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Catholic church in Belarusian. Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

Cathedral on Malaya Gruzinskaya street in Moscow Roman Catholic Church and is the main temple of this religious direction in the capital.

Since the middle of the 18th century, a direction arose in Europe that revived medieval Gothic architecture and received the name "Neo-Gothic".

Aiming upwards, lancet lines, as if palms folded in prayer, vaults of intersecting arcs, openwork structures, windows with multi-colored stained-glass windows, high, but long and narrow halls - all these characteristic Gothic features are inherent in the cathedral, erected in late XIX- the beginning of the 20th century.

Description of the Catholic Cathedral

A sculpture depicting the crucifixion of Christ greets visitors at the entrance. The temple has three naves separated by columns. Confessionals are located in the side naves. In the central one there are places for parishioners, separated by a passage. Under the windows you can see wall bas-reliefs depicting the Way of the Cross of Jesus.

The altar of the temple, like the pulpit, is made of dark green marble; the relics of saints are kept in it.

Above the back of the central nave are the choir stalls. On Sundays, services are accompanied by the Liturgical Choir, and on days church holidays- professional academic choir.

This cathedral houses the largest organ in Russia. It is made in Switzerland, has 4 manuals and 74 registers. The temple also has two digital organs.

Mass Schedule

Divine services in the cathedral are held in Russian, Polish, Latin and five more languages. Masses in Russian and Polish are held daily, in other languages - on certain days.. Worship of the Most Holy Gifts takes place regularly, on Sundays they serve the Holy Mass with a sermon for children. There are also themed events., for example, masses for getting rid of various ailments or conversations about the family and the upbringing of children.

Schedule of masses in the church on Malaya Gruzinskaya:

On weekdays, except Wednesday, the Holy Mass is held at 8.00, 9.00 (in Russian), 18.00 and 19.00 (in Polish).
Saturday mornings and 5:30 pm.
On Sunday, Holy Masses take place all day.

Services are also held in the cathedral in the form of the Roman rite: every third Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Divine Liturgy according to the Armenian rite - on Fridays and Sundays at 13.00 and 15.30.

Everyone can attend worship, regardless of their religion.. However, only baptized Catholics can confess and partake of the Holy Gifts.

The activities of the church are not limited to masses and liturgies. In order to attract young people, various events are held here:

meetings, conversations, consultations;
catechism classes;
preparation for confirmation;
there is a children's and youth center named after John Bosco. The public cultural organization "The Art of Kindness", located in the premises of the temple, closely cooperates with the clergy and believers. This foundation organizes and supervises sacred music concerts, provides assistance to young talented musicians and orphanages.

Concerts in the Cathedral

This building is not only a monument of Gothic architecture, but also a popular concert hall . Concerts in the Catholic Cathedral on Malaya Gruzinskaya attract many lovers of classical music. The abundance of niches, arches, domes creates a special acoustics, similar to stereophonic sound (in the light of modern technologies - 3D). Not without reason, since the Middle Ages, organs were placed exclusively in temples.

Organ and choral concerts are held regularly in the church. Here you can listen to classical organ music - Bach, Handel, Mozart, Vivaldi and others; choral works by great composers performed by magnificent choirs, symphonic music and even jazz performed by organ. The Art of Kindness Foundation keeps in touch with the world's leading organists and some of them give concerts and even give classes to young musicians. In addition, a project has been developed, within the framework of which, there is an opportunity to take a course, which includes teaching polyphonic vocals in the style of Gregorian chant.

These concerts are very popular among fans of serious music and their organizers have already made a schedule for six months. The program poster offers, in addition to organ music performed by Russian and foreign organists, performances by ensembles with the most unusual combinations of instruments:

lute, lyre, cithara;
organ, oboe, flute;
organ and harp;
organ and saxophone;
organ, saxophone, duduk, flute, harp;
organ and pipe;
organ and orchestra;
string quintet and guitar;
organ and vocals (solo and ensemble).

The Concert Hall also presents fairy tales "The Hobbit" and "The Little Prince" with sand animation.

Location, transport

How to get to the cathedral on Malaya Gruzinskaya, how to get to this street - such a question often arises among visitors, and sometimes even Muscovites. The address of the cathedral is Presnensky district, Malaya Gruzinskaya street, 27/13.

