Temple of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane - ancient icons from all over Moscow

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The Temple of the Prophet Elijah in Obydensky Lane was built in the Baroque architectural style. It is located near the Church of Christ the Savior. The construction of the temple took place with the support of the architect I. Zarudny in 1702. The church is quite popular among Orthodox believers. It is visited daily by a fairly large number of parishioners. Like many churches, this temple has its own secret.

History of the temple

According to legend, the first church was built in 1592 in just one day. It is believed that the reason for the construction was drought, which caused severe crop failure in Muscovy at the end of the 16th century. The wooden temple was erected according to a vow, which is why its name “Obydensky” arose.

The stone church was built in 1702-1706 according to the design of the architect Ilya Zarudny. A record of this was preserved in the old “contract book”. It is known that the construction was led by Duma clerk Grigory Derevnin.

The names of the Derevnin brothers are written on marble slabs inside the church.

The architect chose the majestic cathedral church of the Nikolo-Perervinsky monastery as a model. According to the project, a two-story building was to be built in Ostozhye, but there was only enough money for a one-story church. When the decoration was completed, a rich seven-tiered iconostasis was installed inside.

The Obydenskaya Church acquired its modern appearance in the 1860s. Rich Moscow merchants raised money and carried out a complete reconstruction of the refectory and bell tower.

During these years, a parochial school appeared at the church, where the children of parishioners were taught reading, writing and the basics of arithmetic. In 1882, a separate building was built for an almshouse and classes for children.

During the active anti-religious campaign of the 1930s, they wanted to destroy the church building, but believers defended it. At first, the Moscow authorities decided to close the temple, but then canceled it. During the war years, the Obydenskaya Church was one of the few in the city where people came to pray and listen to a sermon.

ORTHODOX WORLD

The Temple of the Prophet Elijah in Obydensky Lane is a parish Orthodox church in honor of the Prophet Elijah (main altar) in Moscow, located at the address: Moscow, 2nd Obydensky Lane, 6. The Temple of the Prophet Elijah was originally wooden, built in 1592 one day is “ordinary”, which gave the temple the clarifying name “Ordinary”. After the name of the temple, the three lanes leading to it became Obydensky. The current temple was built in 1702 on the site of a former wooden temple. From this ancient wooden church, in the iconostasis of the main altar of the current temple, the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands (1675) and the Kazan Image of the Mother of God , painted by the leading royal isographer Simon Ushakov, are presumably preserved. On June 15, 1944, the “Unexpected Joy” icon of the Mother of God, .

The Obydensky Church has always been revered in Moscow. On the day of remembrance of the holy prophet Elijah and during drought or prolonged bad weather, a procession of the cross was made from the Kremlin to the temple with the participation of the king. On such days, the primates of the Russian Church performed services in the church.

For more than 300 years, services were always held in the temple. Even during the period of godless hard times, the Temple of Elijah the Everyday Prophet was never closed , although such attempts were made. At a time when other churches in Moscow were closing, the Obydensky Church received many shrines from the closed churches in Moscow.

The main revered shrines of the temple are the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” , the icons of the Mother of God “Feodorovskaya” and “Vladimirskaya” . In the local row of the iconostasis of the main altar there are several revered icons: “The Fiery Ascension of the Holy Prophet Elijah” , “The Savior Not Made by Hands” with stamps, the “Kazan” Icon of the Mother of God . The temple contains icons of St. Sergius of Radonezh and St. Seraphim of Sarov with particles of their relics. A particle of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov was given to the temple by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II († 2008) immediately after the second discovery of the honest relics of this great saint of God. On August 1, 2009, an additional altar was consecrated in the church in the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Also kept in the temple is a piece of the Belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary , kept in a reliquary at the chapel of the apostles Peter and Paul.

