Temple of Alexy Mechev in Veshnyaki, Moscow. Schedule of services

Schedule of services

June 22/9 – Memorial Day of St. right Alexy Moskovsky (March 30, 1859–June 22, 1923)

After the death of Archpriest Alexy Mechev, which followed on June 9/22, 1923, his honorable remains were buried in the Moscow Lazarevskoye cemetery. But on September 15/28, 1933, since the city authorities decided to abolish this cemetery, the remains of Father Alexy and his relatives were transferred to another Moscow graveyard - “Vvedenskie Gory” (or German Cemetery, as it is more often called). Holy relics of St. right Alexy was found on June 16, 2001 by a special commission headed by Bishop Alexy (Frolov) of Orekhovo-Zuevsky. Until they were transferred to the Maroseya temple, the holy relics were in the Novospassky Monastery. On September 29, 2001, with special solemnity: with the presentation of temple icons and banners of many Moscow churches, with the sound of bells and prayer singing, a festive procession of many thousands, led by a host of clergy in golden vestments, accompanied the honorable relics of the holy righteous Alexy to his native church, where he served God and others for years. The Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki is located at the very beginning of Moscow Maroseyka Street, a few steps from the exit from the Kitay-Gorod metro station (https://www.klenniki.ru/mochi-aleks). The holy relics of Elder Alexy rest in a specially designated room in the lower church; access to them is open during the day. The holy relics reside in a wooden shrine with a short life carved on it. On the hinged lid of the reliquary there is a life-size image of the holy righteous Alexis embroidered in silk and gold.

Holy Righteous Alexy Mechev

• Confession of the inner man leading to humility
• A Brief Rule for Godly Living
• Excerpts from General Instructions
• Letters
• Sermons
• Advice for a Christian girl
• Elderly advice

The holy righteous Alexy Mechev was born in Moscow on March 17, 1859 in the pious family of the regent of the Chudovsky Cathedral Choir, Alexei Ivanovich Mechev. From birth the life of Fr. Alexia is associated with the name of St. Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna. Alexy grew up in a family where there was a living faith in God, love, and a kind-hearted attitude towards people. Alexy Mechev studied at the Zaikonospassky School, then at the Moscow Theological Seminary, after graduating from which he dreamed of going to university and becoming a doctor. But the mother opposed this. It was hard for Alexy to leave his dream, but he did not go against the will of his beloved mother. Subsequently, Alexy Mechev realized that he had found his true calling, and was very grateful to his mother. After graduating from the seminary, Alexy Mechev served as a psalm-reader in the Znamenskaya Church, where he was often treated very rudely, but Alexy endured everything without complaint, did not complain and did not ask to be transferred to another church. Subsequently, he thanked the Lord for allowing him to go through such a school. In 1884, Alexy Mechev married the daughter of a psalm-reader, Anna Petrovna Molchanova, out of great love. On November 18 of the same year, he was ordained a deacon and began to serve in the Church of the Great Martyr George in Lubyansky Proezd, outwardly showing the greatest simplicity, and inwardly experiencing fiery zeal for the Lord.

On March 19, 1893, Deacon Alexy Mechev was ordained by Bishop Nestor, who runs the Moscow Novospassky Monastery, as a priest to one of the smallest churches in Moscow - St. Nicholas on Maroseyka. Despite the fact that Fr. Alexy prepared himself for shepherding in the village, having received a parish in the capital, he completely surrendered himself to the will of God and began to work, putting prayer and spiritual vigilance at the basis of his work. He introduced daily worship in his church, and for 8 years he served in an empty church almost alone. But gradually, mourning people and burdened with sorrows flocked to this temple, and from them the rumor spread about its kind abbot.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Klenniki on Maroseyka was small, and its parish was very small. In the immediate vicinity there were large, well-attended temples. Having become the rector of the single-staff Church of St. Nicholas, Father Alexy introduced daily services in his church, while usually in small Moscow churches they were performed only two or three times a week. The priest came to the temple almost at five o’clock in the morning and unlocked it himself. Reverently venerating the miraculous Theodore Icon of the Mother of God and other images, he, without waiting for anyone from the clergy, prepared everything necessary for the Eucharist and performed proskomedia. When the appointed hour approached, he began Matins, during which he often read and sang; then followed the liturgy. “For eight years I served the liturgy every day in an empty church,” the priest later said. “One archpriest told me: “No matter how much I pass by your church, everyone calls you. I went into the church - it was empty... Nothing will come of it, you’re calling in vain.” But Father Alexy was not embarrassed by this and continued to serve. According to the then-current custom, Muscovites fasted once a year during Great Lent. In the St. Nicholas-Klenniki Church on Maroseyka Street one could confess and receive communion any day. Over time, this became known in Moscow.

In 1902, Fr.'s wife died. Alexia.

Father Alexy Mechev with his family. Father's wife Alexia Anna Petrovna is to his left

O. Alexy was very sad and inconsolable. He locked himself in his room and poured out his soul before the Lord. But one day it happened at Fr. Alexy meeting with the now glorified holy righteous John of Kronstadt. Father John advised: “be with the people, enter into someone else’s grief, take it upon yourself, and then you will see that your misfortune is small, insignificant in comparison with the general grief, and it will become easier for you.” O. Alexy entered the path of eldership. To all those who came to the Maroseya temple, who were looking for help, who were mired in sins, who had forgotten about God, Fr. Alexy greeted with cordial friendliness, love and compassion. The joy and peace of Christ were infused into their souls, hope appeared in the mercy of God, in the possibility of renewal of the soul. The love shown by Father gave everyone the feeling that he was loved, pitied, and consoled most of all. Father was filled with love. He did not know the cruel word “punish”, but knew the merciful word “forgive”. He did not impose on his children the burden of heavy obedience, did not demand special feats from anyone, at the same time emphasizing the need for at least the smallest external feat, indicating that one must weigh one’s strengths and capabilities and do whatever it takes, what I decided on. Father's sermons were simple, sincere, touching the heart with the depth of faith, truthfulness, and understanding of life. In the lower residential floor of the temple, Father opened a parochial school, set up a shelter for orphans and the poor, and for 13 years taught the Law of God at the E.V. girls’ gymnasium. Winkler; contributed to the revival of ancient Russian icon painting, blessing his spiritual daughter Maria Nikolaevna Sokolova (later nun Juliania) to paint icons. The true spiritual friends of Father Alexy were the Optina elders, Hieroschemamonk Anatoly (Potapov - also now canonized as a venerable one), and Abbot Theodosius. They were amazed at the feat of the Moscow elder “in a city as in a desert.”

