Description of the attraction
The revival of Orthodoxy is inextricably linked with the spiritual life of society. Many people experience a change in their outlook, a reassessment of values, people are drawn to churches, there is a need to build new churches. The village of Toksovo never had its own church, so the desire of Orthodox believers to have a place where they could pray was justified. In 1991, Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod John blessed the creation of the community. It was headed by the priest Lev Neroda. On his shoulders lay the collection of documentation, and this - design and survey work and the very construction of the shrine.
A year later, the administration allocated 2 hectares of land. The territory was intended for the construction of a unique temple complex of wooden architecture, which included a church, a chapel, a building for a Sunday school. The deserted place at the intersection of Lyzhnaya and Shveinikov streets was to become the center of the spiritual life of the Toksovo village. However, due to the small amount of funds, the erected chapel of the Archangel Michael was small. Despite the cramped conditions, divine services began to be held here, funeral services, the Sacraments of Communion, Baptism, and Weddings were performed.
In 1994, the reconstruction of the building began, and this meant the expansion of the premises, an altar and a vestibule were built. The iconostasis was decorated with images of saints. The icons were printed using the ancient technique of lithography. At the end of these works, the consecration of the Church of the Archangel Michael in the village was performed by the administrator of the St. Petersburg Diocese, Bishop Simon.
Traditionally, the whole world was building a temple. Thanks to donations from believers, a 2-storey church building was built next to the shrine. Housewarming and Sunday school celebrated in its premises. The young generation of Christians in the classroom in an Orthodox institution began to comprehend the basics of spiritual literacy.
In 1998, a disaster struck - a wooden building burned down. On the Bright Resurrection of Christ in 1999, a new building was built. And on July 12 of the same year, on the day of the celebration of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, the construction of a new stone church began.
After 5 years, the domes of the erected temple adorned the village. On September 19, on the patronal feast day, Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga conducted the Great consecration of the church. At the service, Vladyka announced that the newly consecrated church of the Archangel Michael would be a cathedral.
Mercy and compassion were part of the spiritual life of the ward. Here the poor, old people, invalids found alms and shelter. A room was needed for full-fledged assistance to such people. Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir blesses the construction of one of the largest almshouses in the diocese. The geriatric center named after Empress Maria Feodorovna became a hospital and the last resting place for the elderly.
Unfortunately, another fire in March 2008 prompted new construction. On the site of the burnt wooden structure - the Church of the Archangel Michael, the construction of a church-bell tower in honor of St. Prince Igor of Chernigov began. The dimensions of the future shrine are impressive. The height of the building is 60 m, and the bell itself weighs 14 tons and is considered the largest in the St. Petersburg diocese.
May 29, 2009 became a truly epochal event in the spiritual life of not only the inhabitants of the village of Toksovo and the Vsevolzhsky region, but also the diocese - Patriarch Kirill himself consecrated the geriatric center in honor of Empress Maria Feodorovna and consecrated the cross for the church-bell tower, which was being built by that time …
At present, it is difficult to imagine the St. Petersburg diocese without its Orthodox pearl - the temple complex, the Orthodox faith without visiting the church, Toksovo without its spiritual center - the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.
