Description of the attraction
The Transfiguration Cathedral is a real gem of the city of Abakan. In 1994, the city administration allocated a plot of land for the construction of the cathedral. The project of the temple, the architect of which was A. V. Krylov, was developed by the Institute "Abakangrazhdanproekt" under the guidance of the chief engineer of the project A. V. Usova. However, soon the construction of the cathedral was suspended due to the lack of a sponsor. Construction work resumed only in 1999, at the same time Bishop Vincent conducted a rite of consecration and laid the first stone in the foundation of the cathedral under construction.
In August 2001, the consecration of the lower church in honor of the confessors and new martyrs of Russia was held in the cathedral. In December of the same year, the consecration of the upper church in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord took place. Since the iconostasis was not completed, the complete consecration of the cathedral was impossible. In 2006, the main iconostasis was consecrated, which by this time was decorated with amazing carvings. In the same year, two side chapels were added to the upper church: the right chapel in the name of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Burning Bush" and the left chapel in the name of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow.
The Transfiguration Cathedral is a seven-domed whitewashed church outside. The lower temple is used as a baptismal church. The total area of the cathedral is about 1637 sq. m and at the same time it can accommodate up to 1000 people. The height of the cathedral from the ground to the bell tower dome is 49.2 m. The upper church has a classic five-tiered iconostasis and two side chapels. The cathedral has 12 bells. The weight of the largest bell is 5670 kg. In the cathedral there is a reliquary with many shrines: part of the Holy Cross, part of the Mamvri oak, the relics of the Monk Herman of Alaska, St. Mark the Apostle and Evangelist, St. Philaret, St. Luke.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral passed a huge and very difficult path of formation, becoming the main architectural and cult landmark of Abakan.
