. But the 1960s were approaching,

the years of Khrushchev's persecution. True relations of the Church with the godless state Nikita

Khrushchev has stopped. 5 [1. с. 47]

6. The Temple in Khrushchev's period of leading

5 Жемчужина Воронежского края, Протоирей Леонид Патрахин - Анна 2012

It was a very difficult period for Russian Church when Khrushchev managed our state. In 1970

his goal was to show “the last pope” on TV. On 18 July 1961 at the Council of Bishops the entire

tenor of the church life was destroyed under pressing of the state. In 50-60s Russian Church was

under the hardest pressure of our government. It demanded from the church to change many

religious regulations including those parts of the documents which are connected with

organization of the parish management. Voronezh region wasn’t an exception. Meetings were

held where some types of statutes were changed and new regulations were adopted. According to

the new regulation a priest will not interfere in economic affairs of the parish, also he is

forbidden to speak, to address to people at meetings, to attend them and generally to give any

pastoral advice to members of the executive body. Before a priest had the right to be a chairman

of the meeting. But in Khrushchev’s times he became a free citizen of the country participating

in elections of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. He was deprived of electoral rights in parish

life. A priest could perform a religious service if an executive authority allowed to conclude a

labor agreement. By the way, this labor agreement could be concluded for a year. That days a

warden was the "main man" in a parish. In the country a systematic persecution of the faith and

the Church began. Churches, monasteries, seminaries were closed. Church bells were prohibited

. Children and youth were forbidden to participate in the sacraments and visit temples. Priests

were prohibited to do religious rites at home. Even prostration and Holy Communion were

strictly banned. Also Russian Church experienced an economic oppression. The state imposed

huge taxes on the Church. In1960 the Archpriest Eugeniy Tolochkov refered to the Metropolitan

Iosif with a request. He wrote about the life level of the priest Aleksandr Demchuk from Anna.

The priest has done a lot of useful things for the Church, but he lived very poor. He was ill. His

food was scarce. Iosif asked to give 1500 rubles to the priest. Though according to the law

Aleksandr Demchuk had the right to get this amount of money every month. In 1960 three

abbots were changed.The Clergy was infringed upon the rights of, and financially. They were

transferred from one place to another. Churches have not been repaired, church utensils haven’t

been updated. Income has been transferred to the Fund of Peace. Sometimes temples were

repaired secretly if a village headmen was a religious person. Authorities demanded the

reduction or even dismissal of regular singers. Yakov Demchuk was working as a regent of the

right choir during six years. He was a very talented person. Moreover, he had a great experience.

People respected an appreciated him. Unfortunately such priests weren’t respected by irreligious

power. In 1960 local authorities announced that they weren’t satisfied by the church choir and

demanded to disband singers. Thus, the temple of Anna has lost the choir and the right to sing on

Easter holidays. Yakov Demchuk transferred to the village Usman. Later he worked in Elets. All

citizens who baptized children were recorded by a check men. They had to write down not only a

personal information of parents baptized children, but also their Godmothers and God fathers. So

the party workers had a chance to find baptized people and use strict administrative methods for

them. These people were expelled from the party or fired from the job. In those years parents

baptized their children could lose different benefits, career and premiums. If an authorized found

out a priest who baptized children without special permission, he had to leave the parish. Such

priests weren’t allowed to get a registration in the other parish. No matter what, people from

Anna baptized their children secretly. As a rule, they went to the village Malye Yasyrki. There

was a small church which was situated near the forest and the village belonged to the other

district. 6

7. Revival of the Church life

6 http://rustemple.narod.ru/vrn_anna.html

In 80-s of XX century our country is preparing for the great jubilee the thousandth anniversary of

Christening of Russia. In 1985 a new political course was chosen by the USSR. This course was

called “perestroika”. During that period the soviet government reviewed a policy towards

Russian Christian Church. Persecution of the church have been stopped. All types of mass media

inform population of the country about an outstanding event in the life of all Christians,