In the last days of May 1923, Fr. Alexy went to Vereya, where he had been vacationing for the past few years. He had a presentiment that he was leaving forever. Before leaving, I served the last liturgy in my church, said goodbye to my spiritual children, and when I left, I said goodbye to the church. Cried a lot. Fr. passed away. Alexy on Friday 9/22 June 1923. Coffin with the body of Fr. Alexy was taken to the Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki. Until the very morning of the next day, the church communities of Moscow said goodbye to the deceased and sang requiems.

Canonized by the Council of Bishops in 2000. In 2001, on the feast of All Saints who shone in the Russian land, the relics of the holy righteous Alexy of Moscow were found.

Troparion to the Holy Righteous Alexy of Moscow (Mechev), tone 3 For you appeared as a miracle of God, / in the city of Moscow, Father Alexy, / not in the desert, but in the midst of rumors, you flourished, / in a time of fierce apostasy, / but you became like the ancients, / this seer, man of prayer and elder, / and comforter and physician to the suffering, / for this sake for the Russian flock, / now be an immutable intercessor, // man of prayer for our souls.

Troparion to the Holy Righteous Alexy of Moscow (Mechev). For the transfer of relics, voice 4 The day of a new celebration has arrived, / the city of Moscow rejoices, / and the whole Russian country rejoices / with new spiritual stumps, / today is a sacred celebration / in the transference of the honest and multi-healing relics / of the righteous and wonderworker Alexy, / as if there was a bright light , / shine upon us with rays of grace, / consuming the darkness of illness and passions / from those who sing diligently, / save us with your prayers // righteous Our Father Alexis.

The small church on Maroseyka seems to be sandwiched between two bulky buildings, but at the same time it does not get lost against their background, standing out brightly with its red facade with white details. At the beginning of the twentieth century, this temple and its rector were known throughout Moscow.

The first church on this site was built in 1468: it owes its appearance to the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III, who erected a wooden church in honor of Simeon Divnogorets - in gratitude for the fact that the fire that occurred in Moscow on the day of remembrance of this saint did not spread to Kremlin. However, later traces of the church are lost, and in the 17th century it is already mentioned as Nikolskaya, in Blinniki. The last name began to sound differently in the 18th century - “in Klenniki”. Now both options are used, but “in Blinniki” is considered more justified, since pancakes were sold in ancient times on the neighboring Ilyinsky Gate Square. No mention of maples was found in this place, but the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas is known, which appeared in the village of Klenniki near Moscow - perhaps this also influenced the popular nickname of the capital’s church.

The existing building consists of parts from different periods. It is based on a stone temple from 1657, but it was significantly rebuilt several times. Thus, in 1690, the second chapel was consecrated in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. After a major fire in 1701, the church became two-tiered, with the Kazan throne at the top and St. Nicholas's at the bottom, and acquired a single-domed finish. At the same time, its façade, facing Maroseyka, received platbands designed in the Naryshkin Baroque style, with ridges and torn pediments. Another fire occurred in 1748, after which a year later the refectory was rebuilt and a new three-tier bell tower was erected - with a rusticated arch below (later blocked and turned into a window) and a bell tier at the top. Subsequently, the church was renovated several more times; the platbands on the quadrangle were lost, but no more radical reconstructions were carried out.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Maroseyka became universally known in the 1910s, when Archpriest Alexy Mechev began serving here. For his kindness, responsiveness and compassion for the grief of others, he received the nicknames “good shepherd” and “chief Moscow priest.” After his death in 1923, the parish was headed by his son, Sergius Mechev - he was subsequently arrested and died in the camps.

In the 1920s, the church continued to operate; in 1927, as a result of restoration, the platbands on the quadrangle were recreated. But in 1931, worship services stopped, after which the building was used first as a warehouse, and then was converted into offices for the Komsomol Central Committee. The interior decoration was completely destroyed. Outside the church, the domes on the quadrangle and the bell tower were dismantled, but most of the restored decor remained intact. In 1990, the temple was transferred to a new Orthodox community, which resumed services. New iconostases were installed and the paintings were re-done. In 2000, Alexy and Sergiy Mechev were canonized and in honor of each of them chapels appeared in the lower tier of the church.

Moscow St. Nicholas Church in Klenniki, 2006. Photo by Mikhail Chuprinin from the site sobory.ru

Moscow Church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Klenniki, Blinniki, Maroseyka

On this site was the Church of Simeon Divnogorets, built according to the vow of John III in 1468 in one day, in gratitude that the severe fire of Moscow did not spread to the Kremlin. This church was mentioned in 1625.

The current church was built in 1657 close to the Church of Simeon Divnogorets, which explains the fracture of the wall of the northern aisle. The church was rebuilt several times.

In the 17th century, the church was called the Church of St. Nicholas “in Blinniki” (Sytin mentions that they actually sold pancakes here), but in the 18th century “Blinniki” somehow transformed into “Klenniki”. There is an assumption that this is connected with the appearance of the icon of St. Nicholas in the village of Klenniki near Moscow. In metric 1886-87. O.

The church was significantly rebuilt after the fire of 1701: the upper part of the quadrangle was dismantled, and the lower part was turned into a basement, above which a new, double-height volume with an apse and a vestibule was erected, which acquired the features of the “Naryshkin style.”

After the fire of 1748, the church was significantly updated, and a bell tower was erected in 1749. Other renovations of the church are mentioned in 1853, 1868, 1894. The main Kazan throne was built on the second floor.

In the 1920s, the external decor, lost during the reconstruction of the 18th-19th centuries, was restored. At the end of the 1920s, the chapel of Alexy, the man of God, was built in the temple.

In 1932 the temple was closed. The last Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the Annunciation. After her, the only priest of the temple remaining at large by that time was arrested. On October 6, the temple was finally closed and destroyed.

Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, 1970s

The chapter was demolished from the bell tower, and the chapter along with the octagonal drum from the quadrangle, so that it simply ended with a hipped roof. The church building was used after internal redevelopment as a utility room for neighboring institutions - the Central Committee of the Komsomol was located in house No. 3, which located its accounting department here. The altar part was used as a cash register. In the quadrangle, at the level of the high windows, the upper floor was built. All church decoration and wall paintings were destroyed with great care, with the only exception being the painting of the inaccessibly high ceiling of the Kazan chapel quadrangle.. Part of the church building was rebuilt for housing. The building was under state protection.

After the temple was returned to believers on July 18, 1990, the destroyed domes were restored.

Temple of Alexy Mechev in Veshnyaki today

The temple in honor of the holy righteous Alexei (Mechev) of Moscow is located in the municipal district of Moscow - Veshnyaki. With its appearance, it seems to complete the schematic cross drawn up by regional churches and clearly visible on the map: on top is the Church of the Entry, below is the Assumption Cathedral, on the left is the Monastery of the All-Merciful Savior, on the right is the Church of the Righteous Alexy.

The church was one of the first in Russia to receive the patronage of the righteous elder Alexy, who was canonized 20 years ago.

The Church of Alexy Mechev in Veshnyaki is under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Vicariate of the Nativity Deanery of the Moscow Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Divine services are regularly held on the territory of the parish, there is a parish school, a pilgrim service, and missionary activity is actively developing.

Alexey Mechev was born in Moscow in March 1859. His father served as regent of the cathedral choir of the Chudov Monastery. The boy's childhood passed in an atmosphere of love, kindness and living, sincere faith. After graduating from the Zaikonospasskoye School and the Moscow Theological Seminary, he became interested in medicine and seriously thought about a medical career. But after listening to his parents’ advice, he changed his mind and chose the path of a preacher for himself.

The ascent to holiness began with the position of psalmist at the Znamenskaya Church. In 1884, the young man became a deacon of the St. George Church on Lubyanka. He served in the diaconate for almost 10 years, and in March 1893, Bishop Nestor ordained Alexei Alekseevich to the priesthood. He inherited one of the smallest parishes in the capital - St. Nicholas Church on Maroseyka.

For a long time the priest served practically without parishioners. In subsequent years, with a lot of effort, he managed to rally a large and friendly community around him. Without abandoning the feat of prayer and spiritual wakefulness, the clergyman, as best he could, arranged the life of the community entrusted to him. He introduced daily worship in the temple. Through his efforts, an orphanage for the poor was opened.

A parochial school was organized on the lower floor of the church. For 13 years, Archpriest A. Mechev served as a teacher at the E. V. Winkler girls’ gymnasium, preached and explained the Law of God. In 1902, he met Righteous John of Kronstadt. Father John, seeing the priest's modesty and insight, blessed him to take on the feat of eldership (to be a mentor).

Parishioners of Father Alexy recalled that his advice was always delicate and humane. He preached without lectures, very sincerely and heartily. The elder’s instructions penetrated deeply into the souls of believers and always found a lively response there. One of the spiritual sons of the shepherd was the philosopher N. Berdyaev.

In the first half of the 20th century, during the persecution of monasticism, A. Mechev escaped arrest because he was seriously ill. He died in May 1923 and was initially buried at Lazarevskoye, and later his remains were transferred to the territory of the Vvedenskoye cemetery. Today many of his teachings, recorded from memory by devoted students, have been published.

The holy righteous Alexei of Moscow was canonized by the Synoidal Commission at the Council of Bishops in 2000. The priest’s son, Archpriest Sergius Mechev, was also canonized as a saint, but as a new martyr and Russian confessor. The holy relics of Archpriest Alexei Mechev are kept in the Moscow St. Nicholas Church in Klenniki, on Maroseyka, where he spent his last years as rector.

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Maroseyka Street, 5 The Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki is an architectural monument of the 17th-18th centuries. Built in 1657 close to the wooden church of Simeon Divnogorets, built in 1468 according to the vow of Ivan III to commemorate the salvation of the Kremlin from fire. From the original building, only a high basement has survived, which served as the basis for a new temple, the construction of which began after a fire in 1701.

Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki XVII-XVIII centuries.

The temple was first built presumably in 1468 by Tsar John III. Stone Church of St. Nicholas was built in 1657, in 1690 the upper floor was added, and in 1701 the chapel of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was built. The bell tower was built in 1749. In 1893-1923. the rector of the temple was Rev. Alexy Mechev, the famous Moscow confessor and elder, and after the death of the elder - his son, Archpriest. Sergiy Mechev. Both pastors were canonized as saints at the Jubilee Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1932, the temple was closed and the domes were dismantled. Divine services were resumed in 1990. The church has four iconostases made by local craftsmen: three tyablo and a finely made white stone one. Thrones: main - St. Nicholas; chapels - the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, All Saints who shone in the Russian land, right. Alexy, Elder of Moscow, and Sschmch. Sergius. Shrines: the revered Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, the icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh with a particle of relics, icon of St. Theodosius of Totemsky with a particle of relics, the icon of All Saints who shone in the Russian land, the icon of rights. Alexy the Elder of Moscow with his life.

Father returns to His Temple!

Transfer of the relics of Saint Righteous Alexy (Mechev) from the Novospassky Monastery to the Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki (September 29, 2001)

The third basis for the veneration of holy relics is the teaching of the Orthodox Church about relics as carriers of grace-filled powers. “Your relics are like a full vessel of grace, overflowing upon them all...

Holy relics of the Holy Righteous Alexy Mechev.

In a small chapel, next to the Temple where he prayed, are his relics. Troparions are written on the walls.

It's quiet and peaceful there. Father still pacifies our hearts!!!

In the left aisle on the right is the Miraculous Icon of the Theodore Mother of God.

Father Alexy Mechev prayed at this icon.

This is how the Temple is being renovated now.