To get to the temple for worship or a concert, it is best to use the subway, and then walk a little. The nearest station is Ulitsa 1905 Goda.

The Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a true stronghold of spirituality and culture. It is visited by people of different faiths, and this interpenetration of cultures and religions blurs the lines between them and, no doubt, serves the cause of peace.

Were at an organ concert (organ + violin + oboe) - great! Amazing acoustics, very friendly attitude. I advise everyone to admire the grandeur of the cathedral and listen to the concert.

Beautiful cathedral, wonderful concerts. Famous musicians often perform. An amazing atmosphere, the music seems to envelop and rise to the vaults.

Gothic Celebration! The cathedral is amazing, especially when illuminated. It looks like a magic castle, you can’t even believe that it is real, a real Middle Ages.

The idea of the composer Alfred Schnittke that any of the Gothic cathedrals is a certain model of the world concerns both the Catholic and Protestant currents. Any of them must be understood as a big city. After all, the very construction of temples provided for the accommodation of the entire population of the city. In other words, every temple must be huge. This task was helped to solve an ingenious solution regarding the construction of vaults.

Art of the Catholic Cathedral

Each Catholic cathedral with its internal volume seemed much larger than from the outside. Another achievement in the construction of Gothic cathedrals is the unity in architecture, in the interior, in decor. But on the other hand, a Gothic cathedral always combines art different kind and time.

In the Gothic style itself, such art forms as sculpture, colored stained-glass windows, decorative design in the form of carvings in wood, stone, bone, and all this with musical accompaniment, developed unusually. The Catholic one is decorated with sculptural works and compositions from them, ornaments of various types, figures of real and fantastic animals. A special iconography of Christian saints always adorns the western portals of the cathedral. And the main entrance is decorated with sculptures of saints. There are up to eight dozen of them. Decoration of the interior space of the Catholic Cathedral - stained-glass windows. The light pouring from them with iridescent shades and a variety of colors creates a feeling of the endless reality of the sky. Sometimes the total area of stained-glass windows of the temple reached two and a half thousand square meters. Separately, you should pay attention to the music in the cathedral. Initially, schools of music were formed in the cathedrals. And these schools have produced many famous organists. Their sounding works, combined with the light passing through the stained-glass windows, create a feeling of an unearthly reality, confirming that the cathedral is indeed a prototype of the whole world.

First of three temples

Catholic churches in Moscow peacefully coexist with Orthodox churches and temples of other faiths. The first of the existing three churches was the Church of Peter and Paul.

It was founded in the German Quarter by the decision of Tsar Peter I at the beginning of the eighteenth century. But his fate was not long-term. Built with the money of the Polish community in Milyutinsky Lane, it existed until the October Revolution. Then the church was closed and rebuilt. The removal of the dome, the installation of interfloor ceilings turned the temple building into an ordinary three-story house. Subsequently, various state institutions began to be placed there. In modern times, there is a research institute. It is difficult to recognize the once majestic church in this simple building. Only a plaque on the wall recalls that there was a Roman Catholic cathedral here.

Second cathedral of the city

The second Catholic Moscow Cathedral was the church of the settlers of Moscow - the French. Saint Louis. Built on Malaya Lubyanka at the end of the eighteenth century.

It has been rebuilt many times, but is still in use today. The current building was built in the middle of the nineteenth century. And at the beginning of the twentieth century, a French lyceum was opened under him. It should be noted that this Catholic cathedral was not closed in the seventeenth year, like most churches, and it always went on with small interruptions. church service. Already in the nineties of the last century, all the buildings that belonged to it before the revolution were transferred to the church.

Briefly about the most famous cathedral

There is no doubt that the most important among the Moscow cathedrals is the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Its construction went on from the end of the nineteenth to the beginning of the twentieth century along Malaya Gruzinskaya Street in Moscow. The beauty and monumentality of the structure is amazing.

In the thirties of the twentieth century the church was closed. The premises of the church survived World War II without much damage. Therefore, subsequently the premises were used for warehouses. And in 1990 the church was handed over to the Catholics.