Full list of shrines of the Church of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane: - The miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" - The Savior Not Made by Hands (with 12 marks) - The Icon of the Mother of God "Kazan" - The Holy Prophet Elijah (with 20 marks) - The Beheading of John the Baptist - St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Zaraisky) - Holy Martyr John the Warrior - Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Great Martyr Barbara - Venerable Sergius of Radonezh - Icon of the Mother of God "Unfading Color" - Reliquary on the left in the central part - Reliquary on the right in the central part - Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious - Holy Hieromartyr Antipas Pergamon - Holy Grand Duke Daniel of Moscow - Icon of the Mother of God "Vladimir" - Venerable Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov - Great Martyr Catherine - Saint Athanasius of Kovrov, confessor - Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" - Hieromartyr Seraphim (Chichagov) - Holy Passion-Bearer Tsar Nicholas receives from the Hieromartyr Seraphim (Chichagova) Chronicle of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery - St. Seraphim of Sarov praying on a stone - Icon of the Mother of God “It is Worthy to Eat” - Icon of the Mother of God “Smolensk” - Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” - Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost” - Icon of God Mother "Tikhvin" - Icon of the Mother of God "Eletskaya" - Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul - Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos - Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) - Icon of All Saints - Icon of the Mother of God "Kazan" - Reliquary in the chapel of the Apostles Peter and Paul — Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” — Icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed” — Holy Prophet John the Baptist — Holy Martyr John the Warrior — Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon — Holy Martyrs Gury, Samon and Aviv — Icon of the Mother of God “Vse Tsaritsa” — Icon of God Mother "Merciful" - Crucifixion. Cross of the Lord - Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Saints Nicholas of Myra and Spyridon of Trimifuntsky - Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky - Savior in a white tunic - Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (with 12 marks of life) - Icon "The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles" - Icon of the Mother of God "Utoli" my sorrows" - Iveron Icon of the Mother of God - Three Saints, Apostle James, Brother of the Lord, Archangel Michael, Martyr Maura - Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos - Holy Prophet Elijah in the Desert - Saints Simeon the God-Receiver and Prophetess Anna - Lord Pantocrator on the Throne - Icon of God Mother "Gracious Heaven" - Icon of the Mother of God "Sovereign" - Holy Martyr Tryphon - Crucifixion. Cross of the Lord - Icon of the Mother of God "Helper in Childbirth" - Icon of the Mother of God "Feodorovskaya" - Holy Trinity - Resurrection of the Lord - Eve - Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious - Savior Not Made by Hands - Dormition of the Mother of God - Hieromartyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow

ADDRESS AND DIRECTIONS to the Temple of Elijah the Prophet Ordinary: Moscow, 2nd Obydensky Lane, 6. (The Temple of Prophet Elijah is located near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior)

The Orthodox Church sacredly honors the prophet Elijah . The first church built in Kyiv under Prince Igor was in the name of the prophet Elijah. Elijah - biblical prophet in the kingdom of Israel, in the 9th century BC. e. The Russian, Georgian, Serbian and Jerusalem Local Churches honor his memory on July 20 (August 2) (see “Ilya’s Day”) Saint Elijah in the Slavic folk tradition is the lord of thunder, heavenly fire, rain, patron of the harvest and fertility. Ilya is a “formidable saint.” The Prophet Elijah was a zealous champion of Judaism and a formidable denouncer of idolatry and wickedness.

According to Tradition,
the holy prophet Elijah performed the following miracles: - He brought a famine (1 Kings 17:3). - He brought down fire on the earth (1 Kings 18:36-38). —He brought down Fire from Heaven both for the punishment of sinners and for the Sign of the Truth of God-worship. — He resurrected a boy who, presumably, later became the prophet Jonah. — He divided the Jordan River like Moses, striking it with his clothes. — I spoke to God face to face, while covering my face. —According to the Word of God, ravens and angels brought him food. “According to his word, the food in the widow’s house did not end.” —He was swaddled by Angels and fed with Fire at birth. - It is believed that he is one of the two lamps standing before God and anointed by Him (Apocalypse and the prophet Zechariah). — He was taken up alive into Heaven for his special righteousness before God. - Through his prayer, Heaven closed and did not give rain. - Also, through his prayer, God gave rain to the earth after the conclusion of Heaven. — He appeared together with the prophet Moses before Jesus Christ on the day of the Transfiguration and talked with Him. — He prophesied and revealed the Will of God to people. - It is believed that for his life as an angel, God gave him an inexhaustible and unlimited gift of miracles - He is revered as the greatest of the saints.

Both in Judaism and Christianity it is believed that the holy prophet Elijah was taken to Heaven alive: “suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated them both, and Elijah rushed into Heaven in a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:11) . According to the Bible, before him, only Enoch, who lived before the Flood, was taken alive into heaven (Gen. 5:24). However, in Orthodox theology there is an opinion that Enoch and Elijah were ascended not to heaven, but to some secret place, where they await the day of the apocalypse. The prophet Elijah is mentioned several times in the New Testament. This is how the episode is described how the elders and people asked John the Baptist, when he preached on the banks of the Jordan in the spirit and power of Elijah and even looked like him in appearance, was he Elijah? Also, the disciples of Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel of Matthew, asked Him if Elijah should come before the Messiah. To which Christ replied: “It is true that Elijah must come first and arrange everything; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him as they wanted; so the Son of Man will suffer from them” (Matthew 17:11-12). Then the disciples realized that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist, who was beheaded (Mark 6:28).

