Novocherkassk Cathedral address. Ascension Military Cathedral, Novocherkassk
Novocherkassky Voznesensky Cathedral is considered one of the most majestic in Russia, the third largest church building, second only to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Novocherkassk Cathedral is not only an Orthodox church, but also a historical monument of the Don Cossacks. Its history is complicated, but at the same time very interesting.
The cathedral in Novocherkassk was founded in 1893, and consecrated and opened in 1905. And between these two dates, there was both excavation of the ground from the pit and laying the foundation, as well as the erection of walls, the concreting of domed arches and the erection of a gilded cross with rock crystal inserts. Landscaping work included, in particular, paving with cube stone in front of the porch of the cathedral a platform measuring 15 by 40 fathoms for the passage of troops during parades. In total, exactly 100 years passed from the foundation of the first version of the cathedral to the opening of its third version.
On the facade of the cathedral there are two icons and a striking clock. However, the project of A.A. Yashchenko did not provide for a clock on the main facade of the Ascension Cathedral. Therefore, they had to be inserted into the upper part of the central window located on this facade with a rounded upper tip. In 1902, a sazhen-diameter clock (about 2 meters) with a clock mechanism located inside the cathedral was installed by the Altschwager company. To service the clock mechanism, a mechanic with an annual salary of 70 rubles was introduced to the staff of the cathedral. An image was placed above the clock in a small recess, repeating the one on the Don Icon Mother of God image, and in the recess above the door leaves of the main entrance they placed the image of Christ Blessing. Both images were made by the Novocherkassk artist Yelisey Grigoryevich Cherepakhin on gilded copper sheets with an area of 2 sq. m each. During the Soviet period, both images were irretrievably lost, so today they had to be recreated.
As you know, the first cathedral, although purely symbolic, was still founded at the foundation of Novocherkassk in 1805. The author of the project of the first cathedral in Novocherkassk was Luigi Rusca. The grandiose cathedral was supposed to be built in the style of Russian classicism (or, as they said at that time, "Roman architecture"). The cathedral was supposed to become the largest in the Russian Empire, since the larger ones - St. Isaac's in St. Petersburg and Christ the Savior in Moscow - would be laid only in 1818 and in 1832.
The construction of the cathedral went on with long interruptions until 1846. And so, on August 29 at 9 pm, as the Don ataman Vlasov reported to Emperor Nicholas I, “the cathedral suddenly collapsed and most of this magnificent building turned into ruins: the main dome and two small ones - the northeastern and northwestern domes, with an instant cod, collapsed, and when they fell, they formed a huge mass of mixed forest and stones .... Of the working people, none of them died, because the destruction followed on a holiday and at such a late time when the workers were already at their lodging for the night. A commission specially created and sent to the Don recognized the reasons for the collapse that “the foundations were laid on an improper foundation, the pylons and spring arches were extremely weak. The material used for the construction of the temple was of poor quality, mainly conchoidal limestone, which had very little strength, and the lime mortar was of poor quality. The laying of the foundation was made in a rush, without any respect for the rows, and instead of splitting between the stones, there were pieces of raw limestone mortar.
So, the failure that befell the builders of the cathedral led the Don people to despair: 40 years of work went to waste. A new project of a military temple was urgently ordered. It was developed by the author of the project of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, architect K.A.Ton. But due to the high estimated cost, his project was rejected. The next project worth 640 thousand rubles was developed by Academician I.O. Valprede. After the approval of this project in April 1850, a new version of the military church was laid in November of the same year.
