What is a house church? The meaning of a house church in the Orthodox encyclopedia tree. House churches: what are they?

HOUSE CHURCH

Rectorate of the State University for Land Management, one of the oldest educational institutions in Russia, which celebrated its 220th anniversary in May 1999. Restoring the historical and spiritual traditions of survey engineers, the Academic Council of the University decided to recreate the house church of the Konstantinovsky Survey Institute, which existed since 1869 and was destroyed at the beginning of 1918. The house church was consecrated in the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine and his mother Helen, and Saint Constantine became the heavenly patron of survey engineers. Work to recreate this monument of history, Russian culture and architecture was carried out during 2000 with the Highest blessing of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II and the Rector of the Epiphany Cathedral, Protopresbyter Father Matthew. On June 6, 2001, in the main building of the university, a solemn consecration of the restored House Church of the State University for Land Management took place by His Holiness Patriarch ALEXIY II of Moscow and All Rus'

In the church the word of God is read, prayers are offered, the Holy Mysteries are performed (St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, 4:395)

Since the reconstruction of the House Temple, it has been the spiritual heart of the University and plays a large role in the spiritual and moral education of students.

Bishop's services have become traditional for the patronal feast of Saints Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the-Apostles, and for other significant events at the University. In 2006, in connection with the 5th anniversary of the revival of the University's House Church, the festive service was led by His Eminence Alexy, Archbishop of Orekhovo-Zuevsky, vicar of the Moscow diocese. On May 25, 2009, a solemn service to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the founding of the University, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', was led by His Eminence Ignatius, Bishop of Vyborg and Priozersk, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs, member of the Supreme Church Council. June 3, 2011 The festive service in honor of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen was led by Bishop Mercury, Bishop of Zaraisk, now Metropolitan of Rostov and Novocherkassk. On June 5, 2012, the solemn service on the occasion of the patronal feast of the church, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, was led by His Eminence Savva, Bishop of the Resurrection, vicar of the Moscow diocese.

Bishop Savva at the festive service in the University's Home Church.

On June 3, 2013, in honor of the patronal feast of the Church of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, the festive Liturgy was led by His Eminence Theophylact, Bishop of Dmitrov, vicar of the Moscow diocese.

His Eminence Theophylact, Bishop of Dmitrov in the House Church of the University.

The Rector of the University presents His Eminence Theophylact with icons and books.

The 235th anniversary of the founding of the University falls in the year of the 700th anniversary of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the glorious saint who determined the spiritual and state power of our Fatherland for centuries. It is no coincidence that the current Christmas educational readings, dedicated to the anniversary of St. Sergius, were opened precisely at our University, November 19, 2013.

The ceremonial events began with the Divine Liturgy in the House Church of the University, which was led by His Eminence Arseny, Metropolitan of Istra, Vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

After the solemn service, the readings themselves took place in the assembly hall of the University, at which reports were heard on the life of St. Sergius, his miracles and intercession for the Russian land during the years of hard times and the invasion of foreigners. The meeting was headed by His Eminence Arseny and addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. The Bishop once again emphasized the invaluable role of the House Church both in the education of youth and in the preparation of future scientists who love and care for the land on which we live. It was also said about the importance of readings for our education and reflection. The Christmas readings made the greatest impression on young people and University students. The solemn and joyful atmosphere of the holiday and interesting historical reports will remain in their memory for a long time.

His Eminence Arseny blesses the worshipers in the House Church of the University.

A ceremonial meeting in the University assembly hall on the opening day of the Christmas educational readings. honor of St. Sergius.

The feast of St. Sergius of Radonezh is especially significant for our church, and every year on this day a festive service is held.

It is interesting that the name of the reverend was borne by the first director of our institute, Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov, and is borne by the current rector of the University, Sergei Nikolaevich Volkov. It was he who initiated the restoration within the walls of the University of the House Church of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, which breathed new life into our University.

At our University, the feast of St. Sergius is still especially revered because people pray to him for help in his studies. And often students light a candle with a prayer in front of his icon.

Icon of the Holy Venerable Sergius of Radonezh on the feast day in honor of the saint.

In addition to the bishops, students and staff see many wonderful clergy in the church: these are the rector of the Epiphany Cathedral, Protopresbyter Fr. Matthew Stadnyuk and Archpriest Fr. Alexander Ageikin, Fr. Nikolai Stepanyuk, rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign in Pereyaslavskaya Sloboda, Archpriest Fr. Theodore Rozhik, Archimandrite Fr. Dionysius Shishigin, dean, rector of the Church of St. Nicholas in Pokrovsky, archpriest Fr. Alexy Ladygin, rector of the Church of St. Euphrosyne of Moscow, priest Fr. Konstantin Korneev, and Archpriest Fr. Sergius Tocheny, deputy dean, rector of the Church of the Apostle Jacob Zavedeev, protodeacon of the Novospassky Monastery Fr. Gennady Kuznetsov, protodeacons of the Epiphany Cathedral Fr. Sergius Sapronov and Fr. Mikhail Grechishkin, prominent bass protodeacon Fr. Nikolai Platonov and many others. A notable contribution to the temple was made by Fr. Konstantin Korneev, a graduate of our University, he renovated the tarnished golden decoration of the temple with his own hands. It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of the rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign in Pereyaslavskaya Sloboda, Archpriest Fr. Theodore Rozhik, who constantly donates wax candles, lamp oil, bells and much more to the temple.