The need for discovery

In the middle of the nineteenth century, a petition came to the office of the Moscow province for another church for Catholics. The petition described a significant increase in Polish settlers in the city. Soon the community received permission, but subject to certain conditions. It was ordered to build a temple far from the central buildings of the city, as well as large Orthodox shrines. Above the temple there should not be tower buildings and various sculptures. Sculptor Bogdanovich developed and approved the project. The Catholic Cathedral could accommodate five thousand believers and had external sculptural decorations.

Building history

The main buildings were erected at the beginning of the twentieth century at the expense of the inhabitants of the Polish nationality of the city and all of Russia. It should be said that at that time there were already about thirty thousand Catholics in Moscow. The building itself cost the Poles up to two hundred and seventy thousand, and additional money was collected for the fence and decoration. The finishing went on for a long time.

At the very first persecution of the church, even before the war, it was closed and converted into a hostel. The war destroyed several temple towers. In the sixties of the twentieth century, a research institute was located in the temple. To do this, the internal volume of the room was radically changed. Four floors have been formed. The ninetieth year of the twentieth century returned the Catholic Cathedral in Moscow to the church. After six decades of interruption, the first service was served. Hundreds of believers listened to the service standing on the steps. Only by 1996, after long negotiations and the eviction of the research institute, the Catholic Cathedral was transferred to its intended purpose and consecrated. Malaya Gruzinskaya, a Catholic cathedral, became famous after the world Catholic prayer service through a teleconference and celebrations on the occasion of the centenary of the temple in 2011.

Description of the temple

The legend says that the prototype this cathedral became Westminster . The spire of the central tower glorifies the cross, and the spiers of the side towers are the coats of arms of the founders. At the entrance to the cathedral there is a sculpture depicting. In the central hall, benches are placed in two sectors with a passage between them. To the side are rooms for confession. Massive columns are organically arranged in the hall. The ceilings are made in the form of arches with diagonal symmetry, forming vaults in the form of a cross. Windows with sharp upper corners and stained-glass windows. Under the windows - wall bas-reliefs. At a certain height there are choirs, designed for fifty singers. The organ is also there. The entire building of the cathedral from a distance resembles the shape of a cross. The idea of the architect to depict the church as the body of Christ is obvious. A similar layout exists in other churches, and it is called a cruciform. Dark green marble altar.

Massive bells are fixed on the left side of the temple. There are only five of them, from largest to smallest. The mass of the bells starts from nine hundred kilograms with a tendency to gradually reduce the weight of the next bell. The bells are powered by electronics.

Cathedral organ music

The third Catholic Cathedral in Moscow has an organ instrument, which has become the largest in the country. On it, works of various historical eras. It is composed of seventy-three registers, four manuals and five thousand five hundred and sixty-three pipes. The organ is a gift from Switzerland. It was created by craftsmen in 1955. It was transported to Moscow in parts and installed by masters of the German company "Kaufbeuren" free of charge. In 2005, the organ was consecrated.

Festivals and concerts

On Malaya Gruzinskaya Street, the Catholic Cathedral, as a unique architectural monument, is also a concert hall in Moscow. Its walls are filled with music from festivals and concerts. The acoustics of the building creates a special sound of sacred organ music. Here the heart of even the most callous person becomes softer.

Observing the ancient European cultural traditions, the Catholic Cathedral regularly gives concerts and welcomes everyone who wants to enjoy sublime music. Here, all the vaults of the cathedral are filled with the sound of compositions of various musical geniuses from all over the world. A visit to the temple gives you the opportunity to hear modern jazz music performed by the organ simultaneously with the medieval one. Visitors are always offered a large selection of performances and concert programs. The whole family can go to a concert in the afternoon, enjoy festive festivals, evenings of sacred music and medieval mysteries. It is also important that all the money for the purchased tickets is used for repair and restoration work in the church.

I have always been interested in the history of culture and religion. different peoples. Especially if they are closely intertwined with our history and periodically influenced each other. In this regard, the history of the Catholic Church and everything connected with it is very interesting. I am especially impressed by their temples with their unique, majestic architecture. And the church rite is very interesting and fascinating. I knew that there were Catholic churches, and I decided to visit the main one - Cathedral on Malaya Gruzinskaya. How this temple lives, where it is located and what it is, I want to tell you.