This time, it was decided to build the cathedral no longer from "Grushevsky stone", but from brick, regarding the quality of which disagreements immediately began to arise. These doubts led to a five-year suspension of construction. Justifying this and similar delays, Academician Valprede wrote: "Buildings like the Novocherkassk Cathedral cannot be built with ordinary haste without much harm to them." But the pace of construction still unjustifiably increased: if in the first 10 years of construction of the cathedral it was only brought out to half, then the remaining half was intended to be completed in just 2 years. The haste of the brickwork with its short drying eventually led to the fact that at midnight from July 10 to July 11, 1863, the main dome of the temple collapsed inside the building, dragging along a part of one of the small domes and five side vaults. But, to everyone's happiness, this time the collapse was without casualties. Again a commission of authoritative specialists from among military engineers arrived from St. Petersburg. The only reason for the collapse, she called the haste of the work. But, since Valprede was an opponent of an unreasonably fast pace, the order sent by Alexander II said: “Do not blame the builder for the cause of the collapse of the dome and leave this matter without further prosecution.” Moreover, the emperor also ordered "the work to be done by the former builder of the cathedral." But disputes began over whether to make the main dome according to the project (that is, brick), or on steel rafters (which required additional costs). During these disputes, the commission for the completion of the cathedral was liquidated, and its duties began to be performed by the committee for the organization of the city, which included Valprede. However, he was soon removed from business and retired.
Then there were many different proposals both for the completion of an existing structure, and for its demolition and construction of a new one. As a result, a decision was made: to dismantle the cathedral with the collapsed dome, and start building a new one in its place. This plan was approved on May 17, 1880 by Emperor Alexander II. As a result of the competition, the merchant Cossack N.I. Limarev received a contract for the demolition of the cathedral, the dismantling of which ended in October 1882.
The project of the second version of the cathedral in Novocherkassk was carried out by academician Stepan Osipovich Valprede in a mixed style: along with the elements inherent in Russian churches, the influence of pseudo-Gothic was also clearly visible. The project of the third version of the cathedral was developed by the Don military architect Alexander Alexandrovich Yashchenko, who shortly before became an academician of architecture. Back in February 1880, the head of the Main Directorate of the Cossack troops expressed a wish to the Don military ataman N.A. Krasnokutsky to entrust the drafting of the military cathedral to Academician A.A. Yashchenko, which he was ordered to. The engineering committee assumed that the "costs" for construction should be no more than 800,000 rubles, and Alexander Alexandrovich proposed a project for a cathedral in the neo-Byzantine style with a "cost" of 650 thousand rubles, which completely satisfied everyone, and in 1891 his project was approved . In reality, the entire amount spent on the construction of the cathedral exceeded the estimated amount by 3 times. But this became known only after a quarter of a century, when A.A. Yashchenko was no longer alive. The architect Yashchenko died suddenly in 1893. Under him, they only managed to procure building materials, deepen the pit to the design depth (slightly more than 14 meters) and begin the construction of the foundation in the form of a continuous array of sandstone rubble masonry on cement mortar. In the same year, but already without the author of the project, the official laying of the cathedral church was solemnly made.
The architect I.P. Zlobin was now in charge of the construction. Under him, the laying of the basement of the cathedral went on for two years, but in 1986, a saving of bricks in the amount of about 600,000 pieces was discovered. The work was immediately suspended, since 2 collapses of the previous versions of the cathedral and the associated loss of about 3,000,000 rubles in military sums taught the builders of the cathedral to be very careful. The inspection showed that the rubble and brickwork of the foundation were made in sizes somewhat smaller than it was envisaged by the project. The architect Zlobin had to give an explanation of what had happened to the Main Engineering Directorate under the Minister of War, under whose control the construction of the military cathedral was going on.
The engineering department did not remain indifferent to the future fate of the cathedral and sent its representative to Novocherkassk - engineer-colonel K. Kh. Limarenko, who had just completed construction Orthodox Cathedral in the fortress of the city of Kovno. Having drilled 2 wells and arranged 2 exploratory wells, the colonel revealed that the depth of laying the foundation and its area did not correspond to the project. After reviewing the memorandum of the colonel, the Minister of War not only instructed him to rework the project, but also to lead the construction of the cathedral church in Novocherkassk.
