Description of the attraction
One of the oldest churches in the Lower Volga region is the Saratov Holy Trinity Cathedral. The first settlers of the fortress city of Saratov (founded in 1590) were Moscow archers, who brought a copy of the Savior's image by the students of Andrei Rublev to bless the new city. Another icon was sent from Kazan - a list of the Kazan Mother of God. Both icons, located in the Kazan Church, in the then left-bank Saratov, laid the Orthodox beginning in the Saratov province.
The 16th century did not pass without a trace for Saratov: constant raids of wild tribes, fierce fires left only ashes from the city … The church was restored many times, until in 1694 the construction of a stone church began.
In 1701, Trinity Church was opened to parishioners. But in 1712 Saratov burned again. During the restoration of the church, an open gallery and refectory were added.
It is known that on the way to Azov, Peter I arrived in Saratov on June 10, 1722 together with Empress Catherine I to inspect the temple. In the Trinity Cathedral, a parting prayer service was served for the tsar who had gathered for the Persian campaign.
In 1723, the construction of the bell tower was completed, and in the middle of the seventeenth century, a unique mechanical clock with music and striking was installed on it, which worked until the forties of the nineteenth century.
The twentieth century, the century of the longest and most severe persecution in its entire history: repression of clergymen, vandalism and desecration of the historical shrine became a real test for the Saratov Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Nowadays, the completely reconstructed temple is located in one of the most colorful districts of Saratov, next to the embankment and the world-famous bridge over the Volga and is the main historical attraction of Saratov.
