Nikolai Naval Cathedral

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Морской Никольский собор (Кронштадт) 4.jpg

The Nikolai Naval Cathedral ( Russian Морско́й собо́р святи́теля Никола́я Чудотво́рца ) is a Russian Orthodox Stauropegic cathedral located in Kronstadt . It was built as a naval cathedral, i.e. a cathedral whose parish should be made up of the members of the Imperial Russian Navy . The cathedral was built by the architect Vasily Kosyakov in neo-Byzantine style 1903-1913. The cathedral is under the patronage of St. Nicholas of Myra , the patron saint of seafarers . Since 2013 it has had the status of the main cathedral of the Russian Navy. In 1990 the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List .

history

Kronstadt cathedral facade west.jpg

Establishment

The first wooden church for sailors in Kronstadt, which was built between 1728 and 1731, was already dilapidated a century later and was demolished. In 1862 a new apparition church , also made of wood, was consecrated in place of the old church . In 1931, under Soviet rule , it was closed for services and destroyed in 1932. This large church offered space for 1000 visitors, which was not big enough even then. The need arose to build a cathedral, which by its magnificence could correspond to the importance of Kronstadt as the cradle of the Russian Navy , as well as a worthy memorial for all seamen who died.

The initiator of the cathedral construction was Vice Admiral and head of the port of Kronstadt Nikolai Kasnakow; His petition to Nicholas II to open a fundraising campaign for the cathedral was approved by the Tsar in 1897. In order to collect donations and to promote the project, a committee was founded under the direction of Kasnakov (after his resignation under the direction of Admiral Makarov ). This collected 280,000 rubles up to 1913, another 1,655,000 rubles were allocated from the state treasury. The construction plan of the cathedral was to be determined by a competition; However, all designs that had been submitted to the competition from 1897 to 1898 were rejected by the committee, as was Antoni Tomischko's design from 1900. Ultimately, Professor Vasily Kosyakov was commissioned with the design of the building. This went to Istanbul to the Hagia Sophia to study, and prepared two sketches in neo-Byzantine style before. One of them was on May 21st . / June 3, 1901 greg. approved by Nicholas II.

The so-called anchorage, a large area on which old anchors were stored, was designated as the place for the cathedral. Here started on September 1st jul. / September 14, 1902 greg. with a service by Johannes von Kronstadt in the presence of Admiral Makarow and 14,000 members of the Baltic fleet the preparation of the construction site. The foundation was made in spring 1903. On May 8th, July / May 21, 1903 greg. In the presence of the royal family, the towering masonry began. 1905–1906 there was a delay in construction work in connection with the revolution . Nevertheless, the interior of the cathedral began as early as 1907 and was carried out all year round from 1908, when the heating system was installed. June 10th jul. / June 23, 1913 greg. the cathedral was consecrated.

Soviet era

Services were held under Soviet rule until 1929. The cathedral was closed on October 14th. In February 1930, bells and crosses were thrown down. Then a Maxim Gorki movie theater was opened here. The interior painting was partially covered with plaster , memorial plaques with the names of the fallen sailors and naval priests were used as building material for other buildings. During the Second World War there was an observation and artillery correction post under the dome. Several German projectiles hit the cathedral, as did a bomb that broke through the dome but did not explode.

From 1954 the building was converted into a concert hall for 1250 people (opened in 1956); from 1980 the building served as a branch of the Central Museum of the Naval War Fleet .

present

Inside of the cathedral

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church . However, the museum's move took several years. In 2002 the restoration of the cathedral began. The first liturgy was celebrated on December 19, 2005 . On April 19, 2012, the cathedral was consecrated by Patriarch Kyrill I (a minor consecration ) and again on May 28, 2013 (a major consecration ). After that, it received the status of the main cathedral of the Russian Navy . Before that, Saint Petersburg's Nicholas Naval Cathedral had this status.

description

location

The cathedral is located in the center of Kronstadt, at the anchorage. This place offers enough space for military parades as well as for cross processions . In the square there is the monument to Admiral Makarov by Leonid Sherwood , which was released on July 24th . / August 6, 1913 greg. was opened by Nicholas II almost at the same time as the cathedral; the monument to Admiral Ushakov (unveiled on September 10, 2015); the mass grave of the victims of the revolutions and civil war and other memorials.

architecture

The cathedral is the second largest sacred building in Russia (after the Christ the Savior Cathedral ) and can accommodate 6000 visitors. It was built in the neo-Byzantine style with the influence of eclecticism . On the whole it resembles, with different proportions, the Hagia Sophia. The large central dome stands on a relatively low drum with 32 windows (the number of directions on the sea compass) supported by four arches. To the west and east of the central dome there are two semi-domes, one of which (the eastern one) merges into the three semi-domes of the apse . The cathedral's architecture also shows Gothic and Romanesque influences . At the main entrance (on the west side of the cathedral) is a triple portal , to the left and right of which there are two bell towers. The side facades are equipped with large round windows (each more than 50 square meters).

The total length of the cathedral is 83.2 meters, the maximum width 64 meters. The diameter of the dome is 26.7 meters. The height to the base of the main dome is 52 meters. With a total height (with the cross) of 70.5 meters, the cathedral is the tallest building in Kronstadt.

Furnishing

The bells for the cathedral are in the two bell towers. The largest bell, weighing 17 t (1038 poods ), was in the tower to the right of the main entrance, the other bell in the other tower. Only one of the old bells has survived - the second largest bell with a weight of about 5 tons. In 2011, 14 bells were cast for the cathedral in Voronezh , including a new main bell, also weighing 17 t.

There are several altars in the cathedral . The main altar was dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra . The left altar is dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, the right to John of Kronstadt , another altar in the crypt Ivan Rilski .

Vasily Kosyakov, his brother architect Georgi, and other architects and artists worked on the interior decoration and furnishing of the cathedral. Most of it was lost in the Soviet era, including the iconostasis and interior painting, and is to be restored.

literature

  • AP Shumsky: Kronstadt Naval Cathedral . Woentechisdat Publishing House, Moscow 1998.
  • JR Saweljew: "Byzantine Style" in Russian Architecture . Liki Rossii Publishing House, Saint Petersburg 2005.

Web links

Commons : Kronstadt Naval Cathedral  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Уничтоженные храмы 1850-х - 1860-х гг.
  2. Василий Антонович Косяков (1862-1921)
  3. Л.Токарева. Морской Николаевский собор в Кронштадте
  4. Official website
  5. Морской собор во имя святителя Николая Чудотворца
  6. КОЛОКОЛА ДЛЯ ЗВОННИЦЫ КРОНШТАДТСКОГО МОРСКОГО СОБОРА

Coordinates: 59 ° 59 ′ 34.1 ″  N , 29 ° 46 ′ 39 ″  E