Rector of the Epiphany Cathedral Father Alexander Ageikin

The cleric of the Epiphany Cathedral, Fr. Nikolay Stepanyuk.

Priest Fr. Konstantin Korneev at the sermon.

Rector of the Znamensky Church in Pereyaslavskaya Sloboda, Archpriest Theodore Rozhik

In our Home Church, services are held on all major holidays, akathists are read on the days of the celebration of the icons of the Most Holy Theotokos and saints, everyone has the opportunity to confess, partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, or simply go into the temple and pray. Also, all significant events in the life of the University are inextricably linked with prayer and services in the House Church. The school year, as usual, begins with a prayer service before the start of the school year.

Temple before the start of the prayer service.

On such a holiday, many students, their parents and teachers usually come to the prayer service. The service is also broadcast on the large screen in the lobby, so that those who, due to the large number of worshipers, were unable to enter the church, have the opportunity to see the prayer service from the screen and join in the general prayer. At the prayer service, prayers are offered for all teachers and students, for their well-being, longevity, and diligent learning.

Father Nicholas blesses with the cross and sprinkles with holy water after the prayer service before the start of the school year.

Teachers led by University Rector S.N. Volkov and students at a prayer service before the start of the academic year.

After a very festive service, on the eve of training, new experiences and a new student life, the eyes of all first-year students, and not only those, glow with inspiration and joy. And their parents once again rejoice that, first of all, their children’s education began with a blessing in the temple!

Even before the start of training, many parents of applicants and future students first of all came to the temple, admired it and the opportunity for their children to join spirituality.

“We really want our children to enter your University” - the first words of the parents. Everyone, without exception, notes the presence of a temple as an important argument in choosing a place to educate their children; all parents want to see their children under the spiritual guidance of the temple. Throughout the academic year, students have the opportunity to visit church, listen to sermons and receive the blessing of our dear priests. And throughout the school year, the temple is open not only during services, but also simply for everyone who wants to come in and pray, and for some, perhaps this will be their first acquaintance with the temple and the first step on the path of moral growth and salvation.

In the House Temple of the University.

Students approach the cross after the thanksgiving service at the end of the school year and are sprinkled with water.

Presentation of diplomas in the assembly hall.

The rector of the Epiphany Cathedral, Fr. Alexander Ageikin congratulates the graduates on receiving their diploma. Assembly hall of the university.

Students in the University's House Temple.

Students at the Akathist.

Guests of the University also first of all come to our wonderful temple.

On June 27, 2013, the State University of Land Management was visited by the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation N.V. Fedorov.

In a solemn atmosphere, the Minister of Agriculture awarded a permit to the first consolidated All-Russian student land management team.

During Nikolai Vasilyevich Fedorov’s acquaintance with the University, he visited our House Church, joyfully noted its splendor and prayed before the icon of St. Nicholas.

Minister of Agriculture N.V. Fedorov in the House Church of the University.

On June 3, 2013, our home church was visited by the Ambassador of the Republic of Benin, Aniseet Gabriel Kochofa, who came to the University on a friendly visit.

Ambassador of the Republic of Benin Aniseet Gabriel Kochofa and his assistant at the house temple.

The Ambassador and his assistant visited the church with pleasure and lit candles to the icon of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, patrons of our University, whose feast day was celebrated on this day. The guests also heard about the history of the temple, its significance, the students who took part in the restoration of the temple, and the patronal feast.

In honor of the holiday, they were presented with icons of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, which they accepted with joy and gratitude.

The temple plays a huge role not only in the life of the University as a whole, but also in the lives of many employees and students. Both students, teachers, and even guests of the University take part in its beautification with pleasure.

It is impossible not to mention our constant benefactors of the temple. On the feast of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, they all celebrate their Angel Day.

Benefactors of the House Temple of the University of A.L. Likefet, A.S. Smirnov, A.A. Shimkevich, A.E. Guskov.

From the first days of the restoration of the temple, students also take part in its beautification.

On November 15, 2013, before the Christmas educational readings of the Central Vicariate of Moscow, held at our University, students of the Faculty of Architecture helped restore the painting in the House Church. There were a lot of people who wanted to take part in this wonderful and interesting activity, including first-year students, second- and third-year students, and even fifth-year students.

Beginning of work. Color selection.

The work was very easy, pleasant, it was a joy to do something for the temple, and even at my University. And the work itself was completed unexpectedly quickly. Now, when children come to church to pray or attend a service, they probably feel that the church has become even closer to them!

Zyuzin Vladislav, Lavrov Roman.

Kochetkova Polina.

A very beautiful photograph in which St. Sergius of Radonezh seems to bless the students decorating the holy temple.