Where is the Roman Catholic Cathedral

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located at the address: Moscow, Malaya Gruzinskaya street, 27/13.
Phone +74992523911.

How to get to the Roman Catholic Cathedral

To get to the cathedral without delay, you need to get to the metro station "Krasnopresnenskaya". Then go along Krasnaya Presnya street to westbound towards Tretyakovskiy Val. After walking about 500 meters, turn right onto Malaya Gruzinskaya, and after 600 meters you will be at the goal.
You can also get there by ground transport. Bus number 116, following from the Belorussky railway station, is ideal. Get off at the bus stop "Klimashkin Street".
If you are a supporter of travel by private vehicle, you should turn from the Third Transport Ring to Zvenigorodskoye Highway. Then to the left to Krasnopresnensky Val, to Klimashkina street, and to the right, after 200 meters you are at the goal.

Working mode

The cathedral is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. The temple is closed to the public from 12:45 to 15:30 on all days except Sunday.

Schedule of services in the Roman Catholic Cathedral on Malaya Gruzinskaya

Divine services in the cathedral are held daily:

From Monday to Friday: at 8, 9, 18, 19 (except Wednesday) Holy Mass;
Saturday: at 8, 9, 17:30, 19 hours Holy Mass;
Sunday Holy Mass at 8:30, 10, 10:30, 12:15, 13, 14:30, 15, 17:30, 20 hours, Holy Mass for children 11:45, Divine Liturgy according to the Armenian rite at 15:30.

Divine services in Russian are held from Monday to Saturday at 8:00, 9:00, on Wednesday at 18:00, from Monday to Thursday, as well as on Friday and Saturday at 19:00, on Sunday at 10:00, 17:30 and 20:00.

Photos of the cathedral

At night, under artificial lighting, the Gothic architecture of the Roman Catholic Cathedral looks especially majestic.

The interior of the cathedral is distinguished by the abundance of columns characteristic of Gothic buildings.

The central facade of the cathedral meets its visitors, as if soaring upwards.

Gate of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Gothic style of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Moscow.

Mosaic in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Icon on the wall of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - video

We are watching a small video story about this cathedral. Happy viewing!

In Moscow, in ancient times there was a small isolated territory - the Georgian Sloboda, which was owned by the king of this state, Vakhtang VI. Since those ancient times, only the names of the streets remained - Gruzinsky lane, Gruzinsky Val, Gruzinsky Malaya and Bolshaya streets.

The church on Malaya Gruzinskaya stands out strongly against the background of other buildings located nearby

Now on Malaya Gruzinskaya in the building 27/13 there is a unique church - the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Built in the neo-Gothic style, the building of the temple stands out among the nearby buildings with a strict and majestic view with unusual architecture.

The church on Malaya Gruzinskaya owes its name to one of the most important characters Christian faith— Virgin Mary ( Holy Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, earthly mother of Jesus Christ).

Architect, exterior finish, architectural ensemble

The temple begins its history in 1894. At that time, the Catholic diaspora in Moscow grew noticeably. As a result, its representatives put before the Moscow governor the question of the need to build larger temple capable of accommodating big number believers. By this time, there were already 2 Catholic churches in Moscow.

The Moscow authorities issued a permit for the construction of a religious building, but put forward certain conditions. It was necessary to build the cathedral away from Orthodox holy places and not in the city center. At the same time, there should not be any sculptures and towers on the building.

The church on Malaya Gruzinskaya was designed by the architect F. Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky.

He developed and presented to the public a design for a neo-Gothic cathedral that could accommodate 5,000 parishioners. At the same time, the put forward conditions for the absence of sculptures on the facade and towers were ignored by him.

Despite this, the project won the competition, it was recommended for construction. For the construction of the cathedral, a piece of land was purchased on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street.

Construction history

The purchased plot had a certain meaning for the Catholics. It was here that the main Polish diaspora lived. Representatives of this community collected the main funds for the construction of the cathedral. In total, the total cost of the temple was 300 thousand rubles. silver.

The construction of the religious building began at the beginning of the 20th century. Its construction lasted almost 10 years. Completed at the end of 1911. In winter (December 21) the church was consecrated.