To strengthen the strength of the foundation, it was decided to "dismantle the masonry on lime mortar and replace it with a selected rubble sandstone slab on cement mortar." In the cellars, "lime-mortared brickwork was also replaced with hewn stone-mortared masonry". Colonel Limarenko, the engineer-colonel Limarenko, revised the project of academician Yashchenko in such a way that without changing the external appearance of the religious building, the weight of its above-ground part was reduced by 1/10, which in absolute terms amounted to 1,300,000 pounds or more than 30,000 tons. For this, he proposed to widely use not only cement, but also concrete and reinforced concrete structures that had not yet been theoretically substantiated. So Novocherkassk became not only the first city on the Don, but also one of the first cities in Russia where reinforced concrete found practical application. So, for example, the space between the lower and upper cellars was reinforced with reinforced concrete vaults and 12-inch beams. And the concreting of the main dome of the cathedral with an outer diameter of more than 20 meters lasted for 36 hours and all this time required not only intense, but also continuous work.
In fact, many different innovations were “run in” during the construction of the cathedral in Novocherkassk. So, for example, a brick factory was built specifically for this construction, producing up to 2,000,000 bricks a year. To supply the construction site with water, a special water pipe was built, through which water was supplied from the river. It also had its own small power plant. And in order to test building materials for strength, a special laboratory was equipped. All in all, it all worked out great! At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, technological progress was progressing by leaps and bounds, and it was a sin for such advanced people in all respects as the military engineer K.Kh. Limarenko not to use them in their field of activity. The laying of the basement of the cathedral from granite blocks weighing from 0.8 to 1.5 tons began in 1897. In the next 2 years, brickwork was made on the ground part of the cathedral. By the end of 1900, the cathedral was already rough finished. And in 1901, plastering and stucco work was completed. The Siegel firm equipped the cathedral with a heating and ventilation system. Thus, just 10 years after the start of work in the pit above the buildings and structures of Novocherkassk, a grandiose religious building ascended 75 meters, second only to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and St. Isaac's Cathedral in size. Indeed, in terms of the Ascension Cathedral, it fits into a rectangle with sides of 62 by 70 meters and can accommodate up to 5,000 worshipers. And all the costs for the construction of such a giant in the aggregate amounted to about 2,000,000 rubles.
On July 23, 1900, 9 bells were raised to the bell tower, which was still under construction, the total weight of which was 1,280 pounds, that is, about 33 tons. They were raised manually: with ropes through a system of blocks. Anyone from Novocherkassk, or a resident of the surrounding villages, could participate in this. According to one of the old women, whose childhood was spent in Kalach-on-Don, at the consecration of the newly opened military Ascension Cathedral, which took place on May 6, 1905 (that is, almost 100 years after its laying on May 18, 1805), there were delegations of Cossacks from many villages remote from Novocherkassk. Among them was her father, who, after his return home, continued to remember this extraordinary event all his life and tell everyone what a huge cathedral of extraordinary beauty he saw in Novocherkassk.
| Cathedral | |
| Ascension Military Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| View of the Ascension Cathedral from Yermak Square |
|
| 47°24′51″ s. sh. 40°06′36″ E d. HGIOL | |
| Country | Russia Russia |
| City | Novocherkassk |
| confession | Orthodoxy |
| Diocese | Rostov and Novocherkassk |
| building type | The cathedral |
| Architectural style | Russian-Byzantine |
| Project author | Alexander Yashchenko |
| First mention | |
| Foundation date | |
| Construction | - 1904 years. |
| Status | Object of cultural heritage № 6110049000 № 6110049000 |
| State | current parish |
| Website | solnzedona.ru |
| Ascension Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons | |
One of the interiors of the cathedral
The remains of the Don chieftains M. I. Platov, V. V. Orlov-Denisov, I. E. Efremov, Ya. P. Baklanov are buried here.
Story
Before the founding of Novocherkassk, the Resurrection Military Cathedral in Cherkassk served as the main temple of the Don Host.
The Ascension Cathedral was founded and consecrated at the founding of the city of Novocherkassk in 1805, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. In fact, construction began only on October 1, 1811. The author of the project was the architect Aloisy Ruska. Before the construction of the temple, extensive land management work was carried out to level the avenue adjacent to the future temple (now Platovsky Prospekt).
The seven-domed Novocherkassk military Ascension Cathedral was built in the New Byzantine style. He ascended to a height of 74.7 m, yielding in size only to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and St. Isaac's Cathedral, accommodates about 5,000 parishioners. Dimensions of the temple: length inside - 72.5 m, length outside - 76.8 m, width inside - 57.6 m, width outside 62 m, total height inside the temple - 51.2 m, with a cross - 74.7 m. On each portal, it was planned to place six columns 13 m high and 1.5 m in diameter.
