Description of the attraction
In Naujininkai, at the intersection of Tuzenhausu and Naujininku Streets, next to the only Old Believer cemetery in Vilnius, there is the Old Believer Holy Intercession Prayer House.
In 1825, two merchants of the Old Believer, Avidabursky and Novikov, bought a land plot in this place and erected a small wooden prayer house at their own expense. The house was ordinary, like residential buildings, only an Old Believer cross was installed on the roof. The house was used as a prayer house for the funeral service for the dead. In 1835, the mentor of the Old Believer community, O. Andreev, who lived here in the house, received permission to hold services on holidays. The building was periodically carried out repair and restoration work. In 1870, the merchant Yegorov allocated funds to expand the chapel and built a separate house for the mentor.
In 1880, the Vilnius merchant Lomonosov received permission to build a stone structure. The new stone building, erected in 1882-1886, was officially called an almshouse. In 1901, the merchant Pimonov allocated funds for the complete reconstruction of the almshouse interior. Soon a brick bell tower was erected, and a dome was installed on the roof. The project was developed by an unknown author. Before the Pimonov reconstruction, the building was used as an almshouse for elderly parishioners. After reconstruction, the building received the status of a prayer church of the Old Believer community.
Since 1970, the temple has been repaired and restored several times. The old heating system has been replaced by a newer, more modern one. The ceilings were reinforced, the floors were covered with marble tiles, the surrounding area was landscaped, and the coverings of the domes were replaced.
The temple is known for the fact that Old Believer cathedrals were held here many times. The Old Orthodox Pomeranian Church organized three cathedrals here: in 1966, 1974 and 1988. These cathedrals became significant events for all Pomors of that time. This church was visited by A. Pimonov, S. Egupenok, I. Egorov.
The temple is made in the Russian national architectural style, with elements of neoclassicism. The structure is rectangular in plan, with a symmetrical gable roof. From the western part, the building is divided by a transept. The temple has four doors. The main entrance is located on the west side and goes through the bell arch.
The structure is mainly made of bricks, the walls are plastered. The eastern façade is decorated with three tall windows rounded at the top. On the side facades there are five windows, lined up between horizontal stripes, decorating the walls and giving the structure a three-dimensional appearance. All windows are bordered with white pilasters. Above each of them, there is one triangular sandrick in the style of classicism. The corners of the building are also decorated with white pilasters.
A high, twenty-five meter high bell tower adjoins the western façade. It has three tiers. The two lower tiers, adjacent directly to the facade of the temple, are square. The upper tier rises above the level of the main structure and is made in the shape of an octagon. Above the octagon is a large onion dome with an eight-pointed cross. There is another dome on the roof near the east facade. It is installed on a low octagonal tower, equipped with a "lamp" and topped with the same eight-pointed cross. Both domes are decorated with kokoshniks.
The interior of the church is a large hall decorated with many valuable icons. Of great interest is the five-tiered iconostasis, installed on a small elevation, closer to the middle of the room. Daylight passes through all the side windows, which is concentrated in the center of the room, filling it with light. On the second tier of the hall there is an open gallery with a place for choirs. The walls of the room are richly ornamented. The vault is decorated with stucco with the image of an eight-pointed cross.