Interior decoration was carried out even after the opening, until the revolutionary events of 1917. During the first period of development Soviet Union The Catholic Church has not been closed for almost 20 years. It held regular services.

However, the situation in the country nevertheless led to the fact that in 1937 the cathedral was closed.

The property of the religious building was looted and destroyed. The organ and the altar were destroyed. The facade of the building was disfigured.

Subsequently, the building was taken under the hostel and redevelopment began in it. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral was damaged by German air bombs. A number of towers and spiers perished. After the war, the main spire of the temple was dismantled. The building was refurbished.

In 1956, the research institute "Mosspetspromproekt" moved to the former building of the Catholic Cathedral. This structure continued the major internal rebuilding, changing it beyond recognition, creating 4 full-fledged floors.

Church before restoration

In 1976, the Moscow authorities decided to create an organ hall on the basis of the building. But the institutions that were in the building of the church, and there were about 15 of them, categorically refused to move, which led to the refusal to implement cultural plans.

However, the Catholics of Moscow, who were united under their leadership by the Polish House association, continued their activities aimed at returning the religious building to believers. In 1989, they submitted an official request to the Moscow authorities for the return of the church building to the Roman Catholic Church.

The authorities of the city reacted favorably to the requests of the believers, and in 1990 the first mass was celebrated in front of the church. It became a landmark, the first in almost 60 years.

However, before the full return of the cathedral to the possession of the Catholic diocese of the capital had to wait another 5 years. Research Institute "Mosspetspromproekt" refused to move out of the building.

The final point in the process of returning the church to believers was set in 1996, when the Moscow Catholic Diocese received documentary materials from the city authorities confirming the right to use the building indefinitely.

Immediately after the transfer of the church, restoration began in it. It dragged on for 3 years. At the end of 1999, the emissary of the Pope, Cardinal Sodano, lit up the cathedral. A few years later, an organ was placed in it.

Interior decoration

The interior of the cathedral is impressive. So the spire of the central inner turret is decorated with a cross, in the side spiers of which the coats of arms of John Paul II and Archbishop Kondrusevich Tadeusz are inserted. In the vestibule of the temple there is a sculptural image of Christ crucified on the cross. At the bowls with holy water, a brick of the Lutheran Lutheran Basilica and a special medal from 2000 are inserted into the walls.

In the central part of the church there are two sectors with benches. Passages separate them. Near the side aisles there are rooms for confession - confessionals. From one side of the nave on the left (the nave is a part of the room bounded by columns) there is a chapel. Inside it stands a tabernacle with an altar of Gifts.

The side naves are separated from the colonnade hall. Their ceilings are vaults in the form of a cross created by arches. Each nave is individually supported by five buttresses. Their total number is 10, which symbolizes the 10 main Christian commandments.

Cathedral organ

The windows of the cathedral are lancet, with stained-glass window openings. Under them there are 14 bas-reliefs that symbolize 14 "stations" on the Way of the Cross. Next to the first ceiling arch, above the narthex (the entrance area of the porch of the temple), the choirs were erected. Previously, the design of the cathedral involved the placement of about 50 choristers on them. However, a choral organ was installed at this place.

Shrines, icons, relics of the temple

In the central place of the church is its main element - the altar. It is lined with dark green marble.

It contains particles of saints that belong to:

Chief Apostle Andrew;
Saint Zeno(Zeno of Verona), patron of children and fishermen;
Saint Gregory Naziansky(Theologian or Gregory of Nazianzus) is revered as one of the founders of the Church, Archbishop of Constantinople;
Saints Cosmas and Demian(brothers, unmercenaries, miracle workers and healers);
cover particle Virgin Mary donated to the church by the diocese of Verona.

By right side from the altar is the pulpit. It is also in dark green marble. In the presbytery, in its back part, there is an elevation consisting of 3 steps. It adjoins the apse (semi-dome temple ledge). There are places for the clergy, as well as the bishop's chair.

The crucifix is located in the presbytery. It reaches 9 meters in height. On the cross Jesus Christ is 3 meters high. On the sides of the crucifix are sculptures made of plaster: the Evangelist John and the Mother of God.