Construction costs amounted to about 2 million rubles. Nine bells with a total weight of about 33 tons were placed on the bell tower. The bells were raised manually with ropes.
Initially, all the domes of the cathedral were covered with pure gold, and main cross encrusted with rock crystal. Works on the gilding of the domes were carried out by Semyon Abrosimov's firm from St. Petersburg. The height of the central dome with a cross reaches 74.7 m. In 1902, Altschwager installed a clock with a diameter of about 2 m on the facade of the cathedral. The clock mechanism was inside the cathedral.
In Soviet times, the gilded copper coating was removed from the domes, instead the temple was supposed to be covered with iron sheets, but this was not done for a long time, and the building was constantly exposed to environmental influences - it was flooded, covered with snow. The heating system was out of order. In 1903-1923, Hieromartyr Zacharias (Lobov) was the dean of the cathedral. In 1934, the Ascension Cathedral was closed, the building was used as a warehouse.
The cathedral was reopened in 1942 during the German occupation. In the post-war years, a food warehouse was located in the basement, and church services were held upstairs.
The history of the Don Cossacks, who passed a difficult and dramatic path, was embodied in a majestic monument, which is the Novocherkassk Ascension Cathedral. It is rightfully considered one of the masterpieces of Russian temple architecture. Everything in it is unusual - both the history of its creation, and even the size by which it is second only to the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
The temple is the same age as the city
The date of foundation of Novocherkassk is 1805. At the same time, the laying of the future cathedral took place, which was to become the pride of all the Cossacks. However, as often happens in Russia, the matter dragged on, and work began only after six years, in 1811. The author of the project was a talented Italian architect Aloysius Rusk, a staunch supporter of the classical style in architecture. But it so happened that, having become a victim of bureaucratic intrigues, he was forced to leave Russia, and our compatriot P.N. took his place. Amvrosimov.
Collapse of an almost finished building
The construction had been going on for thirty-five years and was nearing completion when the unexpected happened - when the dome was brought down, a significant part of the facade collapsed. By a lucky chance, there were no victims, as there was a misfortune on a day off, and there were no workers inside the temple, but the result of the accident was terrible - the almost finished Novocherkassk Cathedral turned into ruins.
A message was urgently sent to Petersburg about what had happened, and Nicholas I, who reigned at that time, sent a commission to Novocherkassk to identify those responsible for the incident.
Arriving at the site, the statesmen discovered the grossest violations committed during the construction work, as well as engineering errors in the project itself. Special place in their report, the unacceptably low quality of building materials was taken. Apparently, there was a theft of funds released from the treasury, but the case was hushed up, and work was suspended for some time.
Another failure
When the Ascension Cathedral was being built in Novocherkassk, it seemed as if some kind of evil fate was preventing the success of the undertaking. The fact is that when, after several years after the accident, construction was resumed and in 1863 was already approaching its final phase, the story of seventeen years ago was repeated with amazing accuracy. Everything was going well, but at the moment when they began to bring the dome down, a deep crack suddenly appeared on the facade, and it collapsed. Again, as before, the building, close to completion, turned into a pile of construction debris.
Again a dispatch flew to the capital, and the investigation began again. The commission, which arrived from St. Petersburg, saw the main cause of the collapse as technological violations, which were the result of unacceptable haste during the work.
This time the construction was led by the architect I.O. Valprede is an experienced specialist and a very prudent person. He was not blamed for what had happened, since he presented the commission with copies of reports in which he repeatedly pointed out to the city authorities and Cossack chieftains the danger of an unreasonably fast pace of work.
Start of new construction
But the city of Novocherkassk could not live without the temple of God, and it is not for nothing that the Cossacks are known as stubborn people. The failures that pursued the construction of the cathedral did not diminish their determination to bring the matter to the end, and in 1889 the project of a new - third in a row - temple was approved in the capital. Its author was the Don military architect A.A. Yashchenko. Shortly before that, he became an academician, and this work was his debut in a new rank. However, even here it was not without the intervention of evil fate. When they started laying the foundation, the Don architect died suddenly, and the Novocherkassk Cathedral continued to be built without him.