Summer internship is a significant event in the life of students of the Faculty of Architecture. If desired, some of the children undergo it in monasteries, where they use the knowledge acquired during training to help the monastery.

According to an established tradition, some students of the Faculty of Architecture undergo construction practice at the Holy Annunciation Monastery in the city of Kirzhach, Vladimir Region. First of all, the guys participated in construction and architectural planning work to restore the monastery church of All Saints. In addition, students worked on the interior decoration of the icon-painting workshop, and also carried out landscaping and landscaping work, applying their knowledge of landscape design.

Sketch of the Church of All Saints

Landscaping

The most important feature of the practice was the introduction of the children to the spiritual life of the monastery. Thanks to the attention of the nuns of the monastery, students were given a tour of the monastery and church; those who wished could always attend any service. A bonfire and a conversation with Father Alexander were organized in the monastery courtyard.

Conversation with the priest by the fire

The guys listen carefully. Alexandra

Nuns of the monastery. Abbess Theodora with her sisters

The extraordinary combination of useful work for future architects, wonderful relaxation, and the atmosphere of cleanliness and morality of the monastery made a special impression on the guys. Many expressed a desire to come to the monastery for services or to work again during the summer holidays. Thank God that the students of our University have a wonderful opportunity to provide all possible assistance in the restoration of the monastery and touch the origins of spirituality. The beginning of such spiritual and moral education was laid by the temple of our University.

Summer 2012 students of the Faculty of Architecture of our University completed an internship in the village of Naberezhnaya Sloboda. The guys helped in designing the restoration work of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in the early 18th century. The two-story, single-domed church, built at the expense of the Shuvalovs in the late Baroque spirit, was abandoned at the beginning of the 19th century, and began to be restored only in 2002.

The guys from our University took part in the measurement work. In addition, they made drawings of the church and drawings of facades in watercolors.

Vera Eveliovich and Nastya Vertyankina working on the drawings.

Alexander Konstantinovich Sixtel and Father Mikhail at measuring work.

The rector of the temple, priest Fr. Mikhail Geronimus expressed great gratitude to the rector of the University S.N. Volkov for the invaluable assistance to the restored temple provided by students of the University’s Faculty of Architecture, as well as to the children who came to work for the temple.

From July 2 to July 16, 2013 Several 3rd year students of the Faculty of Architecture of our University completed an internship at the Nikolo-Solbinsky convent in the Yaroslavl region.

Our student girls, Ekaterina Bakulina, Natalya Konyukhova, and Anastasia Ponomareva, contributed to the restoration of the monastery.

Abbess Erotiida, the abbess of the monastery, happily accepted assistants from our University, and the girls not only helped the monastery, but also consolidated their knowledge as future architects and partially applied it in practice.

In July 2013, again, some of the students of the Faculty of Architecture completed an internship at the Holy Annunciation Monastery, where they are always welcome and happily welcomed. And as usual, the guys provided invaluable assistance to the monastery and its courtyard. Measurements were taken of the cell building and its main facade. as well as the overhead chapel, which were then compared with the construction drawings. Based on these data, drawings were made.

Execution of drawings based on measurement results

Students in practice at the Holy Annunciation Kirzhach Monastery.

So, every year and every day, the presence of a church at the University reveals an invaluable treasure of bishop's services and bishop's sermons, spiritual conferences and good deeds, restoration of churches and much more, which opens up a new world for students and makes them better people.

House Temple of the University.

To the 160th anniversary of the Samara diocese

And every day they remained in the temple with one accord
and breaking bread from house to house, they ate food
in joy and simplicity of heart,
praising God and being favored by all the people.
The Lord added daily those who were being saved to the Church

Acts of the Holy Apostles 6:46, 6:47

The first house church in Samara became in 1851 Cross Church in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the first Bishop's House on the corner of Dvoryanskaya and Alekseevskaya streets (Kuibysheva / Krasnoarmeyskaya).
In 1854 The Church of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” was built at the prison on Ostrozhnaya (Ilyinskaya, Krasnoarmeyskaya) Square. Most often it was called the Sorrow Church at the prison castle.
After the opening of the Joachim-Anninsky house church at the Theological Seminary in 1864 - 1872, house churches were created at a variety of charitable institutions (shelters, communities, almshouses), hospitals and city institutions (for example, at the city council or in the building of a water station), as well as at a real school, gymnasiums, schools, at the Samara garrison. There were private house churches at estates (for example, the house church in the house of I. L. Sanin and many others).

The house churches had three Samara almshouses - Sokolovskaya, Shikhobalovskaya and Diocesan.
The elderly kept women of the Konstantinovskaya almshouse attended the All Saints Church, and the residents of the Arzhanovskaya almshouse attended the Edinoverie or Trinity Church.

1. Jacob-John House Church
at the almshouse named after Ya. G. and I. Ya. Sokolov
(corner of Michurina and Chkalova streets, 2/98)
Previously, the corner of Solovyina and Orenburg

Sokolovskaya almshouse with the house church of the holy apostles James and John.