Clergy, mentors

The church on Malaya Gruzinskaya has its own clergy staff. Represented by the Metropolitan of the Moscow Archdiocese, vicar general, rector of the cathedral, cathedral administrators, two parish vicars, three priests in charge of transition assistance. Available spiritual person representing the Armenian Catholic parish and the priest of the Spanish community.

There are 6 sisters in the state. They represent 3 monastic orders: Salesians of Don Bosco; Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Parish and choir

The parish of the church is extensive. It includes all Catholics living in the west and south of Moscow. Formally, these are parishioners of the parishes of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Family.

The church has its own choir, parish, liturgical. In the basement of the cathedral there is a class of choral singing. There are classes once a week, on Wednesdays. In addition, those who wish can try their hand at a youth vocal and instrumental ensemble.

Interesting facts about the cathedral in the vicinity

The church on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street is famous for its bells. They are located on the left side of the facade, behind the arch. There are only 5 bells. They were made in Poland at the world-famous Falchinski factory. Presented to the cathedral by Bishop Skvorets. The largest reaches a weight of more than 900 kg.

Each bell has its own name (in descending order by weight):

"Fatima mother of God».
"John Paul II".
"Saint Fadey".
"Jubilee - 2000".
Saint Victor.

The bell sound is extracted by means of an electronic machine.

Not far from the location of the church on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street, there are other sights of the capital:

Moscow Zoo;
Monument to Mother Teresa.
embassy of the Polish Republic;
Georgian park;
Cemetery Vagankovsky;
Schukin's city estate.

Social work, everyday life

There are free tours of the Cathedral. But only by appointment. Their time is Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, when there are no services. Excursion outside groups can also visit the temple. But they also require prior agreement.

Catechism activities are carried out in the temple (teaching the basics catholic faith and order of church life). Church shops and a library are open to those who wish. There is a cafeteria for the poor. The editors of the bulletin "The Light of the Gospel" found shelter in the cathedral.

Ave Maria Concert in the Cathedral:

The church on Malaya Gruzinskaya is regularly used by the Art of Good Foundation for organ concerts. Paid entrance. Ticket price from 300 to 3000 rubles. The schedule of performances can be found on the foundation's website.

Sunday School

Sunday school not available in the cathedral. Here you can only get additional knowledge in the field of English. Classes are held in children's groups, as the main recipients of information are children. They are recruited at the age of 3 years.

English courses are characterized by such features as a game form of teaching, a friendly atmosphere, and naturalness in learning the language. The classes are attended by teachers who have experience working with children whose age starts from 3 years.

Patronal feasts

The temple on Malaya Gruzinskaya is a religious cult structure of the Roman Catholic Church. Masses, services, patronal feasts are held in strict accordance with the provisions of the calendar of Catholic dates. A detailed list of church events for the year can be found on the church website.

Schedule of services, mode of operation

The Roman Catholic Cathedral is open daily. It is open for visiting from 8:00 to 20:00. Closes for a technical break from 12:45 to 15:30, except Sundays.

Catholic Easter

Church services are held daily. The schedule is shown in the table.

Church opening hours
Day	time	Name masses, service language
Sunday	8.30 — 20.00	in Polish, Russian, Korean, Latin, children's mass, Armenian liturgy
Monday	7.45 – 19.00	in Russian, Polish, gift worship
Tuesday	7.45 – 20.45	in Russian, Polish gift worship
Wednesday	7.45 – 18.00	in Russian, worship gifts
Thursday	7.45 — 19.00	in Russian, Polish
Friday	7.45 – 19.00	in Russian, veneration of gifts, vespers
Saturday	7.45 – 18.00	in Russian, worship of gifts, Sunday in Russian

Information for pilgrims

Persons wishing to visit the church on Malaya Gruzinskaya, pilgrims living outside of Moscow, need to remember that the cathedral does not provide places to stay. It is necessary to think in advance about where you will live. Also, ahead of time, you need to familiarize yourself with the mode of operation and the events that are held in it.

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

The cathedral is located at the address: Moscow, Malaya Gruzinskaya street, 27/13. This cult institution has its own official website Catedra

The most convenient way, according to which the church can be reached without delay, is as follows:

First you need to get off at the Krasnopresnenskaya metro station.
Then move along Krasnaya Presnya Street in a western direction, towards Tretyakovskiy Val.
After 500 meters, you need to turn onto Malaya Gruzinskaya Street, after passing about 600 m, and the goal will be reached.