The same fate played a cruel joke on the next work manager - A.P. Zlobin. He, like his predecessors, had to give evidence to the commission of inquiry. All the same violations of technological standards and suspiciously low quality of materials were found. This time only a miracle saved the builders from another collapse. Under fear of eternal torment in future life and the criminal court in this high city authorities took action, and the case finally entered the right track.
The end of the building epic
But everything comes to an end sooner or later. All long-term ordeals associated with the construction of the temple have also ended. The completion of work and the consecration of the Novocherkassk Cathedral took place at the very beginning of the new 20th century - in 1901. The size of this third largest cathedral in Russia is admirable. Its dome rose to a height of seventy-five meters, and the area was almost four and a half thousand square meters.
To build a building of this size, it was necessary to build a brick factory, a power plant and a water line for its needs. In order to avoid the risk of a new collapse, a special laboratory was created in which all building material was tested for strength. The amount spent on the work was also a record, it amounted to two million rubles.
The former splendor of the temple
Everyone who had a chance to see the Novocherkassk Cathedral, noted the extraordinary beauty of its domes, covered with. The impression was complemented by the main cross, the decoration of which was a crystal inlay made by Bohemian craftsmen.
Many memories of witnesses of its former splendor have been preserved. They paint a picture of how sunny days the bright radiance of the main cross, visible for many kilometers, served as a living beacon on the path to God.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Novocherkassk was equipped with a unique ventilation and heating system, which at that time was a real breakthrough in technical thought. Thanks to bold engineering developments, not only a comfortable atmosphere was created inside the temple, but also, which is very important, the iconostasis painting and wall frescoes were preserved. Unfortunately, it is now lost.
In addition, the Novocherkassk Cathedral was famous for its interior decoration. Its floor was covered with specially made in France and Italy. An original addition to the construction of the building was an underground passage connecting the temple with the bishop's house located nearby. Today, the House of Officers is located within its walls.
Years of total atheism
The Novocherkassk Cathedral, whose history is inextricably linked with all Russian events of the 20th century, fully shared the fate of most churches in our country. In the thirties the godless authorities it was closed and put an end to the services held in it.
Crosses were removed from such once magnificent domes and gilded copper sheets were barbarously torn off. The building itself - an architectural monument and a work of art - was used as a fuel and lubricants warehouse.
During the Great Patriotic War, the city of Novocherkassk was in the zone of temporary occupation. The Germans opened the temple, and divine services resumed in it. The inhabitants of the city in those years prayed for the granting of victory over the enemy and asked for God's blessing and intercession. When the Nazis were expelled, the Soviet authorities did not close the temple and did not interfere with the conduct of services, however, all the basement of the cathedral was still used as a warehouse.
Return to spiritual roots
When the time came for democratic changes in the country, and the people woke up from an atheistic delusion, many cathedrals and monasteries were returned to the church. It was a joyful, but very difficult period. Most of the temple buildings, after decades of their barbaric devastation, required restoration, or at least serious restoration. Among them was the Novocherkassk Cathedral. Patriarch of All Russia Alexy II blessed the work, and many leading restorers were invited to the funds allocated by the city authorities.
Resurrected Cathedral
In 2005, the inhabitants of Novocherkassk celebrated a double anniversary - the bicentennial of the city and the laying of a temple in it. The completion of works on the restoration of the cathedral facade was timed to coincide with these celebrations. Its appearance was restored in accordance with the drawings and drawings of the beginning of the last century. Next in line is the gilding of the domes and the installation of crystal inlay, which was so famous in previous years.
Service in the Novocherkassk Cathedral today is held with the same piety and observance church canons that in everything Orthodox world. The Annunciation of his bells again spreads far across the region and calls to prayer all whose hearts are open to God. In conclusion, information for those who would like to visit the Novocherkassk Cathedral. Address: Rostov region, Novocherkassk, pl. Ermaka, d. 2.