Feodorovskaya-Kostroma Icon of the Mother of God

The history of the Feodorovskaya icon begins back in 1239. As the chronicle says, it was found by the Kostroma prince Vasily Georgievich while hunting; the image was on a tree. In 1613, after the accession of the Romanov dynasty, the icon became the patroness of the reigning family. All representatives of the dynasty were blessed with it. In 1869, a copy of the icon that was located in Kostroma was donated to the Moscow Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki by a certain Anna Vasilyevna Levina. In 1932 the temple was closed. The Feodorovskaya icon was saved by the church community and transferred to the storage of Father Alexy’s spiritual daughter, Maria Nikolaevna Sokolova. The woman had the image for forty years, and only just before her death she transferred it to the sacristy of the Intercession Church at the Moscow Theological Academy. When the temple was opened in 1990, the icons were returned to it first.

In 1869, Moscow honorary citizen Anna Vasilyevna Levina donated a copy of the ancient Kostroma icon of the Theodore Mother of God to the Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki. Saint Righteous Alexy (Mechev) revered this image very much; he used to perform a prayer service in front of it every Wednesday after Vespers with the reading of the canon. Once, on the eve of the events of 1917, during the service of such a prayer service, tears rolled from the eyes of the Queen of Heaven. St. rights Alexy was shocked by this. The Monk Ambrose of Optina blessed women expecting a child to resort to prayer in front of the Theodore Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. And now women carrying a child in their womb pray in front of this image of the Mother of God, asking Her help in successfully relieving themselves of the burden, and the girls pray for happiness in marriage.

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with the temple in Klenniki. XX century, icon. Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, Moscow. Work mon. Juliana

Guardian angel of Moscow

The mark of the icon “Holy Righteous Alexy (Mechev) with the Life”, painted for the glorification of the saint in the Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, st. Maroseyka, Moscow

Hieromartyr Priest Sergius Mechev

son of Alexy Mechev

Series of messages “temples”:
Part 1 - Ancient temples of the Trade Side in Novgorod. Part 2 - Shrines of the continent of short shadows... Part 6 - Temple of John the Warrior (video) Part 7 - Artist Andrey Rybkin. Golden domes of Russia. Part 8 - Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki. Moscow. Part 9 - Chapel of All Saints in Salaspils Part 10 - Shrines of Moscow. (video) ... Part 25 - Shrines of Moscow. Temple near Victory Park metro station Part 26 - To the Holy Places. Nyrobka Part 27 - Optina Pustyn (d/f 01/07/2016)

Architect, exterior decoration, architectural ensemble

The design development of the temple in the name of St. Alexis was carried out by the engineering organization “Mosproekt-3” under the leadership of the famous Soviet and Russian architect I. G. Biryukov. Architect Biryukov's creative portfolio includes many significant projects. He designed the Central Moscow Archive, the sanatorium of the Ministry of Defense in Marfino, shopping and residential complexes.

He is responsible for the restoration of the Marfo-Mariinsky monastery and the creation of the Cathedral of the Holy Princess Euphrosyne in the area of ​​Nakhimovsky Prospekt. The design of the temple ensemble named after St. Alexius became one of the last works of the order-bearing master. The temple in Veshnyaki attracts the eye with its architectural and artistic expressiveness. The compact, but at the same time majestic church of Alexei Mechev fits well into the surrounding microdistrict.

The temple is made according to the strict canons and traditions of Russian architecture. Despite the small internal area, 1250 m², the church can simultaneously accommodate up to 300 parishioners. The shape of the building is a classic quadrangle - a tetrahedral volume used in Russian stone and wooden architecture. The quadrangular building of the church symbolizes the fullness of the world, concentrated in Christianity.

The facades are painted sand color with white edging along the edge of the semicircular zakomara. A black Byzantine dome rests on the light drum. Its helmet-shaped outlines mean the eternal spiritual confrontation between good and dark forces. The single dome is perceived by believers as a symbol of Divine unity. The height of the building from the foundation to the cross is 31.5 m.

A staircase of 7 steps leads to the porch at the oak western doors. The image of the Savior, surrounded by vines, was chosen as the gate icon. The clergy house is a two-story building with a bell tower attached to it. There is a refectory, Sunday school classes and a conference room here. There is a small icon shop.

About the temple

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About the temple

Temple of St. Nicholas in Podkopay, in Podkopaev, or simply Nikolay Podkopay is one of the many churches of the Mother See dedicated to St. Nicholas the Pleasant. There are many among them: Nikola in Pyzhi, and in Zvonary, and in Bolvanovka. Once upon a time there was even Nikola on Chicken Legs. However, our Podkopaevsky is especially close and dear to us. Located near the modern Kitay-Gorod metro station, it is small but cozy. It has three thrones: the Kazan Mother of God, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Sergius of Radonezh.

The life of the temple can be likened to a burning candle. Our Podkopaevskaya candle lit up in the White City, behind the Kitai-Gorod wall, almost six centuries ago. In historical sources, the St. Nicholas Church, near the grand-ducal residence at the base of Ivanovskaya Hill, is mentioned starting from the end of the 15th century. And the lane in which the temple stood was at one time called Nikolsky. Over time, the appearance of the temple changed. In 1700, a unique elegant hexagonal crown was erected, which still greatly adorns the temple. Half a century later, at the expense of the parishioners, a bell tower was built, along with a separate storage room. Then we entered the temple differently from now, from the side of Podkopaevsky Lane - the main entrance was southern and located in Podkolokolny Lane. And the names are so wonderful: Podkolokolny means clearly under the bells, listening to the church bells, and Podkopaevsky why is unknown. There are only all sorts of guesses. Some associate it with the name of the owner of the neighboring yard, others with a clay quarry, and still others with nothing more than a mine. Be that as it may, the name was firmly established, and not only for the lane. Both regular parishioners of the temple and fighters of the military-patriotic squad, which has existed at the temple for almost nine years, call themselves Podkopaevites. Residents of Podkopaev are well aware of the legends associated with this name. One of them is called Nikolai-Undermining. This is a very unusual story.

