Less than 10 years have passed since a new temple of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God appeared at the intersection of Michurinsky Prospekt and Lobachevsky Street.
In a short time, the temple became a real island of love among the ocean of human vanity and sorrow.
A permanent parish has already been established here. There are shrines and traditions that you may not know about, but they may be of interest to many people.
For a long time I watched from the side how the temple was built, how it stretched higher and higher to the sky, how it was covered with frescoes in the Byzantine style and golden domes in Russian traditions. On April 10, 2021, I came to the service when His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' conducted the rite of consecration, and never wanted to leave him again. My heart is drawn to this holy place, my soul rejoices when I cross its threshold.
For many years, the site of the temple was an abandoned wasteland adjacent to the forest in the valley of the Ochakovka River. Which had a large area, about 1 hectare of unkempt land. Therefore, when the temple complex appeared here, everything around was transformed and came to life.
The neat paved area surrounding the temple makes it open to the whole world. It is clearly visible from everywhere, even from afar. A few kilometers beyond the lakes of the Olympic Village, the bell tower and golden crosses sparkling in the sun are clearly visible.
Architecture
The temple has unusual architecture. It’s as if he wants to deliver people’s prayers as high as possible, rushing into the heavens. It is not for nothing that it was called one of the most ambitious projects of the “200 churches in Moscow” construction program. And the size is impressive; 800 people can pray in it at the same time.
In church symbolism, the white color of the temple means rebirth to a new, transformed life, so its dazzling pearl walls involuntarily create a contrast with the everyday life.
The type of temple is cross-domed pillar-shaped, because it looks like a high tower or pillar. The temple building and the bell tower are combined into one majestic pyramid. 4 high domes at the edges turn into drums and are covered with golden domes.
The middle dome forms a tent, where the belfry is located, consists of several elongated column-shaped tiers, which gives the entire structure a mysterious Gothic look, and ends with a fifth golden chapter.
There are 13 bells in the belfry. The largest is called “Blagovest” and weighs three tons. For Easter, the bell ringer carefully decorated the bells with red ribbons, and even they became festive.
Holiday bells
The height of the temple is 57 meters. For comparison, it is 12 meters taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York. And it is one of the tallest churches in the area.
The temple is richly decorated with all the delights of church architecture. These are apses, and keel-shaped zakomaras with arched and round windows, and elegant kokoshniks under the tent, and light drums, and “ribbons” of carved floral patterns, and vertical columns of tiles. The entrance to the temple is marked with an intricate relief portal.
In addition, on the western wall above the entrance rises a marvelously beautiful mosaic fresco of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
And on the opposite side, above the altar, there is a fresco of the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, and just below that of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious.
The temple has a part that is invisible from the outside. Under the temple of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God there is another temple - the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. They are colloquially called: upper and lower. Services are held in both churches, depending on the circumstances and the church calendar.
Lower Church in honor of St. George the Victorious
Both churches inside were painted by famous Moscow icon painters: Nikita Vladimirovich Nuzhny, who participated in the painting of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and the artel led by Alexei Nikolaevich Lavrentiev.
Schedule of services of the Iversky Church on Michurinsky
As of today, all construction work on the construction of the church has been completed. It functions fully and attracts believers. The Iversky Church on Michurinsky Prospekt receives a large number of parishioners every day. It contains a large number of holy images and miraculous relics. These include:
- image of the Iveron Mother of God,
- the face of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and many others.
It must be said that the main shrine of the temple is the Iveron Icon, which was painted by the great Russian artists of their Academy of Arts. There is a Sunday school at the church, where any child and adult can learn to read the holy letter, etc. He also runs a youth movement whose work is aimed at helping people in need.
The best article for you, go to: Transfiguration Cathedral St. Petersburg
You can get acquainted with the schedule of services by visiting the temple itself. But as a rule it is carried out:
- On weekdays, the reading of the Liturgy takes place at 8:00 am.
- On weekends and holidays at 7:00 and 17:00.