Christening of Russia. People became free in choosing of their belief in God. They can frankly

speak about it. They can go to churches and temples without any fear. Citizens have got an

opportunity to christen their children and have wedding ceremony in a church without any

secrecy. Also positive changes began in Anna region. Local authorities reported on innovations,

connected with the process of democracy. Some of them touched upon religious life of the

district. The number of religious people was rising. It’s necessary to notice that not only old

people went to the temple of Nativity but also the youth did it. A lot of people could be seen in

the local church not only on holidays and at weekends. They came there every day to pray during

the morning and the evening prayer. People began to go to a church library to take books for

reading. Many of them have rich home libraries which contain religious literature. Some people

used to fast. Spiritual and moral education became very important and popular among young

people. Different meetings with priests of the temple were organized at schools of the district.

For example, the spiritual father Vyacheslav Minenkov meeting with pupils told about

Christening of Russia in 1988 by the prince Vladimir, about the importance of this rite for the

population. In the anniversary year a new Statute of the Russian Orthodox churches was adopted

which restored the rights of priests. In towns and villages temples were opened and restored.

Residents of Anna dreamt about restoring of the belfry. Old documents of the building of the

temple weren’t found. Decision was to make a new project. However, at the last moment a

woman fount an old photo where the belfry was. Thanks to the photo the construction looked

like the previous one. In rebuilding of the belfry residents of the village took part. Besides,

acquisition of the belfry was a happy event for people of Anna district. In March 12, 1995 at the

temple of Nativity the Sunday school for children was opened, where they were able to learn the

Word of God, to get acquainted with the Orthodox spiritual values, to learn the history of the

Church, to participate in worship. There was a library of the orthodox literature opened.

Parishioners-children and adults-use its services and get the necessary books, information and

help. Here we can watch a movie, listen to spiritual music, to take CDs at home to watch and to

listen them in the family. Residents of Anna were ready to celebrate the hundredth anniversary

of its consecration. In 1996-1998 the church building was renovated, arches and walls of the

temple were decorated with paintings, church utensils were updated. At the entrance of the

temple new granite steps were laid. Everything was done due to efforts of the parish council,

district leaderships and parishioners. Its anniversary the temple has met updated. Celebrating of

the 100th anniversary of the temple was solemnly and publicly. In conclusion of the Liturgy, a

procession and a thanksgiving service was held on the square in front of the temple. The

Metropolitan Methodios handed the Archpriest Leonid Patrakhin the Order of St. Sergius of the

III degree. Also Methodios presented a icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The district

administration has given a great new bell. To Leonid Patrakhin’s request bags in ancient

traditions with the image of the Nativity and the domes of the temple were made. It became a

tradition to celebrate the Patronal Feast in Anna. It’s Christmas. The temple is decorated with fir

and pine branches. On Christmas Eve on the main square of our small town a den, covered with

pine branches is arranged. There is the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, the elder Joseph, the

shepherds in the consecrated cave. At Christmas night the festive divine service takes place in

the temple. It continues at noon January 7 in the Central House of the Culture. For this day,

students of Sunday school ,the Art schools and pupils from all schools of the district prepare a

large festive presentation . Sunday school students prepare a play or a story. In the hall there are

a lot of people. They are leaders of plants an farms, small children, adults , the whole families ,

and guests from other parishes . Usually at the end of the feast the Archpriest Leonid Patrakhin

and the head of the district Vasily Avdeev appeal to inhabitants with best wishes. Every year, for

Easter, at Christmas and Victory Day, students of Sunday school prepare concerts and gifts for

older people who live in the in the home for the elderly which is in the village Old Toyda. One of

the holiest sites of the temple is an icon of r of God’s Mother. On 12 July residents of Anna

celebrate the day of birth of Anna. In these days it has become a tradition when the Metropolitan

of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk Sergiy makes Divine Liturgy. On 12 July 2009 people celebrated

the 110 anniversary of the temple. It was also one of the remarkable days in the life of the

district. On 6 May 2010 the district administration made the decision to replace the old

iconostasis into new one. Funds for the new iconostasis were contributed by the local

administration, managers, businessmen, farmers, population. In February 2011 all details for the

iconostasis were brought and painstaking work started. On 23 February 2011 the work was over.