The cathedral is visible for many kilometers around, including from the Aksai and Tuzlov rivers, washing the hill on which Novocherkassk stands. The height of its bell tower reaches 74.7 m, and in terms of the height of the dome, it ranks seventh in Russia. The cross, which crowns the main dome, is inlaid with 80 diamond-cut rock crystal monoliths. Being refracted on them, the light shines so brightly that the cathedral was called “the second sun of the Don”. The interior of the temple is striking in its splendor. The floors and iconostasis are finished with French and Italian marble, the walls are painted with frescoes, and the choir stalls are decorated with picturesque canvases that tell the story of the local Cossacks. Here are their stories: “Yermak’s Gatherings for a Campaign to Siberia”, “Award of the Tsar’s Banner under Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in 1614”, “Azov Sitting in 1641”, “Peter the Great’s Gatherings near Azov in 1696”, “Laying of the Cathedral and the City Novocherkassk by Ataman Platov in 1805”, “Meeting of Ataman Platov in 1814 near Novocherkassk”, “Presenting the First Head on May 6, 1887 to the Heir to the Throne Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich”.
In the lower temple-tomb, consecrated in honor of the Intercession Holy Mother of God, sarcophagi made of French and Italian marble were installed. Here lie the remains of the founder of the capital of the Don Cossacks "Vikhor-Ataman" Matvey Ivanovich Platov (Count and General of the Cavalry), heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812, Generals Vasily Vasilyevich Orlov-Denisov, Ivan Efremovych Efremov and Pyotr Yakovlevich Baklanov, as well as the ashes of the Archbishop of the Don and Novocherkassk John (Dobrozrakov). Here - as a symbol of the eternal meeting of man with God - there is a spacious baptismal. From the basement, 15 m deep, an underground passage leads to the House of Officers (the former Bishop's House).
The cathedral did not immediately become a majestic monument of history and architecture. It was founded and consecrated on the feast of the Ascension of Christ back in 1805, when the city was founded. First built wooden church. The erection of the stone cathedral Temple of the Don Army in 1811 was carried out according to the project of the Italian architect Aloysius (Luigi) Rusca, who at that time was building many buildings in St. Petersburg. He started work at the request of Matvey Platov. The construction work was first supervised by the brother of the architect. Then, after the war with Napoleon, the work of the Ruska brothers was continued by the provincial architect Amvrosimov, military architects Iosif Valpreda and Fomin. And finally, the architect from Simferopol Kolodin, invited by the ataman Kuteynikov through the Ministry of the Interior to investigate a crack that formed under one of the temple windows in 1828. However, the military office seemed unbearable amount indicated by Kolodin for the demolition of the walls, because by that time 900,000 rubles had already been spent on the construction of the cathedral. All left as is. Therefore, it is not surprising that twice (in 1846 and 1863) when the main dome of the temple was brought down, the main part of the building collapsed. Moreover, the construction plan, drawn up in 1847 by the architect Konstantin Andreevich Ton (the author of the project for the Cathedral of Christ the Savior), also collapsed. And only in 1900 the cathedral was built, however, so far only “roughly” - according to the project of the architect Yashchenko, finalized in 1891, approved by the highest in 1893. In the summer of 1904, the wooden and artistic work was completed, and a marble iconostasis was installed. But due to the fact that Nicholas II did not come to the consecration of the cathedral, only the Church of the Intercession was opened. For services, the Holy Ascension Military Cathedral was opened only on May 6, 1905. And, as it turned out, not for long.
Temple in the post-revolutionary period
Soon the time of unrest and revolution came, and the temple was closed. In the dashing 1930s, gilded copper sheets were removed from the domes, turning the cathedral into a storehouse for fuels and lubricants. During the German occupation (in August 1942) the temple was opened for worship. And after the end of World War II, grain, flour, beer malt, sugar and other food were stored in the spacious basement of the temple. But services were occasionally held in the upper church.
The year 1953 was the year of salvation for the gradually collapsing building of the Holy Ascension Cathedral. After the death of Stalin, the temple came to the attention of historians. Repair work, both internal and facade, began here. In 1974, the building was awarded the title of an architectural monument of local importance, and in 1995 - federal. Large-scale restoration has been ongoing since 2001 to this day.