You can get to the temple from the metro stations "Prospekt Vernadskogo", "Yugo-Zapadnaya", "Kuntsevskaya". From these stations there are buses No. 47, 308 m, 68, 120, 793 and 810. Get off at the stop - Michurinsky Prospekt.
The Lord is always with you!
Priesthood
From the very beginning of construction, starting from the foundation pit, the still invisible church was already living under the leadership of rector Valery Baranov. Therefore, every brick and every corner of the built temple was treated with his attention and care. Father is always surrounded by people. He often conducts excursions around the temple for schoolchildren, because he knows it better than others.
Father Valery blesses parishioners with an altar cross
The second priest, young priest Ilya Pismenyuk, is responsible for working with youth. Young people reach out to young people.
Father Ilya blesses Easter cakes and eggs
The third clergyman is, of course, Deacon Vladislav Yurchenko. Serious. Responsible for catechesis and missionary service.
Archpriest Valery is an excellent manager of the metochion and the spiritual mentor of most parishioners. But the true mistress here is the Mother of God, the name of whose icon the upper church bears.
Shrines
The Iveron Icon of the Mother of God is the main shrine of the temple, which contains several types of such icons.
During the period of iconoclasm, soldiers hit this icon in the face with a spear. And something unpredictable happened. Blood flowed from the board. Afraid to keep such a shrine at home, and wanting to save it, the pious widow and her son secretly released it at night across the waters of the Bosphorus. A couple of centuries later, she sailed to the gates of the Georgian Iveron Monastery of Holy Mount Athos, where she became the “Good Goalkeeper, opening the doors of heaven to the faithful.”
In 1648, a copy of the miraculous icon was brought from Athos and placed in the chapel at the Resurrection Gate. Since then, despite any disagreements, this icon has brought the peoples of Russia and Georgia closer together, being a true symbol of peace and the Goalkeeper of our state.
In our temple there is also a list brought from Holy Mount Athos, made by icon painters of the Iveron monastery.
There are many icons in the temple, given to us by the monks of Athos. This is the image of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, the icon of the iconostasis of the lower church, the “Fire-Shaped” icon of the Mother of God, and the image of the “Merciful” Mother of God, and many others.
The icon of St. Stylianus, the hermit of Paphlagon, which is unfamiliar to Muscovites, also came to us from the land of Athos. This Greek saint is well known in the Orthodox world as a prayer leader and protector of children. He is depicted with a baby in his arms. Many children receive healing through prayers to him. Families without children pray to Saint Stylian with faith, and the Lord sends them a baby. If they have difficulties raising teenagers, they also turn to him and receive help. In rare Moscow churches you can find such an image. For example, I never met him in Moscow.
An icon of St. Stylian, he holds out a baby in his arms to Christ.
When the image of St. Stylian was delivered to us, the abbot organized a magnificent celebration of the meeting, because he understood what a shrine had come to the aid of children and their parents, there was no need to go to Greece.
But unfortunately, our population is still ignorant and is ready to spend huge amounts of money on medicines, not knowing that health, like life, is given to us from God and through the prayers of saints.
The temple also contains: an ancient image of Nicholas the Wonderworker, an 18th century icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Three-Handed”, an ancient image of the Great Martyr Catherine, an ark with the relics of the Kiev-Pechersk saints, an image of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina - the enlightener of Georgia, a wonderful image of the royal passion-bearers - Saint Tsar Nicholas and his family in the iconostasis and many other shrines.
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Saturday, December 27, 2014 10:23 + to quote book Address: Moscow, Michurinsky Prospekt, 70 Directions: metro station "Prospekt Vernadskogo" Architect: Zhivaev A. A. (paintings), Maksimov E. N. - (interiors, interior decoration) Year of construction: Between 2011 and 2013. Church.
