In the Moscow district of Zyuzino, in the southwest of the capital, there is a small but remarkable Church of Boris and Gleb. It is located on a quiet street, but many people know about it and often come here. This temple has a very long and interesting history. Today the church has many problems, but, despite all the difficulties, the clergy works hard and continues the work begun several centuries ago, when the first stone of the new sanctuary was laid.
History of creation
Construction of the Church of Saints Boris and Gleb in Zyuzino began at the end of the 17th century - the first works date back to 1688. Construction lasted almost 20 years and was completed in 1704. Initially, of course, it was not an area of a large modern metropolis, but a small village that belonged to the noble princely family of the Prozorovskys. These princes are descendants of the Yaroslavl Rurikovichs, the first princes of Rus'.
Boris Ivanovich Perekopsky decided to erect a stone temple on the site of a previous wooden building.
The lower temple was built very quickly - within the first year. It was named in honor of the blessed Prince Vladimir. The upper temple in Zyuzino of Boris and Gleb was intended for warm summer services and was built in the second stage.
At the end of the 19th century, a small bell tower with a spire was added to the temple, but due to many years of disuse, it collapsed in the middle of the 20th century without surviving historical vicissitudes.
After closing in 1938, no services were held in the temple for more than 50 years, and the building was given over to secular institutions.
At the moment, in the Sunday school building there is a permanent photo exhibition dedicated to the history and modern life of the temple. Interesting angles of the church and its interior decoration are presented.
Holy places Novokosino and Degunino
In addition to Zyuzino, there are several more churches in Moscow built in honor of the pious princes Boris and Gleb.
One of them is a small church in the Novokosino area. The Church of Boris and Gleb in Novokosino was erected relatively recently - in 2013. It is a single-domed wooden building with a cruciform facade. It is decorated with a beautiful porch and an octagon with a tent rising above it.
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The Church of Boris and Gleb in Novokosino is located at the following address: Moscow, Novokosino district, Saltykovskaya street (opposite house number 39).
The Orthodox Boris and Gleb Church in the Moscow district of Degunino attracts with its beautiful facade. It was built in the Russian eclectic style. The exact date of its construction is unknown. The first mention of it dates back to 1585. Among the main shrines of the Boris and Gleb Church is the altar of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Myra of Lycia and the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow.”
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On the territory of the temple there is a Sunday school, a charity group, a library, regular circles of icon painting, arts and crafts, church choral singing and ancient Greek. Both children and adults can attend clubs.
The Sunday school accepts children aged 7 to 12 years. Classes are held in a lively and creative manner, aimed at developing the child’s spirituality. Thanks to this learning format, children enjoy attending school. Duration of classes is from 20 to 60 minutes.
The sacrament of Baptism and weddings are held in the temple. Confession takes place daily at 08:00, and the Liturgy begins at 09:00. Every Sunday at 16:00 in the Boris and Gleb Church, an akathist is read before the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” as well as akathists to St. Nicholas of Myra in Lycia and the pious princes Boris and Gleb.
Important! Boris and Gleb Church is located at the following address: Moscow, Degunino district, Deguninskaya street, 18a. You can get to it by metro (to the Petrovsko-Razumovskaya station), by buses No. 191, 194 or No. 672 (to the stop Institute of Eye Microsurgery).
Architecture
The temple was built in the Moscow Baroque style and in appearance is very similar to the temple in Trinity-Lykovo, which, according to some sources, was created by the architect Ya. Bukhvostov. Experts say that the Church of Saints Boris and Gleb may also be his work.
The external decoration of the church is more modest than that of other contemporaries. But the lack of some decorative details is compensated by two rich and ornate staircases that lead to the upper temple.
The upper temple immediately creates an upward tendency, while the lower one is much lower and more crowded.
Passion-bearers Boris and Gleb
Siblings Boris and Gleb were the sons of Prince Vladimir. The example of the father, who from an unbridled pagan turned into a meek servant of Christ, was reflected in the character of the brothers. They grew up God-fearing and obedient. Having matured, Boris and Gleb were sent by Prince Vladimir to reign in Rostov and Murom.
Read about Saint Prince Vladimir:
- Prayers to Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir
- Relics of Prince Vladimir
- Akathist to Saint Prince Vladimir
Being at an advanced age, the prince received news that the Pechenegs were approaching Rus'. Vladimir instructed his son Boris to repel the enemy. While Saint Boris was on a campaign, his father departed to the Lord. The throne in Kyiv was taken by the elder brother Svyatopolk, who took over and planned to destroy his brothers. The murder took place in 1015.
Blessed Princes Boris and Gleb
Boris and Gleb became the first Russian saints . They were canonized as martyrs-passion-bearers, making them intercessors of the Russian land and heavenly helpers of the Russian princes.