During the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, Elijah the prophet appeared along with Moses and they talked with Jesus “about His exodus, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). According to John Chrysostom, “one who died and another who has not yet experienced death” appeared in order to show that “Christ has power over life and death, rules over heaven and earth.” According to the Revelation of John the Theologian, Elijah must also appear before the second coming of Christ to earth (Rev. 11: 3-12). During the suffering of Christ on the cross, some of the people thought that Christ was calling the prophet Elijah for help, and expected his arrival.

Architectural features

The beautiful church is considered one of the most famous cathedrals and temples in Moscow. The temple was built in the best traditions of the Moscow Baroque. From the old building of the early 18th century, the massive base of the “octagon on a quadrangle” and the altar part have been preserved.

The slender hipped bell tower rises to a height of 36 m. On the south side there is no openwork lattice on the bell tier. This is the footprint of a bell that was thrown from the bell tower in 1940.

Activities of the parish

Under the arches of the church today there are:

• Orthodox library, the fund of which amounts to 10 thousand books;
• children's and adults' rooms, where classes are held not only on Sundays, but also on weekday evenings;
• a youth theater dedicated to productions of Christian and moral themes;
• children's art studios and church singing studios;
• a social service responsible for working with orphans and people in difficult life situations; in addition, the missionaries of this department organize charity festivals and events, and cooperate with hospitals.

Interiors and shrines

Three altars were consecrated in the Obydenskaya Church. The main one is in honor of the Prophet Elijah, the right aisle is in honor of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the left one is in honor of the holy righteous Anna the Prophetess and Simeon the God-Receiver.

The inside of the temple is very bright and elegant. The decoration is dominated by golden tones. The walls are decorated with paintings based on Vasily Vasnetsov and Henryk Semiradsky. Under the arches there is kept an ark revered by believers with a piece of the belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Some historical facts

This building, like many similar churches of that period, was built in the “ship” architectural style. Before the modern temple was built, there was an old church on this site, which was built from wooden building materials. The first church was here in the 15th century.

There is a legend that in those ancient times a prince passed by this place where the church stands today. At one point, for no apparent reason, a strong thunderstorm began. The prince made a promise that if he survived and did not die, he would definitely build a temple on this site in honor of the Prophet Elijah. There is no exact data on when it was built, but according to some documents, the approximate date of construction is 1592.

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It should also be noted that the name of the temple itself has been preserved. He always had special respect among the city residents. According to historical facts, during droughts and bad weather, crusades led by the king were carried out around it. In 1702, a stone church was built on the site of the wooden church.

The new temple was built by the Derevnin brothers. According to legend, they say that they wanted to close the church in June 1941, but this never happened due to the outbreak of war.

Icons

The Moscow temple is a real artistic treasury. Everyone entering the church is greeted by an icon depicting Christ in a white tunic.

It was written by Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov), who was executed in 1937 at the Butovo training ground. Another icon by this author depicts Seraphim of Sarov.

During the years of struggle against religion in Moscow, many monasteries and churches were closed. Most of the icons disappeared or were destroyed, but some were saved and were transferred to the Church of Elijah the Prophet. Today, ancient icons can be seen in the rich iconostasis of the Elias Church.

The icons that hung on the walls of the wooden Obydensky Church are considered real relics. Two of them were painted by the famous 17th-century isographer and master of the Armory, Simon Ushakov. Believers greatly revere the 18th-century image “Unfading Light” and the “Unexpected Joy” icon located to the left of the iconostasis, which they managed to rescue from the Chudov Monastery.

Another shrine was moved to the Obydensky Church in the 1930s from the nearby Conception Monastery. Now believers can pray in front of the copy of the miraculous icon of the Kykkos Icon of the Mother of God “Merciful”. In addition, the church houses several icons of nun Juliania (Sokolova), an outstanding artist and restorer of the 20th century.

Shrines in the temple on Obydensky Lane

Where the Church of Elijah the Prophet is located, there are many shrines. Some of the most significant include:

• The miraculous face of the Mother of God is a miraculous image with an interesting history of writing. Many parishioners come to pray to this icon.
• The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God is worshiped by many women trying to conceive a child. As a rule, it helps to get pregnant and facilitates childbirth, brings happiness to the family and protects against diseases.
• The face of Our Lady of Kazan helps strengthen families, protects soldiers in places of war and helps to find the righteous path and take the path of correction.
• “Vladimir” icon of the Mother of God, from whom they ask for finding the true path, strengthening faith, spirit and healing from physical diseases.

