Description of the attraction
Bersenevka, now Bersenevskaya embankment, got its name from the name of the boyar Bersen-Beklemishev, who owned this land at the beginning of the 16th century. Even earlier, in the XIV century, this place was the Nikolsky monastery "on the Swamp", and on its territory there was a church in honor of St. Nicholas. In the second half of the 15th century this church was known as "Nikola on the Sand", and in the first half of the 17th century - as "Nicholas behind Bersenev's grate". Such gratings as one of the fire-prevention measures were introduced in 1504 by Prince Ivan the Third, they were also called outposts. A round-the-clock watch was organized with them, and the bars were locked at night. One of these gratings was apparently located on the territory of Bersen-Beklemishev.
In the 50s of the 17th century, on the site of the former Nikolskaya monastery, a royal gardener named Averky Kirillov began the construction of chambers. This building has survived to our time and today is considered an architectural monument of the 17th century. Together with the building of St. Nicholas Church, the chambers form an architectural ensemble on the Bersenevskaya embankment. During the construction, the owner of the chambers did not skimp on the decor of both his house and the house church. According to the main throne, the church built by Averky Kirillov was called Trinity. In honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker, a chapel was consecrated. Currently, the temple has another side-chapel in honor of Theodosius the Great Cinoviarch.
In the following centuries, the temple was transformed and rebuilt several times, including after the war of 1812, when the building was damaged by fire.
With the advent of Soviet power, the temple was closed, its bell tower was demolished. In the 50s, the former St. Nicholas Church housed the Institute of Museum Studies, and in the 90s divine services were resumed there.