In 1907 The Sokolov merchants donated an unprecedented amount - 500,000 rubles - for the establishment and maintenance of an almshouse with a hospice house. 200,000 rubles were spent on the construction of an almshouse and the arrangement of courtyard service buildings, and 300,000 rubles were deposited in the bank “as an eternal deposit.” Ten percent of the dividends replenished the emergency capital, and the rest went to the maintenance of the establishment.
The almshouse complex was located in the Sokolovs’ own garden on Peter and Paul Square, consisting of a two-story building that stretched over the entire 139th block and courtyard buildings. In the depths of the garden there were bakeries, cellars, and an outbuilding for servants.

The almshouse was consecrated August 23, 1909. But on August 5, the first 15 people found shelter here. During the grand opening of the almshouse, the Sokolovs handed over another 10,000 rubles to Governor V.V. Yakunin for the organization of orphanages.
After the opening of the establishment, members of the city duma decided to petition for Sokolov to be awarded the title of honorary citizen of Samara. The journals of the City Duma meetings noted: “For such a generous donation, bring the Sokolovs, through a specially elected deputation, the gratitude of the Duma and petition for them to be awarded the title of honorary citizens of the city of Samara, and put their oil portraits in the hall of the almshouse they donated.”

At the Sokolovskaya almshouse, 1911

The building of the Sokolov almshouse on Michurina Street

End of the building with attic and onion dome

N.V. Melnikova describes the residential building of the almshouse as follows: “The upper floor of the building was divided into eight large, bright chambers designed for one hundred people. There was also a small first aid kit and the house St. John's Church. On the lower floor there were four chambers for fifty people and two chambers for strangers (poor travelers who wanted to stay in the city for 2-3 days).

In the journals of the City Duma meetings we can find information about the organization of a “nominal” chamber in the almshouse, named in honor of the wife of the commerce councilor Yakov Gavrilovich Sokolov - Synklitikia Afanasyevna Sokolova.

December 9, 1910 the son of Ya. G. Sokolov, Ivan Yakovlevich Sokolov, informed the city duma that “in perpetuating the memory of my parent, the wife of commerce councilor Synklitikia Afanasyevna Sokolova, I deigned to donate 10,000 rubles to the main capital of the almshouse for the charity of the townspeople in a special separate ward with a memorial inscription about Synklitikia Sokolova."

House churches at almshouses did not open immediately. For example, in the newspaper “Voice of Samara” in 1910, a note was published by the caretaker of the Sokolov almshouse, Mr. Karmanov, who noted: “The entry of our almshouse into the parish of the Peter and Paul Church does not at all mean that the issue with the church has been resolved positively. Two of our friends went to church for morning service two weeks ago and did not return. The veins have been lost due to the defectiveness of their minds due to their advanced years. We had to conduct a search with the police for two days.”

The house church in the name of the apostles James and John the Merciful (in honor of Yakov and Ivan Sokolov) opened and was consecrated only in December 1911. The consecration was carried out by the Diocesan Bishop himself, His Grace Konstantin, Bishop of Samara and Syzran. At the same time, Ivan Yakovlevich Sokolov deposited a sum of 12,000 rubles into the bank, and the priest and deacon were to be supported from the interest. Father Arkhangelsky became the rector. To this day, on the eastern end of the building we can see the figured attic of the house church with an onion dome.

Many residents of the Sokolovskaya almshouse worked “to the best of their ability” at the diocesan candle factory located nearby (now 100 Chkalov Street, in a building that is listed in the register of cultural heritage sites for 2010 as the May Day Shoe Factory).
Interesting is the testimony of the collegiate assessor Kromsky, who claimed that “a resident of the Sokolov almshouse, Grigory Fedorovsky, worked every day before lunch as a janitor of this almshouse and received 34 rubles for this good work per year for walks.”

At Christmas time, a Christmas tree was put up in the garden at the Sokolovskaya almshouse and decorated with homemade toys and apples.

Almshouse residents at a prayer service

After the death of Ya. G. Sokolov, on the initiative of the city duma member A. G. Ershov August 21, 1911 In front of the almshouse, a bronze bust of commerce was erected to the councilor and honorary citizen of the city, Yakov Gavrilovich Sokolov.

Bust of Ya. G. Sokolov

The place on Michurina Street where the bust stood

After the revolution, the building was transferred to a kindergarten. Nowadays the building is occupied by a sensitive facility - the Directorate for Convoying of the GUIN of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation for the Samara Region.

The monstrous extension to the neighboring residential building and the residential building itself at 4 Michurina Street, in our opinion, completely violates the compositional design of the block.
In turn, the “space-planning composition of the building, the decor of the main facades of the almshouse and the compositional structure”, according to the register of cultural heritage objects for 2010, are the subject of protection by the International Cultural Heritage Society.

2. Home church-school
Kazan Icon of the Mother of God at the Diocesan Almshouse
named after Emperor Alexander III
(Kommunisticheskaya st., 1)
Previously st. Petropavlovskaya

Church-school at the Diocesan almshouse.
Monument of cultural heritage of regional significance
(Order of the ICSO dated July 29, 2009 No. 13)

The idea of ​​creating an almshouse for elderly clergy was actively discussed in the late 1870s on the pages of the Samara Diocesan Gazette. In 1887 The Promytov family of priests donated 12,700 rubles for the creation of the almshouse. The money was deposited in the bank at interest.