All these shrines have miraculous powers, which is why many parishioners go to this church. In addition, in the temple there are particles of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov and Sergius of Radonezh, before which many people and pilgrims gathering from all over the country want to bow.

The church opens its doors to everyone every day from 8 am to 10 pm.

Useful information for pilgrims and tourists

The doors of the temple are open to everyone from 7:00 to 22:00. Church services are held every day: on weekdays at 8:00 and 17:00, and on Sundays at 7:00 and 10:00. The church has a Sunday school for children and an Orthodox lecture hall for adults.

Visitors are offered excursions, during which guests are introduced to the history of the Obydensky Church, its traditions, church shrines and clergy. Tours are free, but donations to the temple are welcome.

Contacts and service schedule

1. Address: Moscow, 2nd Obydensky lane, building 6;
2. How to get there: from the Kropotkinskaya metro station, walk along Soymonovsky Proezd or Ostozhenka Street to 2nd Obydensky Lane. Also on the map you can find the path from the Park Kultury or Borovitskaya metro stations;
3. Phone, (495) 695-28-78;
4. Opening hours: 8:00-20:00;
5. Website: https://www.hram-ostozhenka.ru, email: [email protected] ;
6. Rector: Archpriest Maxim Shevtsov.

Schedule of services on weekdays:

1. 7:40 – liturgy;
2. 17:00 – evening service.

On Sundays and holidays the schedule of services changes:

1. 7:00 – liturgy;
2. 10:00 – liturgy.

On Mondays there is Vespers with an akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov, on Wednesdays - to the Prophet Elijah, on Fridays - to the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” .

First buildings

The Church of Elijah the Prophet on Obydensky Lane is a special place. This fits surprisingly organically into the surrounding landscape, ennobling and aestheticizing the surroundings. The earliest Christian church in Rus', back in Kyiv, was dedicated to Saint Elijah. He is also associated with one of the parish organizations of the capital's Orthodox diocese.

The history of the building is unusual and interesting. After all, it belongs to the oldest buildings of ancient Moscow. The first temple of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane was built of wood literally in one day or, in Old Russian, “obyden”. There were craftsmen in Rus' back then! This happened during a period of severe drought, and the people, who always firmly believed in their beloved patron, relied on his help even now. The construction dates back to around 1592, and the area itself was called Skorodomnaya. Here, once upon a time, timber was floated on water, and Muscovites, taking advantage of the convenient crossing and delivery of materials, quickly built homes for themselves in order to later move their houses to more convenient areas of the city. The Temple of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane also gave the name to the streets leading to it - Iliinsky. They were renamed to their current name later.

Second birth

At the very beginning of the 18th century, the old church building was demolished. A stone one was built in its place. The current Church of Elijah the Prophet in Moscow has largely retained its ancient architectural appearance. Funds for its construction were provided by Gabriel and Vasily Derevnin. In memory of them, marble memorial plaques were installed in the church. Further construction work continued into the next century. The building was renovated and new chapels were added. Since then, religious services have been held here continuously. And in difficult times for the House of God, when the authorities wanted to close it, the parishioners did not allow this to happen. For example, about 4 thousand people defended the church in 1930.

Defense of Holy Rus'

The church was loved not only by the inhabitants of the surrounding area. People from all over Moscow flocked here for Orthodox holidays. And on ordinary days it was never empty. In historical documents, the Church of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane is often mentioned. Prayers take place here for many significant events related to the domestic and foreign political activities of Russian rulers.

If there were prolonged rains or long dry spells, on the saint’s name day there was a procession of the cross from the Kremlin led by the Tsar-Father and the primates of the Russian Church. It is no coincidence that Obydensky Lane, the Church of Elijah the Prophet, became those places where the clergy, together with the people’s militia led by Minin and Pozharsky, prayed to the Almighty and the saints for help in military affairs. We are talking about the era of the Time of Troubles, Polish intervention and the defense of Moscow from invaders. On August 24, after a prayer service, a decisive battle took place, ending in the victory of Russian weapons.

What and how to pray to the icon

The Mother of God hears all our prayers and intercedes for us before God. They pray to the “Unexpected Joy” icon for the birth of children, their health and well-being, healing from illnesses and addictions, peace with loved ones and mental balance, protection from enemies and other misfortunes.

Texts of prayers

You can pray both in church and at home, in front of a family altar or a pocket icon. It is advisable to light a church candle or lamp and first read the “Our Father”.