The icon of St. Nicholas was always in great veneration in the church. The church elder at that time was a rich merchant. He had his own rule: every day he read an akathist to the Saint. But suddenly: the merchant went bankrupt. He became depressed from such a test and began to grieve and, with tears, call upon Nicholas the Pleasant for help.:?—The Saint, Father Nicholas, help! Why did you leave me? Didn't I believe you? Didn’t I pray to you and serve you? And now he must go through the world...? And then at night, after intense prayer, he sees a dream: Saint Nicholas comes to him and says: “I came to help you for your love and faith for me.” On my icon, which is in your church, there is a golden robe and many precious stones: take off the robe with the stones, sell them and start trading again; and when you get the money, make a new robe for the icon, so that it is exactly like the old one.? The merchant was confused: is this not the charm of the enemy? “How,” he says, “can I do this?” The first is blasphemy, and the second is how to remove it? There are people during the day, and the temple is locked at night.? “And you,” the Saint answers him, “come at night, and under the wall that is opposite my icon, and DIG, and crawl into the tunnel, and take off your robe.” The merchant woke up; The pillow is all wet from tears. Wondering about the dream: to believe or not to believe. Again he prays and cries. And again the Saint appears to him in a dream and again says the same words.? “I can’t,” the merchant answers, “I have never been a thief.”? “There is no theft here,” says the Saint, “there is no theft: the icon is mine, and the robe is mine.” master; do as I say? And for the third time the Saint appeared to the merchant in a dream and again repeated the order. And then the merchant decided to do as the Saint ordered him... And when the merchant rose in strength, he came to the abbot and said: “I have the zeal to build a new robe for the icon of the Saint.” Bless... Like the old one, exactly, with drawings and stones, so that it would be impossible to distinguish it from the real one.? - Well, why exactly the same?? - No, bless it as I want: such is my zeal.? I had to bless it. They made a chasuble... The master began to fit a new chasuble to the icon, and the people looked and were surprised: they put a new chasuble on the old one, but it was exactly the same as the old one, and they did not take off the old one; what is this - they can’t understand... When the people began to approach the cross, and the merchant stood near the priest and near the icon and said:? - Wait, father, and bless me to say a kind word!? - Speak!? And the merchant told the Orthodox miracle that St. Nicholas did for him.? - I see you don’t believe me. Well, master, take your robe off the icon.? He took it off, but under the new robe there is no old one... What was in the temple then?!..? Since then, the temple in Moscow has been called NICHOLAS UNDERKOPAY.”

?This legendary incident was recorded by the wonderful spiritual writer Sergei Nilus from the words of Archimandrite Optina Hermitage, Fr. Xenophon. It’s hard to say where the Optina elder heard about Podkopay. However, what is known for certain is that around the same time, i.e. more than a hundred years ago, threads stretched from Optina to the Podkopaevsky Church, and somehow the spiritual connection between the elders and the temple community began to strengthen. She greatly supported the young shepherds: Hieromonk Andrei (Elbson) and his faithful companion Priest Peter Petrikov, who appeared in the church during the period of persecution of the Church in the 20s, and who were destined to receive martyrdom in the terrible year of 1937.

A new, post-revolutionary page in the history of the Podkopaevsky Church is associated with their names. However, before opening it, we should remember what new things the 19th century lived through brought to the temple. After the war with Napoleon, it remained closed for almost half a century, and then suddenly the decision came to transfer the temple to the Patriarch of Alexandria. And so our Podkopai became the Alexandria courtyard. They then brought him into proper splendor and provided him with all the necessary utensils. In 1858, the Church of St. Nicholas in Podkopayi was consecrated by Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow and Bishop Nikanor of Thebaid, who was later canonized. A year later, the chapel in honor of the Kazan Mother of God becomes the main one in the temple. Soon a tent chapel was built on the eastern side along the street line. This completed the formation of the temple ensemble. However, the trials were just about to begin. The 20th century was approaching...

In the troubled post-revolutionary 20s, the temple managed to avoid closure, thanks to the fact that the Greek community registered in it. It was not possible then to completely extinguish our Podkopayev candle. A year after the dissolution of the community in 1926, not without the providence of God, the children of the Optina elders, Fr. Andrei (Boris Yakovlevich Elbson), the Mironovich sisters (Vera and the future nun Lyubov), and subsequently Fr. Petr Petrikov, who rallied like-minded people around them.

The candle flame flares up, the life of the temple continues. Hieromonk Andrey takes upon himself the care of the monastic women's community, whose sisters become active participants in the life of the temple. Father Peter selflessly helps him in his ministry.

In 1931, when priests and active parishioners were arrested, the threat of closure hung over Podkopai again. However, the temple suddenly has a new defender - none other than the representative of the Ecumenical and Alexandrian Patriarch, Archimandrite of Mount Sinai, Father Basil Demapolo, begins to intercede for him. Recently it became known that Met. At about the same time, Sergius sent the priest of the Dorogimolovsky Cathedral, Fr. John Pavlovsky. And then we don’t know anything anymore. It is not known whether he made it to the temple, it is not known when Easter was celebrated in Podkopayi for the last time: in 1932 or 1933. Our Podkopaevskaya candle was burning out.

The year 1937 was coming... The Soviet government was preparing a merciless reprisal against those who did not accept atheistic propaganda. Our priests who went through arrests and exile, Fr. Andrey and Fr. Peter, along with several sisters of the community, were again arrested in the case of the former rector of the Chudov Monastery in Moscow, Archbishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky). Seven months of imprisonment, interrogations, torture and... the terrible ditches of the Butovo training ground followed.

THE SECRET OF LIFE IS VIOLATED: YOU ARE NOT PLEASED - EXECUTED, BUTOVO SHUTTERED WITH HORROR, BECOME A TOMB OF BODIES. THERE IS NO SISTER OR MOTHER, THERE IS NO ONE CLOSE. ANGELS RECEIVED THE SOUL - THE WORLD WAS EMPTY AND SILENT...

Together with the pastors, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, two nuns, parishioners of the Podkopaevsky Church, Vera (Rozhkova) and Valentina (Zasypkina), were shot. Cell attendant Fr. Petra Vera Mironovich was exiled near Tynda, where she died in 1941, working as a nurse in the infirmary until the end of her days. For many decades, darkness lay in the former Podkopaevsky Church, mixed with the stench of the polyethylene plant that was located here.