Before 1894 The collection of money for the organization of the Diocesan Almshouse continued. As a result, 31,050 rubles were collected and the drying and slicing building of the former Zelikhman match factory on Peter and Paul Square was rented “for establishment.” Part of the buildings and the garden were donated free of charge to the diocesan almshouse by the hereditary honorary citizen Ivan Mikhailovich Pleshanov.
January 2, 1896 The almshouse building was consecrated and named after the sovereign Emperor Alexander III. Initially, 10 men and 10 women of clergy lived in the almshouse. In 1897 His Eminence Gury presented a project for a shelter for young clerical orphans, which was organized in 1898 in a wooden outbuilding. Later the shelter was called Guryevsky.

January 2, 1900 A church-school of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was opened at the almshouse and shelter, built according to the design of the diocesan architect T. S. Khilinsky.
An iconostasis made of oak with gold trim by the famous Samara master I.V. Belousov was installed in the church. The interior decoration of the church was completed at the expense of I. M. Pleshanov, E. I. Subbotina, Ya. G. Sokolov and A. N. Shikhobalov.

Project of T. S. Khilinsky house church-school

The interior of the church was divided into a school and an altar-refectory part by wooden sliding partitions. After the opening of the parochial school at the shelter, the church was used for its intended purpose - only for services.
In 1904 - 1909, the elder of the church at the almshouse was the Samara merchant Kuzma Stepanovich Oborin.
After 1919 The church building was occupied by the railway workers' club, and later a hostel was opened here. During the times of “developed socialism” the building was adapted into a school gym. In the 1990s, the premises were rented out as offices. Now the regional archive of the education department is located in the building of the former church.

Facade according to the Communist

Many questions are raised by the line in the register of cultural heritage sites for 2010, where the house next to the church at 5 Kommunisticheskaya Street is listed as one of the buildings of the Diocesan Almshouse.

There is an opinion among some historians that this building belonged to the merchant A.F. Kozhevnikov. In addition, in the Address calendars and the reference book “All Samara for 1900”, it is true that A.F. Kozhevnikov had his own house at the beginning of Soldatskaya Sloboda on Petropavlovskaya Street (the place coincides).

The initials “AFK” carved on the wooden decorative clock of the building make us lean towards the version that the house at Kommunisticheskaya, 5 belongs to the merchant Kozhevnikov.
It is possible that the house was rented or purchased by the almshouse from a merchant.

House No. 5 on Kommunisticheskaya Street

Decorative clock with the initials “AFK”
on the facade of house No. 5 on Kommunisticheskaya

3. House church
Saint Reverend Seraphim of Sarov at the Shikhobalovskaya almshouse
(corner of Krasnoarmeyskaya and Brothers Korostelev streets, 91/104)
Previously the corner of the street. Alekseevskaya and Uralskaya

Shikhobalovskaya almshouse with a house church.
Monument of cultural heritage of regional significance
(Order of the ICSO dated December 29, 2009 No. 25)

For a long time there has been a prejudice that A. N. Shikhobalov, having sold the city during the famine of 1891 low-quality fifth-grade flour (a huge number of townspeople were poisoned with flour), tried to make amends for “his” guilt by organizing an almshouse. In the fall of 1893, Anton Nikolaevich Shikhobalov notified the city duma of his desire to donate to the city a two-story house with retail premises and outbuildings on the corner of Uralskaya and Alekseevskaya for the construction of an almshouse.

Shikhobalovskaya almshouse. Photo from the collection of G. V. Bichurov

Repair of tram tracks near the Shikhobalovskaya almshouse.
Photo from the collection of V. Arnold

November 14, 1893 an almshouse with a hospice house was opened and transferred to the city with private maintenance from perpetual deposits in the Peasant Land and City Public Banks. By 1906 the amount of deposits amounted to 65,000 rubles. The administration could receive additional funds from renting out the commercial premises available at the house. The merchant reserved the right to admit the needy to the almshouse to himself and his heirs - E. A. Kurlina and M. A. Suroshnikova. As a result, the city government decided to “accept the establishment with gratitude, further call it the Shikhobalovskaya almshouse and order at the expense of the city an icon of the Almighty, making a decent icon case for it, and place it in the almshouse’s dining room.”
The two-story building has an inner courtyard. The almshouse was built from bricks from the Samara Letyagin factory. On one of the walls of the building we can find a lot of bricks with the Letyagin stamps.

The wall of the almshouse with the brand marks of the Letyagin brick factory

A poke of a brick with the mark “Letyagina” on the wall of the almshouse

Bay window of a building with a house church

The house church at the almshouse was opened only 10 years later in 1903 in the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The church was located on the second floor and was a bay window-lantern on columns and three brackets with a dome and a gilded cross, and had its own entrance from Uralskaya Street.