Valid. Thrones: Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, St. George the Victorious Website: https://iverskoye-podvorie.ru Coordinates: 55.686007, 37.474874 Ochakovo-Matveevskoye, Moscow Patriarchate / Patriarchal Metochion The Temple of the Iveron Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is being built on the territory of the Academy of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. Students of the Academy, the golden personnel reserve of our country, will be able to receive spiritual and moral education in the best traditions of our great state. The site is located in the southwest of Moscow, at the intersection of Michurinsky Prospekt and st. Lobachevsky, on the territory of a park area formed on the site of a filled-up slope and valley of the Ochakovka River. The site is closely adjacent to the territory of the Academy of the FSB of Russia. The area of the site is 0.61 hectares, the building area is 953 sq.m., the landscaping area is 0.273 hectares. The total area of the temple is 1280 sq.m.: the underground part is 522 sq.m., the above-ground part is 758 sq.m. Height - 57 m. The temple is cross-domed, pillar-shaped, with a hipped belfry, built according to an individual project. Designed for 1000 people. Load-bearing walls are built from brick. The walls of the temple will be painted white, and the five chapters will be covered with gold. Together with the temple, all the necessary infrastructure will be created: administrative and utility rooms, guest parking. The House of Parables will house a Sunday school and a refectory. The total area of the clergy house is 588 sq.m. On the territory of the complex there is a platform in front of the entrance to the temple, and within the boundaries of the designated area behind the fence there is a parking lot. Persons with disabilities will have access to all premises. https://www.200hramov.ru Lower chapel in honor of the Great Martyr. St. George the Victorious https://sobory.ru/article/?object=26460 The temple, which can accommodate at least 1000 parishioners, is made in the style of Russian church architecture of the 15th century. Last year, 13 bells were installed on it, the largest of which weighs three tons. To decorate the building, famous specialists from the Russian Academy of Arts were brought in, who worked on recreating the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral. The icons for the temple were painted by Athonite monks; specialists who recreated the Cathedral of Christ the Savior are working on the decoration. The top floor will be decorated with elements of Byzantine mosaics. The icons for the lower prayer room were painted by the monks of the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos. On the territory of the temple complex it is planned to place a fountain, sculptures and even an apple orchard. The new temple will be one of the largest new temples in the UAB, built as part of the “200 temples” project. Its exact area is 1280 sq.m., height is 57 m. The interior design project was developed by academicians of the Russian Academy of Arts A.A. Zhivaev and E.N. Maximov, who worked on the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. On July 31, 2012, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' consecrated the foundation stone at the site of the then future construction. https://iverskoye-podvorie.ru Tags:
temple church architecture Moscow city Michurinsky Avenue of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God FSB Academy
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Social service
The church has a well-established social service. Many compassionate parishioners take an active part in it. The social service is headed by a young woman who knows firsthand what human pain is - Inna Viktorovna Novikova.
Inna was able to not only organize social assistance to those in need, but expanded the work widely, making it regular and structured.
The social ministry provides care for the hospital, which is located not far from the temple, this is the Scientific and Practical Center for Child Psychoneurology (SPC DP).
At the hospital there is a temple of the holy great martyr-healer Panteleimon. Worship services are held there weekly on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings. The day before, the social worker goes around all the wards, inviting people to the service.
Parents with children in the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon
Many parents, while caring for their children, simply “burn out” mentally from the grief that befell them. They have no hope for the healing of their children, no consolation. These people are in dire need of warm human participation and maintaining peace in their souls, because many of them lose the meaning of life. Those unfortunate parents who find a church, thanks to our social workers, gain a new level of existence, meaningfully humble themselves, and receive invaluable help.
But there are even more sad circumstances. In the village of Filimonki, Moscow Region, there is a boarding school, PNI No. 5, where disabled people over 18 years old live without parental care due to illness. Many of them are wheelchair users, and some are even “sliders” who cannot walk. They are here until the end of their lives.
The only people who visit them are our volunteers, who have 20 wards.
Disabled people rejoice at the gifts they received
Regularly, once every two weeks, gifts are sent to disabled people, purchased with funds from parishioners, and spiritual care is provided.
Inna and volunteer Vladislav Kvetinsky are sincerely happy that there are a lot of gifts
Before quarantine, social services had the opportunity to bring such children to church for worship. Which was the only opportunity for them to leave the boarding school, which they had not left for 10 years before. We also enjoyed meeting each other and knew everyone by name. Now the hospital is closed to visitors; disabled people have not even been allowed outside since last year. And only our volunteers continue to support them in the form of consoling gifts.
