Temples of Russia: the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin in Bratsevo

The Church of the Intercession of the Virgin is in one of the most picturesque places on the outskirts of Moscow, not far from the estate of Bratsevo, which is not only an architectural monument, but also a model of landscape art. The first official mention of a village near Moscow with the same name dates back to the middle of the 16th century.

History of the estate

The construction of the temple itself is directly connected with the Bratsevo manor. The first mention of the village, and specifically about the manor, was found in the spiritual literacy compiled by Danilo Fomin in 1565, where he left the estate to his wife, and after her death - to the nearby Trinity-Sergius Monastery.

For some time the estate belonged to the monastery, and then it was sold to boyar Godunov. After that, it was resold several more times, until in 1657 its owner was Bogdan Matveyevich Khitrovo - military leader, courtier and one of the largest landowners.

Since he was among the approximate Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, he was awarded the rank of boyar butler and was appointed to manage the Armory Chamber. It should be noted that at that time she was engaged in industrial and artistic service of the Tsar's court, and the best artists of that time worked there. It was then that the construction of various buildings began, including the boyars' yard, as well as the stone church.

History of the temple

About the time when the church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos was built in Bratsevo, the stone slab, which has survived to this day, attests. The inscription made on it by Old Russian script says that on the summer of August 30, 780 (1672), the church was built by boyar and gunsmith Bogdan Matveyevich Khitrovo and his wife, boyarynaya Maria Ivanovna. Initially, the plate was put into the porch outside the church, then it was stored for some time inside the church. Two years ago, she was returned to her former place.

Much to our regret, the building of the temple, this unique architectural and historical monument of the XVII century, has reached our time with significant changes. Many of its architectural features were lost to us forever.

At the very beginning of the last century, the princes Shcherbatov, who were the last owners of the Bratsevo estate, insisted on dismantling the bell tower, as it decayed and required urgent repairs. But the Imperial Commission for Archeology banned it. A slender high bell tower was demolished in 1928, and now its absence is a significant drawback of the modern view of the church.

After the revolution of 1917 the church buildings began to deteriorate, the most expensive items and fragments of decoration began to be removed from them. First they were kept in the State Historical Museum, and then in 1930 in the Tretyakov Gallery the icons of the festive series of the church, painted back in 1673 by the icon painters of the Armory Chamber, were transported to it. The very same church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bratzevo was closed in 1934, and the drums of the chapters were dismantled. Then the building of the church was again partially rebuilt, and in the 60s a dye factory worked in its walls, then a warehouse was organized and, finally, a maintenance station.

The service in the church was resumed only in 1993. Now this architectural monument, which stood for almost four centuries, requires a speedy repair work.

Description

After completion of the construction, the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin struck his contemporaries not only with the beauty of architecture and style, but also with an interior rich decoration, over which the best craftsmen and artists of the Armory worked. They also painted and the iconostasis, which is now stored in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

The Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bratsevo is a besstolpny temple, executed in the form of two-lighted quaternaries, which are closed by a closed vault. It is crowned by the classical Moscow five-domed, decorated in turn with tiers of kokoshniks.

From the western part of the church was built a refectory and a tent tower, on which the so-called military clock was installed, which was a real curiosity for that time.

The church was decorated with a whole belt of colored tiles. The cornice is also decorated with tiled images of angels with wings. The belt itself is a set of rectangular tiles, the coating of which is an iridescent multicolored ornament made in the form of sockets.

On a white background in the tambourines of the kokoshniks one can clearly see the unique reliefs of angels with blue wings. It is worth noting that it was the kind of multi-colored tiles and choruvim made the Cathedral of the Intercession in Bratsevo exquisitely elegant, despite all its modesty.

Temple shrines and schedule of services

It is believed that icons for the iconostasis of the church belong to the brushes of different artists. The temple is proud of its main attraction - the miraculous icon of the Mother of God Odigitria (Smolensk).

In addition, there is a particle of the coffin of St. Seraphim of Sarov, as well as particles of the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Neil Stolobensky, Bethlehem infants and other saints.

For those wishing to visit the temple in Bratsevo - the schedule of services: Liturgy on Wednesday, Friday and on holidays starts at 8.00, on Saturday at 7.30, on Sunday at 8.30, and on the eve of the holiday - all-night vigil at 17.00.

Modern life of the temple

Now the church not only holds worship services, but it is also a cultural center. There is a Sunday school, the center of spiritual enlightenment "Blagovest", as well as a museum-gallery of the rector Mikhail Maleev. He not only serves in the temple, but also writes pictures and books. Therefore, the Church of the Intercession is also the focus of creativity, where thanks to the organized museum creative and spiritual evenings are held, various excursions are held. In addition, there is also a youth club with a rich program, meetings are held, warm communication and joint viewing of films.

The Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin in Bratsevo is located at: Moscow, Salomei Neris Street, 4 (metro station "Skhodnenskaya").