The preserved “original” central bracket

The walls were decorated with frescoes by master Belousov with themes from the life of St. Seraphim of Sarov: “The Prayer of the Venerable Father Seraphim on the Stone,” “The Death of the Venerable Seraphim,” “The Appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to Father Seraphim.” The house church was assigned to the Elias Church. According to N.V. Melnikova, until 1918, wreaths laid on the grave of A.N. Shikhobalov in 1908 hung on the walls of the temple.

The structure of the almshouse is described colorfully and in detail in the famous book “Anton Nikolaevich Shikhobalov, his life, educational and charitable institutions named after him,” which was published in Moscow in 1912 by Shikhobalov’s son-in-law Vasily Mikhailovich Suroshnikov: “The almshouse building is stone, two-story, with a home church in the name of the Venerable Father Seraphim, the Wonderworker of Sarov, with a courtyard and various economic services. There are two main entrances to the almshouse, one from Alekseevskaya Street, and the other from Uralskaya Street to the house church on the second floor. The entrance from Uralskaya Street is decorated with a cross and an icon of St. Seraphim. The rooms are spacious and light. The chambers are occupied by permanent residents of the Shikhobalovskaya almshouse, hoping to live peacefully in a quiet refuge until their death. The old women look neat and homely, on the beds there is a modest but clean blanket and the same linen, on the tables there are tea utensils, which alms-givers are very fond of, books of the Holy Scriptures, various items of women's handicraft. In the middle of the hall, on a column, there is an icon of the Savior, all decorated with flowers; on the walls near the beds there are icons, crosses, pictures of religious and moral content. The atmosphere exudes the comfort and peace of a quiet old man’s life. Climbing the stone stairs to the second floor, we will enter the church of the almshouse. It is painted in a grayish tone and painted with frescoes mainly from the life of the Reverend Father Seraphim of Sarov. The frescoes are by local artist Belousov. In the works of this master, remarkable for their consistency of tone, one can see a deep knowledge of the life of the saint. The artist put into his pious work so much touching simplicity, which also surrounded the ascetic life of the Venerable Father Seraphim, and so perfectly conveyed its spiritual beauty that it seems that you are standing not in a church, but in that beautiful, quiet desert of the Sarov Nizhny Novgorod province, which fell in love with the holy hermit. One of the frescoes, painted on the wall opposite the altar, depicts the prayer of the Reverend Father Seraphim on a stone. Quiet desert, clear sky, sand. The saint's eyes are filled with gentle joy; he converses with God. Two frescoes are painted on the walls of both choirs. On the right choir the death of the Venerable Father Seraphim is depicted, on the left choir - the appearance of the Mother of God to the Venerable Father Seraphim on the day of the Annunciation. The Mother of God, surrounded by a host of bright angels, stands before the old man who has humbly fallen to the ground and proclaims to him the grace and mercy of the Lord.
The church, spacious and bright, is arranged in a splendid manner. It can accommodate up to five hundred people praying, a number that is six times greater than the full staff of the almshouse’s patrons and servants. From 1894 to 1910, 149 persons of both sexes were cared for in the almshouse. Every year from 250 to 300 pilgrims find shelter in the hospice department. The maintenance of the almshouse is ensured by interest on the capital of 65,370 rubles donated by Anton Nikolaevich. Why did he build an almshouse, and not a tavern, a tavern or something like that? Why does he plant orphanages, build schools, decorate the temples of God? Because these deeds were accessible, understandable to his soul, eager to serve people in the name of God’s commandments, and undoubtedly corresponded to his concepts of the duties of a Christian.”

In 1918 The church was closed, the dome with the cross was removed, some of the frescoes were destroyed, and some were painted over. In Soviet times, School No. 14, known to all Samara residents, was located here for children with developmental disabilities. In the 2000s, the school was repurposed into a special (correctional) general education boarding school “Overcoming” for children with speech disorders and mental retardation.
Under the Administration of the ex-mayor of Tarkhov the building was in a state of disrepair, threatening the safety of children, but there was no money for major repairs. Then the boarding school “Overcoming” was moved to 45 Maurice Thorez Street, and the house of the former almshouse, which had belonged to the city since 1893, was transferred to the Samara diocese, which was able to find funds for repairs.

Facade along Brothers Korostelev Street

January 15, 2008(on the day of memory of Seraphim of Sarov) a dome with a cross was installed on the bay window of the house. On the second floor today there is a temple of St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker. Father Seraphim conducts services here every day at 9.00 and 17.00.

On the ground floor there is a children's Orthodox institution of additional education for children from 3 to 17 years old (Orthodox culture, vocals, embroidery, chess section, wood painting, aircraft modeling, etc.).

At the moment, we know of only one operating almshouse in Samara at the Spaso-Voznesensky Cathedral on the street. Stepan Razin, which is home to 19 people. It is planned to create almshouses at other Samara churches.