Wheelchair users were brought to the church for services
Another area of social assistance is caring for elderly parishioners of the church, large families and families who have taken children from orphanages.
For these people, charity events are held, such as “Easter Joy”, “Christmas Gift”, “Let’s Get the Children Back to School”.
Children from large families received gifts by September 1
This is how it was in Rus': if “life has cracked” and you have nowhere to go, look for the way to the temple. Therefore, different people come to the monastery: the homeless, the beaten, the robbed, the “lagged behind the train,” and simply the poor.
The social service leaves no one without attention and support. He will always feed and clothe, but usually more than that, he will do everything so that a person can solve his problem.
A clergy house was erected at the church, which housed a Sunday school, a hall for events and meetings with parishioners, and a refectory.
Temple of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God on Michurinsky Prospekt, service schedule
Description Project+Photo galleryADDRESS: Michurinsky prospect, 68
REPRESENTATIVE: Priest Valery BARANOV
Investor and contractor: LLC PSF “Krost”
Official website of the temple: iverskoye-podvorie.ru
On April 10, 2021, on the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, St. John Climacus, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' performed the rite of great consecration of the Patriarchal Metochion in Ochakovo-Matveevsky, Moscow - the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God at the Academy of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and led the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great in the newly consecrated church.
The upper altar of the temple is consecrated in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, the lower altar in the name of the Great Martyr George the Victorious.
***
CONSTRUCTION HISTORY
On July 31, 2012, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' consecrated the foundation stone of the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in the Moscow district of Ochakovo-Matveevskoye (Michurinsky Avenue, 70).
note
The temple was built on the initiative of the leadership and students of the Academy of the FSB of Russia. The dedication of the temple is due to the fact that over the centuries people resorted to prayers before the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in all the dangers, wars and troubles that threatened the Russian land. Since 1669, the Iveron image, also called the “Goalkeeper,” was installed at the gates of the Moscow Kremlin.
The temple is pillar-shaped, tent-roofed, five-domed, and in its external decoration it stylistically reproduces the characteristic techniques of Moscow architecture of the 15th-16th centuries. The load-bearing walls are built of brick. The walls of the temple are painted white, and the five domes are covered with gold.
Accommodates 800-1000 parishioners, area - 1280 sq. m, height - 57 m.
It has two chapels, the upper one in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, the lower one in honor of the Great Martyr. St. George the Victorious. The temple's belfry contains 13 bells, the largest of which weighs three tons. The artistic decoration of the temple was designed and executed by famous specialists from the Russian Academy of Arts, who worked on the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral.
In the upper church there is a copy of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, created by icon painters of the Iveron Monastery on Holy Mount Athos. Icons for the iconostasis of the lower church in honor of the Great Martyr. St. George the Victorious were written by monks in the Belozerka monastery on Mount Athos.
A parish house was erected at the church, which housed a Sunday school, outbuildings and service buildings, and a refectory.
***
A youth movement has been formed at the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God on Michurinsky Prospekt. The main goal is to help those in need, serve others, unite and educate the younger generation in the spirit of Orthodoxy and patriotism.
***
Latest parish news:
The Iversky Church in Ochakovo-Matveevsky invites you to an exhibition
A master class on etching by famous Russian artists took place in the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Ochakovo-Matveevsky
An exhibition of Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Kulemin opened in the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God on Michurinsky Prospekt
Honored artists of Russia will conduct a master class at the Iversky Church in Ochakovo
Tour of the temple in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God on Michurinsky Prospekt
Important
The cycle of cultural events continues at the parish of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Ochakovo-Matveevsky
WORD of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Ochakovo-Matveevsky
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill consecrated the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in Ochakovo-Matveevsky
Steps towards
People's Park next to the new temple
A people's park with a children's playground is being created at the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God on Michurinsky Avenue
An exhibition dedicated to the churches of our Program opened at the Iverskaya Church in Ochakovo-Matveevsky
Unity of parishes
The leadership of the Academy of the Federal Security Service donated a temple icon to the Iverskaya Church on Michurinsky
The central cross of the Iveron Temple at the FSB was consecrated
The temple at the FSB Academy celebrated the Throne with the blessing of bells
According to the law of officer honor
The church at the FSB Academy celebrated its first patronal feast day
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill invited Vladimir Resin to become his construction adviser
Temple is a place of special presence of God on earth
Defenders of the Fatherland need spiritual support
ABOUT THE TEMPLE
The Temple of the Iveron Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected on the territory of the Academy of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. Academy students will be able to receive spiritual and moral education in the best traditions of our great state.