In August 2000, Fr. Peter was glorified by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church among the new martyrs and confessors of Russia as the Hieromartyr Peter of Podkopaevsky. His memory is celebrated twice: on the day after the Exaltation of the Cross (September 28), and also as part of the Council of New Martyrs, in Butovo, on the fourth Saturday after Easter. Bloody horrors, thank God, are a thing of the past. Returned to the Church in 1991, the Church of St. Nicholas in Podkopayi is being restored and prettier. May God grant that through our joint efforts the memory of the history of the temple and its saints and ascetics - our prayer books - will be strengthened!

History of construction

Alekseevsky Church is one of the first buildings erected as part of the “Program-200” construction project. The concept is based on a plan for the establishment of 200 new Orthodox parishes in all metropolitan districts. The main goal of the program is to provide residents of the city’s residential areas with churches located within walking distance. To date, more than 60 facilities have already been put into operation.

The construction is carried out at the expense of extra-budgetary funds collected from monetary donations from large enterprises, philanthropists and ordinary residents. The foundation stone of the temple took place in February 2012. Most of the construction work was completed by the end of 2015. And already at the beginning of 2016, a small consecration took place. After this significant event, regular services began to be held in the church.

Until July 2021, when the temple was consecrated by the great rite, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the decoration of the shrine continued. On a plot of land with an area of ​​0.4 hectares, flower beds were laid out, trees and shrubs were planted.

History of the appearance of the temple

The Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, or rather its history, goes back many centuries. Back in the middle of the fifteenth century, according to the vow of Ivan III, a small “ordinary” wooden church was erected on this site. It was built in honor of saving the Moscow Kremlin from a major fire. The stone church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Klenniki was erected much later, at the beginning of 1657, close to this wooden church. And initially it was called “Nikola in Blinniki”. Historians directly link this to the large number of bakers who lived in the area at that time and sold pancakes. Almost forty years later, the temple received a new throne. And almost at the same time, “pancakes” transformed into “klenniki”. The latter refers to the location of the church in Maple Grove. Since 1771, in all official documents this religious building has been referred to as the Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki.

Interior decoration

The Temple of Alexy Mechev in Veshnyaki is quite modest inside, ascetic by the standards of the Christian church. After passing through a small porch, a person finds himself in the only church boundary. There are no frescoes on the walls, just simple whitewash. To the left of the lectern there is an eve table. A carved four-row iconostasis rises above the narrow salt. The room is illuminated by narrow elongated window openings.

In the evening, ministers light the round central chandelier and several small side lamps. Through the open Royal Doors you can see a gilded altar with an ornate seven-branched candlestick and a large icon of the Lord Pantocrator. The windows in the chancel are made in the tradition of stained glass technology. The pattern of colored glass, made in the style of the Orthodox tradition, carries deep symbolism.

The image of Christ, shining from the sun's rays falling on it, reminds parishioners that the Lord is the “East of Easts” (unfading). According to Christian tradition, glass also carries a symbol of purity and innocence. Along the perimeter of the middle part of the temple, a second tier is built on the choir choir, where singers are located during services.

Shrines and relics of the temple

Like any other temple, the Veshnyakov Church has its own, especially revered relics:

• Mosaic icon of the Descent from the Cross.
• Image of Saint David of Gareji.
• A particle of the relics of St. Amphilochius of Pochaev.
• A half-length image of Saint Alexis with hagiographic stamps (stamps, or frames around the perimeter of the icon, reproducing episodes from his life).

In 2021, His Holiness the Patriarch presented the icon of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul as a gift to the temple.

Thrones of the Temple

The main shrines of the church in Klenniki are the image of the Mother of God “Theodorovskaya” and the ark with the relics of the righteous Alexy. The main altar, which is located in the upper church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, is consecrated in honor of the widely revered icon of the Mother of God. The side extension is in the name of Nicholas of Myra. As for the lower church, one of its altars is consecrated in honor of All Saints who shone in the Russian land, and the other in honor of the Hieromartyr Sergius and the Righteous Alexy, who are presbyters of Moscow.

Clergy, mentors

The rector of the temple is priest Viktor Malshakov. Priest was born in 1974. He graduated from the State Conservatory. A. Nezhdanova with a degree in Choral Conducting and the Odessa Theological Seminary. In parallel with his studies, he worked as a regent and reader in the churches of his native city.

In 2001, he entered the full-time department of the Moscow Theological Academy. In July 2005, after graduation, he was ordained to the rank of deacon, and a month later to the rank of priest. Before becoming a clergyman in Veshnyaki, Father Victor served in such parishes as the Elias Church in Cherkizovo and the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica in the village of Vostochny. For excellent services he was awarded a gaiter and a pectoral gold cross.

Parish and choir of the temple

The Church of Alexy Mechev in Veshnyaki leads traditional parish life. People go to services, order services, make donations, help with cleaning and landscaping the surrounding area, and obey in the refectory.

Lectures and meetings with Moscow clergy are organized for adults, where listeners can ask questions. Many parishioners make the pilgrimage. Groups gather to visit churches in Moscow and the nearest Moscow region. Some parishioners go to services in churches in St. Petersburg and Pskov. A group of lovers of choral singing has been created within the walls of the temple.

Social work, everyday life

The parishioners and the rector carry out feasible social activities. Educational and missionary services are actively developing. Parishioners provide spiritual assistance, care for the sick, located next door to the Clinical City Hospital No. 15 named after. O. Filatova. Priests do not refuse confession, communion, or unction to hospital patients.

Fathers visit not only simple hospital wards, but also those who are in the palliative department. A parishioner of the temple, artist M. Myshkovskaya, creates mosaic icons for Russian churches free of charge. She has already completed more than 30 similar works. Several of her icons are located within the walls of the temple. Young parishioners perform concerts and performances in nursing homes.

Sunday School

There is a Sunday school at the temple. Not only middle-aged students come here, but also children with whom they study according to a separate program. For preschoolers, an introduction to the Law of God is taught in a playful way. In addition to studying, they enjoy drawing and sculpting.

Middle-aged children are introduced to biblical stories in lessons; the structure of the temple and the meaning of Orthodox holidays are explained to them. Teachers tell stories from the Old Testament.