Another popular way is to choose ground route transport. Bus number 116 follows the cathedral, which is located next to Klimashkina Street. Its route starts at the Belorussky railway station.

Near the church on Malaya Gruzinskaya street there are stops of other public transport. So you can use buses 12, 18, 35, 39, 40, 53, 64, 66, 69, 125, 567. Trolleybus: 54. Fixed-route taxi: 254M.

Useful video on the topic

History of the Cathedral:

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the largest Catholic cathedral in Russia.

One of the two active Catholic churches in Moscow, along with the church of St. Louis of France (not counting the Catholic chapel of St. Olga).

Cathedral history

In 1894, the council of the Roman Catholic Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Milyutinsky lane turned to the Moscow governor with a request to allow the construction of a third catholic church. The permit was obtained on condition of construction far from the city center and especially revered Orthodox churches, without towers and outdoor statues. The neo-Gothic project of F. O. Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky, designed for 5,000 worshipers, was approved, despite the failure to comply with the last condition.

The main volume of the temple was built in 1901-1911. The money for the construction was collected by the Polish community, whose number in Moscow at the end of the 19th century reached 30 thousand people, and Catholics of other nationalities throughout Russia.

Statue in front of the cathedral

The temple, called the branch Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was consecrated on December 21, 1911.

The construction of the temple cost 300,000 rubles in gold, additional amounts were collected in 1911-1917 for decoration and the purchase of church supplies. Finishing work inside the temple continued until 1917.

In 1919, the branch church was turned into a full-fledged parish. The 34-year-old priest Fr. Michal Czakul (1885-1937).

In 1938, the temple was closed, the church property was looted, and a hostel was organized inside. During the war, the building was bombed and several towers and spiers were destroyed. In 1956, the Research Institute "Mosspetspromproekt" was located in the temple. The building was replanned, which completely changed the interior of the church, in particular, the main volume of the internal space was divided into 4 floors. In 1976, a project was developed for the restoration of the building, where it was supposed to house an organ music hall, but this project was never implemented.

In 1989, the Dom Polsky cultural association, which unites Moscow Poles, raised the question of the need to return the church building to its natural and rightful owner - Catholic Church. In January 1990, a Polish Catholic parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was formed by a group of Moscow Catholics. December 8, 1990, on the occasion of the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Tadeusz Pikus (now a bishop), with the permission of the authorities, for the first time after a 60-year break, celebrated mass on the steps of the cathedral. Several hundred people attended this first service. Regular services began to be held on June 7, 1991.

In 1996, after a long scandalous eviction of the Mosspetspromproject Research Institute, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was given to the Catholic Church. For several years, large-scale restoration and restoration work was carried out in the temple, and on December 12, 1999, the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, solemnly consecrated the restored Cathedral.

In March 2002, the Moscow Cathedral took part in a joint prayer of the Rosary with Pope John Paul II and the Catholics of several European cities, organized through a teleconference.

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Cathedral architecture

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary- Neo-Gothic three-nave cruciform pseudo-basilica. According to various testimonies, it is believed that the Gothic cathedral in Westminster Abbey served as the prototype of the facade for the architect, and the dome of the cathedral in Milan served as the prototype of the dome. After the restoration, the cathedral has some differences from its original appearance before closing in 1938, as well as before 1938 it had differences from the 1895 project.

Gothic Cathedral in Westminster Abbey

Cathedral in Milan

On the spire of the central turret there is a cross, on the spiers of the side turrets there are the coats of arms of Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz.

In the narthex there is a sculptural image of the Cross of the Lord with Christ Crucified. Above the bowls with consecrated water, at the entrance from the narthex to the nave, on the left, a brick from the Lateran Basilica is embedded in the wall, and on the right, a medal of the jubilee year 2000.

In the central nave there are two sectors of benches separated by an aisle. At the beginning of each side nave there are confessionals - confessionals. At the end of the left nave is the chapel of the Divine Mercy, in which the tabernacle and the altar of the Holy Gifts are installed. Both side naves are separated from the main nave by colonnades, 2 semi-columns and 5 columns in each colonnade. The ceilings of the main and side aisles consist of cross vaults, which are formed by diagonal arches. The side longitudinal naves of the cathedral have five buttresses each. 10 main buttresses on which the main volume of the temple rests, according to the ancient canons of temple architecture, symbolize the 10 commandments.