Advice
The site is located in the southwest of Moscow, at the intersection of Michurinsky Prospekt and st. Lobachevsky, on the territory of a park area formed on the site of a filled-up slope and valley of the Ochakovka River. The site is closely adjacent to the territory of the Academy of the FSB of Russia.
The area of the site is 0.61 hectares, the building area is 953 sq.m., the landscaping area is 0.273 hectares. The total area of the temple is 1280 sq.m.: the underground part is 522 sq.m., the above-ground part is 758 sq.m. Height – 57 m.
The total area of the parish house is 588 sq.m.
On the territory of the complex there is a platform in front of the entrance to the temple, and within the boundaries of the designated area behind the fence there is a parking lot. Persons with disabilities are provided with access to all premises.
IVERIAN ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
February 25 (12), October 26 (13) and Tuesday of Holy Week
The Iveron Icon of the Mother of God became famous for many miracles and healings. For ten centuries, an endless stream of pilgrims came to her to pray and receive the blessing of the Most Pure One for their labors. Wherever she was - on Mount Athos, in Russia or Canada - abundant grace emanated from her everywhere, giving healing and consolation to all who came.
The Nord-Ost hostages, captured by terrorists 10 years ago during a performance at the Theater Center on Dubrovka, were released through the prayers of the Church precisely on the feast of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
History of the image
As legend tells, during the days of Her earthly life, the Mother of God, out of inexpressible love for people, blessed the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke to paint Her image.
The Monk John of Damascus wrote: “The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, at a time when the Most Holy Mother of God still lived in Jerusalem and dwelt in Zion, painted Her Divine and honest image on a board with picturesque means, so that, as in a mirror, subsequent generations would contemplate Her and childbirth.
When Luke presented this image to Her, She said: “From now on all generations will bless Me. May the grace and power of Him who was born of Me and Mine be with you.” (Tradition attributes to the brushes of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke from three to seventy icons of the Mother of God, including the Iveron icon).
note
The first news about the image after this dates back to the 9th century - the times of iconoclasm, when, by order of heretical emperors, icons and relics of saints were destroyed and desecrated, churches and monasteries were closed.
In Nicaea, a pious widow named Theodora kept a precious image of the Mother of God. When warriors burst into the woman’s room to take away the image, one of them hit the shrine with a spear. Immediately blood flowed from the face of the Most Pure One. The soldiers were amazed and fled in fear, but the pious widow went to the sea and, after praying, released the icon over the waves.
Two centuries later, the inhabitants of the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos saw a pillar of fire on the sea. He rose above the image of the Mother of God standing on the water.
The brothers prayed fervently and asked the Lord to grant the icon of the monastery.
The next night, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared in a dream to Elder Gabriel the Gruzin, who was distinguished by a strict ascetic life and a childishly simple disposition, and commanded him to personally take Her icon.
The next morning, the elder, strengthened by the blessing of the Mother of God, fearlessly walked on the water and was honored to receive the miraculous shrine. They placed her in a chapel on the shore and prayed before her for three days, and then transferred her to the cathedral church. However, the next day the image was discovered above the monastery gates.
He was taken to his previous place in the main temple, but the next day he again found himself above the gates. This happened several times. Finally, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to Elder Gabriel and said: “Tell the brethren: I do not want to be guarded, but I myself will be your Guardian in this life and in the future.
