The main children's resort of Crimea can offer any kind of holiday, including for those who deeply believe. In the tourist center of western Taurida there are active places of worship of four religions. Orthodox Evpatoria is especially beautiful. The Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is another confirmation of this. It is so beautiful and majestic that it involuntarily makes the visitor think about heaven. In the last year of the passing century, the house of God celebrated its centenary. For 117 years it has been a place of communication with the Lord.
Where is the church in Yevpatoria?
The Orthodox landmark of Yevpatoria can be found in the Old Town. The place is located a block away from the Gezlev Gate historical museum. On the eastern side along Revolution Street there is the boarding house “Orbita”, on the western side – across the block there is the Juma-Jami Mosque, and going north along the street. Karaev, you can go to the Dervish Monastery.
Temple on the map of Crimea
Construction and foundation
A few centuries ago, on the site of the temple familiar to all Evpatorians, there stood a small church built by the Greeks. It was not a decoration of local lands for long - already at the beginning of the 19th century. it was replaced with a new one. But the reconstruction did not end there either - in the 1850s the temple was again damaged and required replacement (consequences of the Crimean War). This time, local parishioners, priests and administrators decided to build a larger place of worship in honor of liberation from the influence of enemy troops, since the small church did not have enough space for all the residents.
The history of the cathedral
The initiator of the construction of this church in Evpatoria is Archpriest Yakov Chepurin. Construction began in the early 90s. century before last. Four religious communities provided donations to Chepurin. The city treasury invested well, and Emperor Alexander III donated 36 thousand rubles for a good cause. The cathedral was founded on July 11 (old style).
His Eminence Martinian took part in the solemn ceremony.
At that time he was listed as the Bishop of Tauride and Simferopol. The work took five and a half years. The construction site was provided by the powerful Greek diaspora. By the way, nearby there was a church of this community, named after the famous saint - Nicholas. This fact is the reason for the dedication of the new cathedral to the same saint. Yakov Chepurin, to the regret of the townspeople, did not live to see the consecration of the temple under construction.
It remains to be noted that the grandiose structure was designed by the head of technical
society of Odessa. This position was then held by municipal architect Alexei Bernardassis. The building was conceived in a Byzantine style - it almost exactly copies the Hagia Sophia (the cathedral in the center of Istanbul). The builders were led by another Greek, a merchant from Sevastopol, Ananiy Paskhalidi. The process was supervised by engineer Slava Girinek. The innovator doubled the number of edges in the upper tier of the drum. He suggested inserting a window (light) on each side. For the first time in Russia, a concrete dome with a diameter of 18 m was built here. This miracle weighed almost 157 tons.
As for the interior decoration of the architectural masterpiece, its creation is associated with the sketches of two teachers of the local gymnasium - Vitaly Sokolovsky and Sergei Stroev. They themselves painted the vaults of the temple, its walls and domes. Tourists can still appreciate their work today. Looking around carefully, the visitor will notice three types of crosses here. He will also see the St. George signs, designed to remind of the brave soldiers who fell in the Crimean War - during its battles, the church lost almost all of its valuable property, even the bell tower. But the Christian ones
symbols invented in the Eastern Roman Empire are depicted in honor of ancient heritage.
During the Soviet era, Evpatoria also suffered from anti-religious pogroms. The Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was closed and then opened. At one time there were even stables, a granary and a workshop for local agitprop artists. During the Second World War, the Nazis wanted to undermine it, but did not have time - the advance of the Red Army was too rapid. The temple was restored to its current appearance in the 90s. XX century.
Architecture
The architectural appearance of the structure is reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul . Architect V. A. Gerenek abandoned traditional technology and supporting pylons. The design is based on an octahedron topped with an 18-meter dome. The weight of the concrete “cap” is estimated at 156 tons. The space is divided into three altars: in the center there is a throne in the name of St. Nicholas of Myra, on the right - the holy prince Alexander Nevsky, on the left - the Apostle James Zebedee.
After the opening, parishioners were greeted by a delightful iconostasis made by the Florentine Vannuka, the walls and dome were painted according to the sketches of the teachers of the local boys' gymnasium, a bronze cross towered in the center of the altar, and a wonderfully beautiful chandelier with crystal decorations hung from the ceiling.
© Natali_1982
Unfortunately, most of the original decoration has not survived to this day. But the appearance of the building remained almost unchanged. In the church yard, attentive tourists will see three graves: S. N. Auger, the doctor who founded the first mud bath in Saki, Archpriest Jacob Chepurin and schema-nun Evgenia (Popova) are buried here.
Interesting facts about the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
The local old-timers still believe that St. Nicholas the Wonderworker himself prevented the Germans from blowing up the church. It is unknown where the parishioners got such phenomenal information, but it does exist.