Children enjoy attending hobby groups:

• drawing;
• artistic modeling;
• choral singing.

In addition to lessons together with school teachers, students prepare thematic theatrical performances and concerts for parishioners. A Youth Association has been created for teenagers and students. Participants in the movement help teachers work with children, try their hand as volunteers, and take part in tournaments of the Moscow Orthodox Intellectual Club “What? Where? When?".

The Sunday school director and teachers take an active part in preparing performances, concerts dedicated to Orthodox holidays, and church events.

Every Sunday in the church there are readings and conversations in the Gospel circle. Anyone can come up, listen, and chat with the priest. The work of the circle starts at 15:30.

I will continue the series of diaries about our pilgrimage to Moscow and immediately say how sorry I am that it is impossible to embrace the immensity. We saw little, very little in the capital; we were in a hurry. Here you write about our St. Petersburg - you won’t be able to write about it, but I also want to talk about Moscow...

I remind you of previous diaries:

Marfo-Mariinskaya Convent of Mercy

St. Nicholas Church in Pyzhi

All-Sorrow Church in Moscow on Ordynka

Clement Church in Moscow

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After running through Zaryadye Park, having a snack (inexpensive, but excellent) at Varvarka in the Znamensky Monastery, we walked along Staraya Square towards Kitay-Gorod station. Ulyana almost ran us there: “Now, right now there will be St. Nicholas Church, where Alexey Moskovsky served.”

How, how... I know, I know... That same righteous Father Alexey Mechev, whose materials I re-read with pleasure on our ABC. For those interested, here is the link .

I remember his words about how you need to talk to every person as if you were talking to God. I recently even dedicated a separate diary on this topic: link .

And also... I also remembered that I had just seen in the Church of St. Clement an icon in which Alexei of Moscow is next to St. Sergius of Radonezh and St. Daniel of Moscow. This is the relationship between names. However, God willing, I have also planned a separate diary about Daniel of Moscow.

And also... I was also mistaken... On this icon is Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow, and I thought it was Alexy Mechev. But... that happens sometimes. This is how knowledge is acquired.

And now we come to the temple, not at first visible among the houses surrounding it. Once upon a time, he was probably the first and foremost here, but time mercilessly deprived him of his primacy in architecture. This area, a block from the Kremlin, in the White City, has also undergone a lot: it was also Klenniki (supposedly there was a maple grove here, but not a fact), it was also Klinniki (weapons were made), and Blinniki (pancakes were baked here), and To this day, historians argue which name came before the other. I don’t care what came first among the names, but it is important that today the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is called with the specification “in Klenniki.” And it becomes clear why it is being clarified, because I recently talked about the St. Nicholas Church “in Pyzhi”.

History of the temple on Wikipedia: link

By the way, you can compare it with a pre-revolutionary photo:

Maybe someone will say that I’m bringing an incident from my life out of place, but it really came to mind...

About three months before my wedding with Nastya, we were sitting on the seashore, and I said: “Let’s make a castle out of stones?” She looked at me, showing with all her appearance that she didn’t want to. “Come on,” I say, “it’s TOGETHER!” Smiles: “Well, start.” I laid the first stone, but she doesn’t lay hers. I'm second, third... She doesn't help. “Well, why are you doing this? — I’m indignant, “We should be together!” Nastya is not participating. Seventh, eighth... And only when the first pebbles took on the shape of the foundation, the hand of my future wife reached out and placed a very small pebble in the masonry. I take even more stones, the second row is coming. Nastya puts the second small pebble. “Let's be more active! - I demand. - Don’t net! I laid the third row, and only then Nastya began to lay stones along with me, and soon we built the walls. “Here, Volodya,” says Nastya, “I wanted to show you by example that you don’t have to expect a woman to follow you as soon as you called, even if you called her for something good. The main thing to remember is that you must start first. As the Scripture says: save yourself, and thousands will be saved next to you!”

So Alexey Mechev, having received a poor church without parishioners, without income, established the main rule - whether there are people or not, services must always be held, since church services are not a concert with the sale of tickets. Based on his example, you begin to understand that prayer is not only when you come to church.

In addition to Peter and Fevronia, there are a great many beautiful examples of love. I can boldly say that the marriage of St. Alexei of Moscow is in this number. The priest outlived his wife Anna Petrovna (nee Molchanova) by 20 years.

As they write in the book of memoirs (I bought it there), she was particularly beautiful. For some reason, when I read the book, I pictured the image of a priest from the movie “Pop.” It seems so now, when I found her photo on the Internet. Prominent suitors wooed her, and she turned them off. Mechev didn’t even believe that she would agree when he decided to propose to her. He himself was short, did not have a high position, and had no savings. However, it was him, and not another - prominent, noble or beautiful - that she gave preference to.

This means that the woman saw in potential suitors not external, but internal. The bride was looking for a strong “core,” and it can only be found in a believer. IN DEEP BELIEVER! The one who can’t live without God!

An example of the greatest love, harmony, and fidelity is the marriage of Alexei and Anna. Both poverty and everyday life were a test of strength. Childbirth and need caused serious illnesses in Anna Petrovna. The priest fought, prayed, tried his best to help his wife. But at the same time, of course, he could not betray God in order to make his wife feel better. And she would not have accepted such a sacrifice if he had changed the service in the temple to something that would make his wife feel better. That is, I want to say that the love here was mutual. The husband is for the wife, the wife is for the husband, both are for the Lord!

But the Lord so pleased that his wife would not be next to Father Alexei. Oh, how he wept after the death of Anna Petrovna! He said: “Where would I be without her now! How can I raise my children now!” Grief drove him, as they now say, into depression.

But then family friends (merchants from Maroseyka) specially invited John of Kronstadt from the capital (from St. Petersburg). With a few phrases, the saint put everything in its place in Mechev’s life. Like, your grief is not in vain, but with a purpose. Therefore, your path is to help people as an elder, thereby serving the Lord and fulfilling His will.