Sunday School
Difference from the worldly school
From early childhood we begin to stuff children with knowledge. From the age of 7 they go to school and learn mathematics, Russian, physics and many other subjects. In addition, they acquire communication skills in a human environment and prepare for adult life. We ourselves diligently instruct them on how to adapt to certain circumstances, how to survive, how to avoid pitfalls, how to earn money, how to be no worse than others, how to make a career, how to be healthy, and so on. That is, we teach them to adapt to the material world.
But the soul is larger than the material body, and it needs special care from childhood.
Sunday School lessons make up for the lack of knowledge about a person’s spiritual life and lay the moral foundations according to God’s commandments.
Olympics on the fundamentals of Orthodoxy, parents also participate and “cheer”
Children learn what faith, Orthodoxy, the Church are, study Introduction to the Law of God, the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, the history of mankind from the most ancient and authoritative source - the Bible.
The winners of the Olympiad on the Fundamentals of Orthodoxy received gifts from the priest
Children begin attending Sunday school at the age of 5. And by age they are distributed into groups:
preschool - 5-6 years old,
primary - 7-9 years old,
basic - from 10 years.
Classes are taught by certified specialist teachers.
Children really enjoy choral singing lessons with virtuoso musician Sergeyev Sergeyevich. Watching them sing at parish children's parties is an indescribable pleasure and delight.
The boys of the main group attend classes in sexton service, learn church reading and serve at the altar.
Our boys before the Easter procession
In addition, everyone can master the art of bell ringing. For this purpose, the parish has a training belfry and experienced bell ringers.
The Sunday school is led by a brilliant teacher, children's neuropsychologist (advanced training courses at the Institute of Practical Psychology), game technician, fairytale therapist (Department of Cultural Studies of the Moscow Institute of Educational Institutions) and simply a person whom children love so much - Evgenia Vyacheslavovna Petruk.
Individual sessions
Parish life
Sambo Club
On weekdays, the second floor of the clergy house turns into a gym. If you hear cheerful, upbeat music and children’s joyful squeals, it means that classes have begun at the Sambo club, and this is still a motivational warm-up.
Adults and parents of children are also actively involved in the mischievous “madness,” but they have separate training, because it is joyful, playful, and also strengthens the coveted connection between children and parents.
Vladimir Vladimirovich Kapkanov, a former experienced athlete and club leader, knows how to find an approach to children.
The main condition for joining this large sports family is Orthodoxy or the desire to become Orthodox. Martial arts teach humility, discipline, responsibility for the weak. These qualities, multiplied by Orthodoxy, lay in the minds of children the image of an Orthodox warrior who loves his Fatherland. The coach actively cultivates courage, discipline and bravery in children.
A joint photo of children, parents, coach and rector of the temple after a prayer service for the well-being of the sports year
There are 52 students in the Sambo club, who are divided into groups by age categories. Each comes in its own time. The youngest are five years old, but they still know how to fight! However, as befits real boys.
Five-year plans are struggling
The hall is always clean. Parents and the teacher carefully ensure that perfect order is maintained.
The guys take part in serious sports competitions. Competitions are held within church sports clubs with the support of Moskomsport. Everything is fair, judging is carried out by accredited judges with the appropriate status. The events are attended by the ruling bishop and commissioners for physical education and sports of the city of Moscow, as well as priests from parishes.
End of competitions under the auspices of Moskomsport
Before the covid situation, the club’s students went on sports visits to other Moscow gyms and held friendly sparring sessions. Now I only train at home.
Once a month, large tea parties are held with children and parents, excursions to interesting places and trips to the forest are organized.
In the forest and on vacation
In the summer, children go out into the fresh air to Orthodox sports camps, and sometimes learn to combine business with pleasure. So, during their summer vacation, children took part in the restoration of the Church of St. John Chrysostom in the village of Zlatoust, Ivanovo region.
Summer camp takes part in the procession in the village of Zlatoust
"An hour with the abbot"
On Sunday, the hall is filled with parishioners, where leisurely conversations between the rector of the church and the congregation are held over a cup of aromatic tea and sweet treats. Usually the priest enlightens people on the intricacies of understanding the church service, the Liturgy, the church calendar, reports news from the Patriarchate and Orthodoxy, talks about the Resolutions of the Synod meetings, and answers questions. The meetings are called “An Hour with the Abbot.”