Nikolai Auger, the doctor who was the first to scientifically substantiate the usefulness of Saki mud for the health of people, was buried near the northern gate of the sacred building.
This fact became the reason for saving many human lives.
Another interesting corner is the cross, “hidden” in the depths of the temple courtyard. It was installed in memory of the former throne of the Greek church - it existed here long before the construction of St. Nicholas Cathedral.
Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Evpatoria
Evpatoria is a health resort of the Crimean Peninsula, which is rich in various attractions. One of the most famous cultural and historical attractions is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, founded at the end of the nineteenth century by the architect Bernardia. The cathedral is famous for its majestic architecture, which ranks second after the temple in Chersonesos.
Visit to St. Nicholas Cathedral
Today, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Yevpatoria is an active cult center of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Byzantine-style basilica in which it is located is considered the second largest church in the famous children's resort - it can accommodate 2,000 parishioners at a time.
The schedule of services is linked to the calendar of Christian holidays. You can pray here at almost any time of day (sometimes night vigils are held). Women must enter with their heads covered. Entry in shorts, and especially beachwear, is strictly prohibited.
Educational center
At first there was a Sunday school at the temple. Then it grew into a youth cultural and educational center with wide, developed activities.
It includes:
- Sunday school. It is a four-year course and is designed for children from 5 to 15 years old. Here they teach catechism, study biblical stories and Orthodox services. In the last fourth grade they teach quite complex, rather seminary disciplines, such as the history of the Church and the theology of icon painting.
- Mugs. The parish offers free handicraft, fine arts, guitar and piano clubs for children.
- Choreography studio. Dance classes at the parish are held four times a week. Students participate in competitions, festivals, and perform at charity concerts of the diocese.
- Theater studio. Here children learn plays and fairy tales with religious meaning. Young actors perform at Sunday school matinees, at competitions, festivals and charity events.
- Educational activities for the little ones. On Saturdays, educational games are held for children from three to five years old. In addition to general topics, such as the basics of mathematics and speech development, the classes also touch on moral and religious issues. Children are told in an accessible form about good and evil, righteous people, Orthodox holidays, etc.
- Youth meetings. All teenagers and young people interested in Orthodoxy can gather there. Pilgrimages, summer camps, missionary expeditions, etc. are organized here.
- Educational meetings for adults. In addition to the children's school, the parish also has a Sunday school for adults, where anyone can attend.
Attention! Currently, it is planned to organize a camp of Orthodox scouts and pathfinders at the St. Nicholas Cathedral.
How to get to the attraction?
To get to the church you will need to take public transport and get to the Orbita Boarding House stop.
Getting to the cathedral on foot is also easy, since it is located in the center of the resort - the distance from the Evpatoria Bus Station is only 2.5 km. However, it can be overcome by car like this:
Note to tourists
- Address: Tuchina street, 2, Evpatoria, Crimea, Russia.
- Coordinates: 45°11′48″N (45.196657), 33°22′45″E (33.379069).
- Telephone.
- Opening hours: from 8:00 to 20:00.
The Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Yevpatoria is an important monument of Orthodoxy in Crimea. It is visited not only by religious citizens, but also by curious tourists who are attracted by the amazingly beautiful structure. We invite you to see it for yourself in the video below. Enjoy watching!
Liked? Share with your friends!
Location, history of foundation and development
The church is located in the area of the so-called Old Yevpatoria, not far from Tereshkova Embankment and other equally interesting and significant places in the popular children's resort. The first foundation stone of the shrine was laid back in 1893. They decided to build the temple on the site of a Greek church. The initiator of the process was Archpriest Chepurin; unfortunately, he himself did not live to see the consecration. But believers will always remember to whom they owe.
Looking for where to stay in Evpatoria?
Daily housing (hotels and guest houses)
The majestic structure was erected quite quickly. Already in 1899, the first premises were consecrated. The author of the project was the architect A. Bernardassis, who decided to make the Church of St. Nicholas in the Byzantine style. For the construction of the shrine, funds were collected literally - by the whole world. Alexander III made a tangible contribution, donating 36 thousand rubles for a good cause, fabulous money at that time.
By the way, this is the first religious building whose dome was poured from concrete in Rus'. Its diameter is 18 meters and its weight is more than one hundred and fifty tons. Over the entire period of its existence, the temple has gone through many difficult times. The Soviet authorities opened it and closed it. There were stables, granaries and various warehouses here.
Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
The building survived the Great Patriotic War. The Germans wanted to blow it up, but fortunately they didn’t have time. But in the post-war years (1955), the authorities of the Soviet Union managed to destroy what had survived the war. They demolished the domes and organized warehouses and art workshops in the building. In the nineties of the last century, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was returned to the church and restored.
The last major reconstruction was carried out in 2014, but it was not without consequences. The ancient paintings were destroyed and modern versions were placed in their place, and many parishioners are not happy about this.
Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