Lancet window openings are decorated with stained-glass windows. Under the window openings, on the inner surfaces of the walls, there are 14 bas-reliefs - 14 “stays” of the Way of the Cross.

Behind the first lancet arch of the ceiling, between the first pair of semi-columns, above the narthex are the choirs. Since the time of the Counter-Reformation, that is, since the middle of the 16th century, the choirs have been located in the back of the nave, in the same way the choirs are located in Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to the original project, the choirs were supposed to accommodate 50 singers, but in addition to the choir itself, an organ was installed in the choirs.

The transept gives the building Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in terms of the shape of a cross. This is the famous scheme in which the image of Christ on the cross is superimposed on the plan of a typical church. AT this case the head of Christ is the presbytery with the altar located in it, the torso and legs fill the nave, and the outstretched arms turn into a transept. Thus, we see the literal embodiment of the idea that the Church represents the Body of Christ. This layout is called cruciform.

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in the presbytery Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary the most important element of the temple is located - the altar lined with dark green marble - the place where the Eucharistic Sacrifice is offered. Particles of the relics of St. Andrew the Apostle, St. Zeno, the patron saint of Verona, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Gregory of Nazian, Sts. On the altar - the image of the letters alpha and omega, the first and last letters Greek alphabet, a start and end symbol. To the right of the altar is the pulpit. The pulpit of the cathedral, as well as the main altar, is lined with dark green marble. In the back of the presbytery there is another elevation of three steps, adjacent to the wall of the apse of the temple. This part is called the ambulatory. Here is the episcopal chair and places for the clergy.

The presbytery of the cathedral is separated by carved wooden partitions from the chapel of Divine Mercy with the altar of the Holy Gifts and from the vestibule of the sacristy. In the presbytery, on the wall of the apse - the Crucifixion. The height of the Crucifix in the cathedral is 9 meters, the figure of Christ on the cross - 3 meters. On both sides of the Crucifixion, 2 plaster figures are installed - the Mother of God and the Evangelist John. Both sculptures were made by the Moscow region sculptor Svyatoslav Fedorovich Zakhlebin.

On the left side of the façade, right behind the lancet arcade, there are five bells made at the famous Polish factory of the Felchinskis in Przemysl and donated by Bishop Viktor Skvorets of Tarnow. The largest of the bells weighs 900 kg and is called the Mother of God of Fatima. The rest, in descending order, are called: "John Paul II", "Saint Thaddeus" (in honor of heavenly patron Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz), "Jubilee-2000" and "Saint Victor" (in honor of the heavenly patron Bishop Skvorets). The bells are set in motion with the help of special electronic automation.

Cathedral organ

Organ Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the largest organs in Russia and allows stylistically flawless performance of organ music from different eras. The instrument consists of 74 registers, 4 manuals and 5563 pipes.

The “Kuhn” organ of the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Moscow is a gift from the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral “Basel Münster” in the Swiss city of Basel. The instrument was built in 1955. In January 2002, work began on dismantling the organ, after which all parts of the organ, except for register No. 65 Principal bass 32`, were transported to Moscow. The disassembly and installation of the organ was carried out by assistants and employees of the organ-building company Orgelbau Schmid Kaufbeuren e.K. (Kaufbeuren, Germany) under the leadership of Gerhard Schmid, who, of his own free will, did all the work for free. After Gerhard Schmid died at the age of 79 on September 9, 2004, his son, Gunnar Schmid, took charge of the installation of the organ.

In 2009, it is planned to install the missing 32-foot register Principal bass 32`

AT Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary masses are held in Russian, Polish, Korean, English, French, Spanish, Armenian and Latin, as well as youth meetings, catechization classes, charity concerts of organ and sacred music. At the cathedral there is a library and a church shop, the editorial office of the Russian Catholic magazine "Catholic Bulletin - Light of the Gospel", the office of the regional branch of "Caritas" and the "Arts of Good" charity foundation.