But one way or another, almost a century later, the cathedral is reopened for worship, services and visits. Everyone can come here, feel the beauty and scale of this unique temple, whose fate was as difficult as the fate of our country at the turn of the era.
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One of the most striking sights is the main temple of the Don Cossacks - the Ascension Cathedral. It was founded during the founding of the city, in 1805, on the feast of the Ascension of Christ.
Built from the third time
The founder of the city, the legendary ataman Matvey Platov, conceived that the main temple of the Don Cossacks would be the largest in Russia.
The construction of the Ascension Cathedral was long and difficult. It began in October 1811 according to the project of the St. Petersburg architect, who came from Italy, Aloysius Ruska. The brother of this architect, Jerome Ruska, supervised the construction of the temple. The Italian project of the temple was not to the taste of the Don Cossacks, it was very similar to the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter. But the project was nevertheless approved and the construction of the temple began. However, seven years later, the Ruska brothers left Russia, and the architect Amvrosimov continued to build the cathedral until 1825.
Platovsky prospect with a view of the cathedral. vintage postcard
In 1846, the unfinished temple suffered misfortune. When reducing the main dome, part of the temple collapsed. The cathedral was rebuilt. Already designed by the architect Ivan Valprede. But unexpectedly the same tragic fate befell the second version of the cathedral. He collapsed again. The Cossacks started talking about the fact that it is not worth building a temple on this site. However, it was decided to rebuild it.
In 1891, the construction of the third version of the Ascension Cathedral began, according to the project of another architect, Academician Alexander Yashchenko.
"Second Sun of the Don"
In 1900, the main construction was completed, finishing work remained. The cathedral was supposed to be opened for the arrival of Emperor Nicholas II, but his visit did not take place. And in 1904, only the underground Church of the Intercession, located in the upper basement of the temple, was opened. The cathedral itself as a whole was opened for worship only on May 6, 1905. It was built exactly one hundred years!
Ascension Cathedral. 2008
But built for glory. Donetsk residents are very proud of their church. And superlatives are often applied to this cathedral - the most big temple on the Don, the most beautiful, the most important temple of the Cossacks ...
The height of the cathedral is 74.6 meters, and it is the third largest Orthodox church Russia (after the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior and St. Petersburg St. Isaac's Cathedral). The basement of the temple goes to a depth of 15 meters! And, they say, from it there is an underground passage leading to the former Bishop's House (now the House of Officers).
The golden domes of the temple are visible long before approaching Novocherkassk. And it is not by chance that the Ascension Cathedral is called the “Second Sun of the Don”.
Golden domes of the Ascension Cathedral
The temple is incredibly beautiful. It is made in the neo-Byzantine style, atypical for our region. The domes of the cathedral were originally covered with pure gold, and the main cross, made in Bohemia, was inlaid with Bohemian rock crystal. In the light of the bright sun, the temple was visible for many kilometers.
Ascension Cathedral is dressed in gold. 2010
During the Soviet era, the gold from the domes was torn off, the temple stood in desolation. Last year, the cathedral domes were again dressed in gold, and the cross was again decorated with crystal. "The second sun of the Don" shone again.
The temple tells the story of the Don
The interior of the cathedral is majestic and beautiful. Frescoes, old paintings. Tourists simply gasp at all this beauty.
Ascension Cathedral. Interior decoration. vintage shot
The temple has unique frescoes and iconostases - more than 200 picturesque compositions that have survived to this day in their original form.
Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk. Interior decoration. year 2012
Marble floor slabs were brought from Italy and France.
Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk. Interior decoration. year 2012
Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk. Interior decoration. year 2012
Angel of the Ascension Cathedral
This cathedral is called the main temple of the Don Cossacks for a reason - it was erected as the cathedral church of the All-Great Don Army. The soldiers of Christ, the Don Cossacks, prayed here, going on campaigns, and then commemorated the fallen and thanked the Lord for the victories granted to them.
The choirs of the cathedral are decorated with paintings depicting significant episodes from the history of the Don Cossacks. Where, in what temple can you still see this?