USSR period
The temple in Zyuzino of Boris and Gleb survived the era of Soviet atheism with not the greatest losses. It was officially closed in 1938. Unfortunately, after closing, the temple was robbed - the carved iconostasis, preserved from the day the church was founded, was chopped up for firewood.
For a long time, the temple in Zyuzino of Boris and Gleb was empty. 20 years later, when the bell tower began to collapse and the building became very dilapidated, its restoration began, after which a diamond processing workshop was created in its premises. Gem cutters worked in the building for almost 20 years.
Another 20 years later, in the late 70s, a new restoration began. Now it was decided to place an archive of documents from the Ministry of Tool and Machine Tool Industry of the Soviet Union here, but it existed here for a relatively short time. In the late 80s, the territory of the USSR began to allow the professing of religious beliefs, and many churches and temples began to function according to their intended purpose again. The temple in Zyuzino of Boris and Gleb was consecrated again in 1989. As during its creation, the lower temple was restored first, and the upper one a little later. It opened its doors to parishioners only in 1990.
Shrines
Every temple and church has revered icons. The Church of Boris and Gleb is no exception - here is the revered Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which was painted by one of the apostles - Luke. The original is in the Tikhvin Monastery. This is one of her many options.
The temple also has an icon “Helper in Childbirth”, to which expectant mothers come asking for a safe birth.
Schedule of services of the Church of Boris Gleb in Zyuzino
Today in the temple there are many holy images, for example:
- here there is an icon of the holy Tikhvin Mother of God, which was painted by the Apostle Luke;
- Also in the church there is the Most Holy Theotokos “Helper in Childbirth” icon; many expectant mothers come to her to ask for a safe birth.
Daily services take place here:
- on weekdays they start at 8:00 am;
- on weekends and holidays at 7:30.
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You can also order prayer services and memorial services.
Getting to the temple is not difficult. It is located on Perekopskaya street 6. First you need to get to the Kakhovskaya or Sevastopolskaya metro station, then take bus number 57 to the Perekopskaya street stop. Also, trolleybus No. 60 goes to it; you need to go to the Odessa Cinema stop. If you have the opportunity, be sure to visit the shrine and feel how your soul will be filled with joy and goodness.
The Lord is always with you!
Social activity
The rector and staff of the temple are active in social activities. 10 years ago, a Sunday school for children and adults opened here.
There is a site on the Internet about the Church of Boris and Gleb in Zyuzino. Prayer service, liturgy, festive events - photographs of these and other events are regularly posted on the portal. Employees promptly answer questions from parishioners and those interested.
Interesting events for children and adults are often held in the temple building: joint reading of fairy tales, master classes on various types of needlework. Collections of things are constantly organized to help the poor and needy. Sunday school teachers often conduct extracurricular meetings and lessons with students from general education institutions in the Zyuzino area.
The parish missionary service often organizes interesting walks and excursions around Moscow, which everyone can join. Active charitable activities are carried out.
The clergy also helps people in difficult life situations. Employees visit prisoners in pre-trial detention centers, patients at a drug treatment hospital, and also conduct conversations with students at a children's boarding school.
Events, clubs and classes
There is a Sunday school on the territory of the church, which enrolls children aged 7 to 15 years. Not only children, but also adults can study here. The curriculum includes studying:
- lives of saints;
- God's Law;
- fundamentals of Christian morality;
- Holy Scripture;
- Church Slavonic language;
- Orthodox culture;
- Catechism and much more.
Sunday school classes are designed to develop spirituality in a person, which is important for a true Christian. They help not only to learn, but also to understand the teachings of Jesus Christ. In addition, with the help of these classes, a person can apply the acquired knowledge to build his future happy and pious life.
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The temple also regularly holds classes in icon painting, painting, quilling, ceramics making and piano playing.
As a rule, they take place on Fridays and Sundays in the afternoon and evening. The schedule of evening school classes and clubs can be found on the official website of the temple.
The Orthodox Church in Zyuzino regularly organizes pilgrimage trips to holy places in Russia for its parishioners and Christian believers.
For example, from it you can go to St. Petersburg, the Sretensky Monastery, to the shrines of the Yaroslavl and Kozel lands, to the St. Andrew's Monastery, etc. You can find out the travel schedule and sign up for a pilgrimage group directly from the church ministers. All pilgrimage trips are paid.
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In the church you can undergo baptism and wedding rites. The holding of these sacraments should be agreed upon with the clergyman in advance.
Helpful information:
- Address: Moscow, Zyuzino district, Perekopskaya street, 7.
- Contact phone number.
- The distance to the nearest bus stop is 500 m.
- How to get there: to the Sevastopolskaya or Kakhovskaya metro stations, by bus route No. 826, trolleybus routes No. 60 or No. 72 to the Molodezhny Tsentr stop.
Note! The territory of the Church of St. Boris and Gleb is well equipped for the movement of people with disabilities. There are special parking spaces for disabled people and a hard road surface without steps. There are no stairs or thresholds on the first floor.