On the topic you can see:

1. Address calendars and memorial books of the Samara province, Samara, 1905 - 1915.
2. Anton Nikolaevich Shikhobalov, his life, educational and charitable institutions named after him. Moscow, 1912.
3. 150 years of the Samara diocese. // Spiritual Interlocutor, 2001, No. 4.
4. At the first midnight of the 20th century. //Samara Diocesan Gazette, 1901, No. 24, December 15.
5. Voice of Samara for 1910.
6. Journals of the Samara City Duma for 1905 - 1915.
7. Zubov O.V., Melnikova N.V., Radchenko O.I., Bochkov V.A., Podmaritsyn A.G. Orthodox shrines of the Samara region. Historical and church encyclopedia. Samara, 2002.
8. Honorary citizens of Samara XIX - XX centuries. V. /Edited by P. S. Kabytov. Samara: Cruise, 2008.
9. Rassokhina G.N. The code of Samara’s development is contained in its oldest part. //SamArch, 1998, No. 6 (June).
10. Rassokhina G. Shikhobalovskaya almshouse. //Volzhskaya Zarya, 2003, January 28.
11. Yakunin V.N. History of the Samara diocese in portraits of its bishops. Tolyatti, 1999.

Church of the Saints Equal to the Apostles

Konstantin and Elena

The home church of Saints Constantine and Helen, which is the solid foundation of spirituality at our university, dates back to 1869. Even in the first land management educational institution in Russia, the Konstantinovsky Land Survey Institute (KMI), which originated from the land surveying school founded by Catherine II in 1779 and gave birth to the State University of Land Management, there was its own house church. At that time it was located in the institute building on Staraya Basmannaya Street. After the institute moved to a new building located in Gorokhovsky Lane, construction began on a new church of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, and on March 24, 1874, the temple was consecrated again. The status of the new large church has changed, now it has become the home church of the KMI, and the priest Andrei Grigorievich Polotebnov became the rector of the church. A large number of famous architects, artists, woodcarvers, icon painters and other craftsmen participated in the construction and arrangement of the KMI house church. The choir of students from the Survey Institute also became widely known in Moscow. All the parishioners loved the temple. And the students of the university were deservedly proud of the unique church, built exclusively at the expense of graduates and teachers of the institute, who took care of its splendor.

Church of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen at the Konstantinovsky Land Survey Institute.

More than 50 years before the time of the liquidation of the temple, it played a leading role in the spiritual and moral education of students, and during periods of difficult trials and during the war, it provided material assistance to the state.

With the advent of Soviet power, persecution of the Church began. Having separated the Church from the state and the school from the Church, the Soviet government took away all legal and civil rights from the Church, which created conditions for the closure of churches and monasteries. In 1918, the KMI house church was sealed by decree on the closure of churches. In 1920, the temple was closed completely, and the church ensemble was destroyed.

Many years later, by the grace of God, the country turned to its Orthodox origins and traditions. The rector of the university, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor S.N. Volkov, on May 25, 1999, proclaimed a program for the spiritual revival of the university, and above all the reconstruction of the house church. Architectural and planning solutions and a design for the iconostasis of the church were developed, and with the blessing of Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, construction, planning and artistic work began.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II and university rector S.N. Volkov on the day of the consecration of the university’s house church on June 6, 2001.

In addition to professional craftsmen, teachers and students of the Faculty of Architecture took an active part in the reconstruction of the temple, who took upon themselves the preparation of historical and artistic materials related to the house church at the KMI, as well as the actual painting of the walls and ceiling.

Students of the university's Faculty of Architecture paint the walls of the house church.

The rector of the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow, Protopresbyter Father Matthew Stadnyuk, provided and continues to provide great assistance in the matter of spiritual and moral revival of the university.

The rector of the Epiphany Cathedral, Protopresbyter Father Matthew, and the rector of the university, S.N. Volkov, in the home church of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen.

In addition, the care of the construction of the temple was entrusted to the cleric of the Epiphany Cathedral, Archpriest Nikolai Stepanyuk.

In April 2001, the construction of the house church was completed, and on June 6, 2001, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' consecrated the house church.

Consecration of the university's house church by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus'.

The newly recreated church of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helena, received his new life, and, as before, became the support of the morality and spirituality of the university, strengthening the hearts of all who come to it in faith and piety, love for the Motherland and their profession.

In one of the halls of the Hermitage there is the Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands, this is the restored house church of the Romanov family. It was built in 1753–1762 according to the design of the famous Rastrelli. Now the interior has been reproduced exactly and the iconostasis has been restored. Although today this house church is one of the many exhibition halls of the museum, one can imagine what the imperial house church of those times actually looked like.

Palace Square, 2

Yusupov's home church

In the Yusupov Palace there is a home church of famous princes. Its construction was led by the architect V. A. Quesnel, and he designed it in the Byzantine style. Important events for the family took place here - weddings, baptisms of children. In 1926, the church ceased to exist, and four years later the premises were completely converted into a lecture hall. 85 years later, restorers recreated a small house temple, and now it is open to visitors.

emb. Moika River, 94

The Church of the Resurrection of the Lord is considered the first temple in Tsarskoye Selo. Initially, it was installed as a camp church, as ordered by the owner of the palace, Catherine I. The history of this holy place is not simple, the church burned down twice, and it was moved to different parts of the palace and beyond. During the years of German occupation, the church was used as a warehouse, many relics were lost. Nowadays, the temple is still being restored, and prayer services are occasionally held in it.

