Orthodox Samara. Temple of All Saints

The fortress of Samara was set by the Cossacks at the confluence of the river of the same name and the Volga in the 16th century in the place of a hermit monastery. Its foundation is associated with the name of St. Alexis, who foresaw two centuries earlier the construction of the city on this territory and the fact that this city will never be ruined by anyone. For many years, this outpost defended the eastern borders from nomadic raids.

The city of a thousand churches

For many centuries the inhabitants of Samara lived under the invisible spiritual protection of church domes and crosses. Arriving in the city, numerous merchants and merchants were surprised at the abundance of monasteries and church buildings in Samara. The convenient position of Samara on the banks of the two rivers over time made it a major center of economic and diplomatic ties with the eastern neighboring countries. For three hundred years, a large number of churches, churches, prayer houses and monasteries were built in the city, not only Orthodox, but also many other confessions, which indicated the tolerance of the local population. By this time, under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church, has become the spiritual center of the Samara region. The Church of All Saints originates in this favorable period for the city. The economic, political and cultural events of the life of this already large commercial, industrial and administrative center at the end of the 19th century sharply raised the level of people's well-being, which also had a beneficial effect on the spiritual life of the townspeople, on the volumes of temple building and assistance to the homeless and poor.

XIX century. The construction of the temple

Since the transfer to the outskirts of the city of the local cemetery in 1864, the question arose about the construction of a cemetery church. Samara merchants Emelyan and Mikhey Shikhobalov donated money and construction materials for the construction. With the active assistance of Bishop Feofil Nadezhina, 1865 was the year of construction of a new elegant stone oval church of All Saints with a bell tower.

Among the many other churches that Samara was famous for, the Church of All Saints was unusual for the city layout "under the bell", an octagonal base, a tent and a high head with two pylons.
This view of the building was until 1881, when the question arose about its reconstruction and major overhaul due to its small capacity. After the works, the church became more than two chapels and got a 517-pood bell in memory of Mikhee Shikhobanov. In 1986, the right side chapel was consecrated. On the money collected by the parishioners, a three-tiered pine iconostasis with 72 unique images of saints was made. It took 8 years, finished the work and consecrated the second chapel of the church.

In 1903 another reconstruction was carried out, many icons of manual work were added, many unique frescos were created. When after the meeting the cells of the militant atheists in 1931 blew up the Church of All Saints, Samara shuddered.

New Life of the Temple

An attempt to revive the church was made only in 2000. The temporary finding of the parish church was organized in railway cars. The collection of donations for the Church of All Saints was announced. Samara, and especially its railway district, in a single impulse in a short time, collected not only the necessary amount of restoration, but the residents still brought a lot of icons and necessary things for the services. In 2001, an unexpected fire destroyed the temporary location of the church and all the collected icons. Despite all the difficulties experienced, the foundation for new construction was laid. When St. Tatiana's church was built in 2006 , Samara and its surroundings began to donate for the restoration of the Church of All Saints. In October 2007, the construction of the temple was completed, and on the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin, a three-ton dome and gilded crosses were raised to the top. Many believers and pilgrims, circling the temple, kissed the crosses before they were lifted up and installed at the very top of the building.

XXI Century. Samara. Temple of All Saints

Today, the arrangement of this beautiful church continues. The works in the basement are finished, there is now the largest church shop where you can buy literature and everything necessary for church services. Since 2010, the church opened a Sunday school for children, there are plans for the construction of a kindergarten and college. The collection of donations for the arrangement of the iconostasis, the altar, the throne continues. If you want to visit the church, come to the address: Samara, All Saints Church, Tukhachevsky street. Here you will immediately see the glitter of the golden domes of this beautiful building.