People look forward to these meetings and always ask: “Are we going to meet today?” This brings us closer together, gives us the opportunity to get to know each other and get to know each other better.
Therefore, standing at the Liturgy, I know that next to me is not a stranger’s pious person, but truly my brother or sister. Isn't this the dream of every priest? Therefore, we do not stand at the Liturgy, but consciously live it together with Christ, that is, we serve.
Tea party in honor of May 9
The rector encourages the active life of the metochion. Thus, church interest groups gradually formed in the church.
First of all, this is the “Iveron Brotherhood”. Men, gathering together with the priest, serve the Midnight Office, learn to read in Church Slavonic, as well as sing service texts, and resolve church issues.
The choir studio also regularly rehearses under the direction of Zhanna Vasilievna Koloty, and then on holidays delights parishioners with church polyphony and carols.
But there is also a permanent parish choir, the so-called second choir of our parishioners, who sings at services. It is headed by professional vocalist and teacher Tatyana Valerianovna Pavlova.
Psalter
Back in 2021, a group of lovers of reading the Psalter was created. 20 people together read the entirety of this ancient book, written by the prophet David, in a day. According to tradition, when reading, all our relatives are remembered for their health, i.e. Every day there is a prayer for them, multiplied 20 times. Traditionally, when reading, we ask the Lord to unite and increase the parish.
And indeed, over time, there were more people wishing to take part in this pious work. Currently, there are three groups of Psalter lovers in the church. And a new idea appeared. We began to pray together for those who have an urgent need for urgent congregational prayer. That’s what they called it, “SOS Prayer.” In life, anything happens, and the need for emergency prayer help is sometimes simply necessary.
Life quickly showed the usefulness of our endeavors.
When quarantine was announced in 2021, and there was no way to visit the temple, we continued to pray together, communicate in a general chat on the social network WhatsApp, helping and supporting each other.
I remember what Easter it was!
Easter night 2020
Circumstances helped us quickly organize. We served every day of the service in a lay order. Throughout Holy Week we visited visually via the Internet in the best Cathedrals of Moscow and in our church. And on Easter night, how we rejoiced, how we shouted on the phone and in chats, “Christ is Risen!” How we laughed and cried, and were sad, and rejoiced at the fact that we are still together and with Christ, that we are Christians, that we are the Church, no matter what.
We came out of quarantine even more united, even more meaningful, but most importantly, even more familiar.
And then the rector of the church, seeing the perseverance of his flock, gave his blessing to create a general parish chat, in which every day specially selected admins publish interpretations of the Holy Scriptures of the day, troparions of church holidays, lectures on the basics of Orthodoxy, speeches by famous pastors and much other useful information. There are already more than a hundred people in the group, and it is growing all the time.
We have a tradition of congratulating each other on name days. The most active parishioners who devote a lot of work and time to the parish are awarded the honor of a common Sunday meal together with the rector.
Painting exhibitions
Some of the people who built the temple still show their active participation in its life. Thus, the head of the construction department of the Krost concern, Alexey Maratovich Kuznetsov, being a fine connoisseur of painting and possessing impeccable taste, with the blessing of the rector, organizes an exhibition of paintings by Moscow artists in the assembly hall of the clergy house.
So, when gathering for a cup of tea with the abbot, people also receive aesthetic pleasure by looking at the paintings. The most memorable of the exhibitions is the work of Sergei Andriyaka. The “living” bright flowers of his watercolors looked at us for two whole months, bewitching and charging us with positivity.
Temperance Club
On Tuesdays and Fridays, the hall hosts evening meetings of the sober living club. It is headed by Maxim Borisovich Rakitin. The church club has existed for several years and brings undeniable benefits to many people.
Floristics
Everyone knows that the temple is always decorated with fresh flowers. This is a special honor to the Mother of God, Christ, the Angels and the illustrious saints.
Several years ago, courses in temple floristry were held in our clergy house. Some women, who have a special tenderness for flowers, graduated from them, and now we decorate our temple ourselves. Over the course of several years, an entire flower farm and the floristry skills of the flower girls “grew up.” That’s why our place is always elegant, decorated and splendid.