Pushkin, Sadovaya st., 7

The Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands is located in the Stable Yard complex in St. Petersburg. Anna Ioannovna ordered it to be made in 1736. At that time, the temple was intended for employees of the court stables. Years later, Alexander I, and later A.S. Pushkin, were buried within the walls of the temple. After 1917, the Stable Church was looted and later completely closed. The new solemn consecration of the temple took place in 2000. Now it is open to everyone.

Konyushennaya sq., 1

The Church of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Patternmaker is completely inconspicuous from the street; it is located in an ordinary house. In addition to divine services, there is a charitable brotherhood at the temple that helps prisoners in prisons and cares for seriously ill patients in hospitals. The radio of the St. Petersburg diocese “Grad Petrov” is also located in the same building.

emb. Lieutenant Schmidt, 39

An Orthodox church is not necessarily a separate independent building. A temple may be located inside a building that is not even remotely related to religion. For example, in a military unit or in a hospital. Even the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation has its own house church.

House temple - how is it different from an ordinary temple?

In fact, the meaning of what a house church is lies in its very name - it is a temple that is located in a house. Moreover, a house, both in the broad sense (any building, structure), and in the narrow sense - a personal mansion or private mansions.

Why are house churches built (or should it be more correct to say: house churches)? They are arranged in cases where there is a desire or need to have a temple, but there is no possibility or need to erect it in the form of a separate building.

As in the case of chapels, a house church is created to help a person, at a certain moment or in a certain place, break out of the usual bustle and connect thought with God. But unlike the chapel, the church has an altar, and therefore the Sacrament of Liturgy and Communion can be performed in it. Therefore, one of the meanings of house churches is to organize them where there are people who, for one reason or another, do not have the opportunity to get to neighboring churches: for example, in hospitals or military units.

An unusual example of a house church. House church in the name of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost” at Plekhanov University. From the outside it looks like a full-fledged temple, but in fact it is only part of a house, which is even larger, and that is why the temple is considered a brownie. Photo: patriarchia.ru

House churches: where they can be located

• In hospitals and clinics. Of course, there are full-fledged small churches on the territory of some hospitals. But where there is no possibility or purpose to erect a separate building, house temples are built. They are arranged primarily for patients and staff.
• In military units. For military personnel.
• In educational institutions. Now - mainly at theological academies. But not only. For example, there is a large house church at Moscow State University on Vozdvizhenka. House churches at institutes are an old tradition that carries the idea of ​​spiritual education of students.
• In monasteries house churches can be established in any auxiliary or service buildings. They, as a rule, play the role of “small” churches, in which services are held “on occasion” (for example, on the days of major Holidays or the memory of saints in whose honor the temple is consecrated).
• In private homes. They probably don’t do this now, but before the revolution, a very rich landowner could place a house church in one of his mansions.
• In government premises. For example, there is a house church in the building of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation in Moscow.

Patriarchal service in the house Church of the Three Saints in Paris. Photo: patriarchia.ru

House churches: what are they?

If someone says that a house church is somehow “worse” than ordinary churches, then this is not true. All churches are equal, the Holy Liturgy is served in each.

Another thing is that, as a rule, house churches are small and less luxurious in architectural forms or decoration (although there are exceptions). But these are all human circumstances that in no way affect the depth of spiritual life or the essence of the Sacraments. Saints and early Christians sometimes took communion in ordinary caves.

House churches in Moscow (photo)

Here, look, examples of house churches in Moscow. Photos are taken from the official websites of these churches, links in the signature.

The home church of the great martyr and healer Panteleimon at the Russian Scientific Center for Surgery named after. B.V. Petrovsky RAMS. It is located in this building:

and looks like this:

House church at the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation. Here's the building itself:

And here is the temple itself: (essentially: the only altar)

The home church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov. An example of a house church, which in size and decoration is in no way inferior to large parish churches.

The home church of all Moscow Saints at the Moscow Compound of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. It is also quite large: two altars.

And this is the mansion in which the temple is located. The house is called the Metropolitan Chambers. Before the revolution, this was the residence of Patriarch Tikhon.

House Church of the Prophet Elijah on Vorontsov Field. An example of a temple located in a very simple house:

But inside, thanks to the layout, it is quite large:

This is him too. You can’t even tell that this is a living cube:

House churches: what you need to know about them

So, to briefly summarize the above:

• House churches are absolutely full-fledged temples.
• And their only feature is that they are not built as a separate building, but are arranged inside an “ordinary” house.
• House churches are organized in those cases, when a temple is needed, but there is no need or opportunity to build a separate church. For example, in hospitals, educational institutions, military units. Less often - in private homes.
• House churches are not necessary small and room-like. Some are as large as churches in decoration and size.

Trinity Church in Paris. Photo: patriarchia.ru

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