Mechev worked part-time as a teacher in a girls’ gymnasium. It must be said that the establishment was Protestant. According to recollections, bedlam was going on in the lessons, because the girls of the era of nigists and revolutionaries did not perceive the Orthodox teacher at all. In that era, the assertion that God should be in a person’s soul, and not in a temple, flourished. By the way, when I hear (read) such revelations from some ABC residents here, there is a riot inside me. How can one deny the Church like that? It is not without reason that they say that to whom the Church is not a mother, God is not a father.

So, Father Alexey did not particularly care about discipline in the classroom. In his opinion, there is no need to force those who do not need it into faith. It was enough for him that a few people were drawn to him, and he saw his purpose in working with them. It was these very few who were next to him in his temple when the revolution broke out. They themselves were starving, but they supported the priest and his family. After his death, right up to 1932, they stayed close to the temple and did not allow the Bolsheviks to destroy it. From among them came the spiritual association “Monastery in the World.”

————

Father Alexy’s son, Sergei, was also canonized. Two Orthodox saints from the same family! Can you imagine? During the years of persecution of the church, widespread renovationism, a man with an education as a physician, historian and philologist could have chosen another occupation for himself after the revolution, but he headed his father’s temple and continued his work. He received a blessing for this in Optina Hermitage, and also from Patriarch Tikhon.

What is striking about these two destinies is their loyalty to the church. Patriarch Sergius made a deal with the Bolshevik regime in 1927, and the son of Alexei Mechev remained faithful to the arrested locum tenens, Metropolitan Peter, and joined the “non-rememberers.” No renovations! No deviation from the canons of the church! No deals with conscience, as is happening today in some churches in the neighboring state! That is why he was called a saint because he was faithful. Those who are rushing are not included in these lists.

Here are three photos of Father Sergius. I put them side by side so that you can look at the look of a secular man, a believer, and someone tortured in captivity. Metamorphosis visible?

Of course, you can’t tell everything in one diary. But I hope that someone will awaken a desire to read about the biographies of saints Alexy and Sergius Mechev. Especially their works are an immortal treasure open to everyone:

Moral and ascetic works of Alexy Mechev

• Confession of the inner man leading to humility

• A Brief Rule for Godly Living

• Excerpts from General Instructions

• Sermons

• Advice for a Christian girl

• Elderly advice

• Letters

A lot from Sergius Mechev: link

• Inner cage

• About the service

• About faith

• About pride

• About the world

• About prayer

• About the relics of saints

• About Orthodox worship

• About the Holy Apostles

• About conscience

• About the fear of God

• About the Church

• About icons

• About life in worship and about communion with eternity

• On reading and understanding the Holy Scriptures

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I would like to tell you more about the temple itself. But what to tell? It has been restored. Considerable efforts have been made. One of the parishioners is always on duty at the shrine with the relics of St. Alexis. When we were there, I saw all this with my own eyes.

Unusual temple. Very unusual. Like a multi-room apartment, each of the rooms of which is intended for something. That’s why it feels somehow homely. You can find a corner in which to hide and pray about your innermost thoughts.

You're probably already tired of my rants about Soviet times. Well, they took the temple away from the believers... Well, they turned it into a hostel, in which people were stuffed like herrings into a jar... Well, the boys dug up skulls in the yard and played football with them... There was also the accounting department of the Komsomol Central Committee, which counted my 2 kopecks when I was a Komsomol member at school. What else can I tell you? It’s better to read about it here: link to the temple website

Or watch the movie:

Useful links:

Magazine "Foma"

Alexey Alekseevich Mechev (Wikipedia)

Sergey Alekseevich Mechev (Wikipedia)

Service schedule, operating hours

The Temple of Alexy Mechev in Veshnyaki is open daily:

Temple of Alexy in Veshnyaki, contacts and information.

Accurate information about the times of services on holidays, custom prayers and memorial services can be obtained on the official website in the “Schedule of Services” section, on the website page VKontakte, Facebook.

Interesting facts about the temple in the surrounding area

The temple complex is often given the role of a functioning cultural site. A variety of events are held here, which are attended not only by local residents, but also by Muscovites from other parts of the city. So, not only parishioners of the temple, but also residents of nearby houses come to Easter and Christmas Sunday school concerts. Maslenitsa and Christmas are celebrated together with the residents.

Children of different ages, members of the Youth Church Association, parishioners, and residents of the area take part in the festive festivities. Directly adjacent to the temple territory is the space of the city park "Rainbow", where, in addition to alleys and benches, there is a large sports ground and a children's play area.

Across the road are the Perinatal Center, two secondary schools and the building of the Children's Football Academy. If you walk from the church along Zhemchugovaya Alley, you can get to the Kuskovo museum-estate.

Attractions nearby:

• Rainbow Park. On its territory there is a cascade of ponds, the Big and Small Count Ponds, and the Bridge of Lovers.
• A memorial stone laid in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Victory of the Great Patriotic War.
• Memorial stone "To the liquidators of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster."
• Playgrounds.
• Football field.

Main stages in the life of the temple

In the eighteenth century, the church was twice damaged by large fires, as a result of which it was repeatedly subjected to various reconstructions. So, for example, in 1701, simultaneously with the restoration of the destroyed southern side of the temple, they began to build on the second floor and erected a new Kazan chapel. After a fire in 1749, the church's facades were partially changed and a three-tier baroque bell tower appeared. During the nineteenth century, the Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki was renovated three more times, and the last time was in 1894. Thirty-eight years later, the church was closed, beheaded and even partially dismantled. Its main building was given over to the authorities for storage space. Subsequently, institutions related to the Komsomol Central Committee were located here. At the beginning of 1990, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Klenniki was returned to the Orthodox Church and consecrated. Divine services resumed there again. Today the temple has been completely restored, and there is a parish library and an icon-painting school attached to it.

Where is it located, what is in the surrounding area, how to get there

The temple is located in the Eastern Administrative District of Moscow at the address: st. Veshnyakovskaya, building No. 16. From the stop complex near the Vykhino metro station, buses No. 232 and No. 247, as well as trolleybuses No. 30 and No. 64, depart towards the temple. Transport reaches the stop "15 city hospital" in about 6 minutes.

Travelers are interested in the Temple of Alexei Mechev in Veshnyaki primarily as an example of modern architecture and religious national culture. Getting to know it is included in the excursion program of most pilgrimage tours in the capital.