Where is the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God located in Moscow
The most famous location of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary “Iverskaya” is located in the center of the capital - on Red Square. In the place where people enter the square, there is a chapel of the Iveron Mother of God.
- During the reign of the Tsar, most of the Muscovites, before starting a serious business, came to the chapel to take a blessing from the Most Holy Theotokos. Merchants wanted to have a successful trade, high school students wanted to pass exams, and pilgrims always came to take a blessing for the long journey. It was believed that an Orthodox Christian should not undertake anything without such a blessing.
- Noble and rich people sometimes took the Iveron Icon home to serve prayer services with an akathist for seriously ill relatives. During the absence of the icon, a copy of it was installed.
- There were quite a lot of these copies, and one day the original, painted by a Greek icon painter in full observance of fasting, simply disappeared. Some historians believe that it was preserved in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki (Sokolniki metro station).
- Nowadays, prayer services are held in the chapel with the reading of the akathist to the Iveron Mother of God every two hours, starting at 8 o’clock in the morning and ending at 6 o’clock in the evening. All priests serving in Moscow take turns reading a prayer service with an akathist, which is considered an honor for a clergyman.
In Moscow there is also the Church of Our Lady of Iveron. During the Napoleonic invasion it was destroyed several times, and in the revolutionary years and subsequent years under Soviet rule it was looted and almost destroyed. Subsequently, a cinema and a club were set up in the building, that is, they were desecrated as soon as possible.
Restored again in the 90s, it now flaunts on Bolshaya Ordynka (Tretyakovskaya metro station). The ancient paintings have been restored, and now there is also a copy of the Iveron Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The building is painted burgundy and decorated with white decorative elements, making it difficult to miss. The image has already become famous for its miracles.
Worship cross
In 2021, in honor of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, with funds raised by parishioners, a Worship Cross was erected for soldiers who died in all Russian wars.
Every resident of the Ochakovo-Matveevsky district can freely come and pray for their dead relatives near the Poklonny Cross.
I would like as many people as possible to know about this. Now, when we cannot march with the “Immortal Regiment” due to quarantine, we can come and pay honor to those who died at our Worship Cross. Celebrate a memorial service and pray.
Every year on May 9, a thanksgiving prayer for the Victory is held in our church. This year we took with us portraits of our deceased relatives and friends, and did it with them, because with God everyone is alive.
Behind the temple fence
The area behind the fence is also well-groomed. There is a park here, young apple trees are planted, and flower beds are laid out. The nice thing is that there are no retail outlets or catering establishments in a large area. There is a gazebo for relaxation and many benches along the paths. But what attracts children most is the playground with a slide, swings and a sandbox.
Playground
The park smoothly turns into a meadow strewn with dandelions and ends with a forest near the Ochakovka River.
There are public transport stops 100 meters from the temple on both sides, so getting here is convenient.
Start of construction
Construction of the shrine began on the territory of the Academy of the FSB of the Russian Federation. With the opening of the temple, academy students had the opportunity to receive not only a special education, but also a spiritual one. The land plot that was allocated for construction is located at the intersection of two streets. Namely the streets of Lobachevsky and Michurinsky Prospekt.
The total area of the site is 60 acres, this area was enough to build a temple with a large area. It can accommodate about one thousand Orthodox believers. In July 2012, during the start of construction work, the patriarch performed the rite of consecration of the foundation stone. The temple on Michurinsky Prospekt was consecrated in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. This is not surprising, because it is in front of her that prayer requests for help in any difficult and dangerous situations are read. It is also used during the war, so the place where it was built was also not chosen by chance.
The best article for you, go to: Temple “Joy of All Who Sorrow” on Ordynka
The construction of the temple is pillar-shaped. He is five-headed. In terms of its external decoration, it resembles 16th century architecture. As mentioned above, the shrine can accommodate a large number of people, because its area is 1280 square meters. m, and the height reaches 56 meters. The church has 13 bells. The largest one weighs three tons.