Prayer to the Intercessor

O Most Holy Virgin, All-Good Mother of the All-Good Son, Patroness of this city and holy temple, faithful Representative and Intercessor of all who are in sins, sorrows, troubles and illnesses! Accept this prayer song from us, Your unworthy servants, offered to You, and like an ancient sinner, who prayed many times before Your honest icon every day, did not despise him, but gave him the unexpected joy of repentance and bowed down Your Son with many and zealous petitions to Him for forgiveness this sinner and lost one, so now do not despise the prayers of ours, Thy unworthy servants, and beg Thy Son and our God, and grant to all of us, who with faith and tenderness worship before Thy image, an unexpected joy for someone; a sinner mired in the depths of evil and passions - effective admonition, repentance and salvation; to those in sorrow and sorrow - consolation; for those who find themselves in troubles and embitterment - a complete abundance of these; for the faint-hearted and unreliable - hope and patience; for those who live in joy and abundance - unceasing thanksgiving to God the Benefactor; to those in need - mercy; those who are in illness and long illness and abandoned by doctors - unexpected healing and strengthening; for those who have recovered from illness of the mind - return and renewal of the mind; those departing into eternal and endless life - memory of death, tenderness and contrition for sins, a cheerful spirit and firm hope in the mercy of the Judge. O Most Holy Lady! Have mercy on all who honor Your all-honorable Name and show everyone Your all-powerful protection and intercession: in piety, purity and honest living, keep them in goodness until the end; Do good to the evil; Guide those who are lost on the right path; Make progress in every good work that is pleasing to Your Son; Destroy every evil and ungodly deed; in bewilderment and difficult and dangerous circumstances, those who find invisible help and admonition were sent down from Heaven, save and save from temptations, seductions and destruction, protect and preserve from all evil people and from enemies visible and invisible; to float, to accompany those traveling; Be the Nourisher to those in need and famine; for those who do not have shelter and shelter, be a cover and refuge; Give the naked a robe; for those offended and unjustly persecuted - intercession; invisibly justify slander, slander and blasphemy to those who suffer; Convict slanderers and slanderers before everyone; To those who are bitterly at odds, give the unforeseen reconciliation and to all of us - love, peace, and piety, and health with long life for each other; preserve the marriage in love and like-mindedness; spouses in enmity and division, reconcile, unite to each other; Give permission to those who bear children quickly; raise babies; Teach young people chastity, open their minds to the perception of all useful teachings, instruct the fear of God, abstinence and hard work; Protect your brothers and sisters from domestic strife and enmity with peace and love; Be the Mother of motherless orphans, turn them away from all vice and filth and teach everything good and pleasing to God; those who have been seduced by sin and fallen into uncleanness, take away the filth of sin and bring them out of the abyss of destruction; be the Comforter and Helper of widows; be a support for old age; Deliver us all from sudden death without repentance and grant us all the Christian death of our lives, a painless, shameless, peaceful and kind answer at the Last Judgment of Christ; For those who have ceased in faith and repentance from this life, create a life with the Angels and all the saints; those who died a sudden death, mercifully pray to Your Son and for all those who have died who have no relatives, begging for the repose of Your Son, Be yourself a constant and warm Prayer Book and Intercessor. May everyone in Heaven and on earth know You as the firm and unashamed Representative of the Christian race and glorify You and Your Son, with His Originless Father and His Consubstantial Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion, tone 4 (translation into modern Russian)

Today, believers, we spiritually triumph, glorifying the zealous Protectress of the Christian race and resorting to Her most pure image, we cry out thus: O Most Merciful Lady Theotokos, give us unexpected joy, burdened with sins and many sorrows, and deliver us from all evil, praying to Thy Son, Christ Our God for the salvation of our souls.

How to get there

The church is located in Moscow, at the address: 2nd Obydensky Lane, 6, not far from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

By metro you can get to the cathedral by going to the Kropotkinskaya station, then turning right, exit onto Prechistenka Street (to the very beginning), then pass the monument to F. Engels through Ostozhenka Street. Further - through the 1st and 2nd Obydensky lanes, located perpendicular to Ostrozhenka, there is a temple.

Shrines of Moscow. Temple of Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane

The Orthodox Church of St. Elijah the Prophet in Obydensky Lane in Moscow is one of the ancient church buildings, which to this day parishioners treat with awe and love.

Since the existence of the church, an extraordinary atmosphere of God’s grace has reigned inside it, which helps people in the most difficult moments of their lives to cope with all difficulties and sorrows in prayerful communication with God.

There are many sacred relics here, which are especially revered by believers. After attending a church service, people leaving the room begin to feel “born again,” full of strength and energy, and most importantly, a peaceful feeling of calm and joy reigns in their souls.