New icons painted by Alexander Petrovich Hodyakov, took their places on the iconostasis.

Porcelain, bright and festive, iconostasis beautifully blended into the interior of the church. The

iconostasis is made in the shape of Byzantine church. Acoustics was recovered in the church.

Simultaneously with the iconostasis two large porcelain kiots were booked. By the end of July

reconstruction of the altar was completed. In July 30, the Metropolitan Sergiy consecrated the

new iconostasis and made Sunday night vigil in the renewed church. The head of Anna district

Vasily Avdeev was awarded by the Order of Daniel of the II degree. Vasiliy Sherbakov and Ivan

Brovkin have got medals of St. Mitrophan of Voronezh. Baryatinsky’s great-granddaughter the

princes Elizabeth Apraksina specially arrived at these celebrations. Residents of Anna love their

wonderful temple and gratefully remember and pray for its founders. The Temple of Nativity and

its parishioners have gone through different historical events of the XX century and with God's

help they overcame all troubles. 7

ВСЁ бывало в нашей жизни,-

Лихолетье, и гоненья, и война.

Церковь оскверняли, закрывали,

Разбирали кирпичи,

Но не было на то Господней воли:

Купола сияли как лучи.

Храм-хранитель мудрости и веры

И святыня Аннинской земли;

Храм сегодня гербом служит

И спасеньем страждущей души. 8 [8. с. 73]

On 27 December 2011 Anna blagochinie was founded. It consists of some districts of Voronezh

region. They are Anna Ertil and Panino districts. The priest Gleb Patrakhin was appointed as the

rural dean of the deanary. Today the parish the temple takes an active part in public life of the

district. It supports good relations with the district and region administration. Furthermore, the

parish cooperates with social service of Anna. Particular attention is paid to the bringing up of

the young generation, and increasing the strength of families.

8. Conclusion7 http://annablago.ru/hram-rozhdestva-hristova-anna

8 Сборник стихов «Мой край родной», А.А.Тимашов – Воронеж, 2010

In conclusion, I’d like to notice that my research was interesting and useful for me. It was very

pleasant for me to work at the collecting of necessary material. During my research I have

learned a lot of information sources. I’ve learned how to work in the church library with

orthodox literature, archival documents. Communication with the Archpriest Leonid and priests

was held informatively and effectively. At first I learned and described the history of building of

the temple in Baryatinskiy’s period. After that I found analyzed some information, connected

with consecration and closing of the Church. Then some important historical periods in the life

of the country and our temple were learned and described by me. As for me I carefully have

selected information about revealing of the church. I found the confirmation of my hypotheses.

On the basis of the collected material I can conclude that historical events and the state policy

influenced both the birth and closing of the temple. Assumption is justified. All information of

my research proves that the temple of Christ is a historical monument indeed, the center of

spiritual culture of the people in the village. We should feel responsible for the lives of our

descendants, to avoid the destruction of holy places of Russia. I came to conclusion that spiritual

revival is necessary for the younger generation to know better the history of our country and my

small Motherland. It allows the youth to feel themselves inheritors of the past and to be

responsible for future.

9. Bibliography

1. «The archive of the parish of Hristorozhdestvensky Church», Kopylin – M, 1985

2. «The century is after the century», Voronezh, 1998

3. «The History of Voronezh diocese from its inception until 1960» the Archbishop Sergiy

Petrov, 2011.

4. «The church service during the last centuries», Prosvestchenie, 1999

6. http://sobory.ru/state/?location=1232

7.  http://www.vob.ru/

8. http://rustemple.narod.ru/vrn_anna.html

9. http :// annablago . ru / hramy - i - duhovenstvo

10. ru. wikipedia .org

Appendix