Description of the attraction
To the west of Soltsy, about 7 kilometers, is the village of Molochkovo. The territory on which the village is located has long belonged to the Sknyatinsky Monastery. The foundation of this monastery dates back to the 12th century. The monastery was located on the banks of the Sheloni River. According to old-timers, there was a cattle farm in Molochkovo, which belonged to the monastery, hence the name of the village originated.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1815. Small in size, built of bricks. The church is rectangular, crowned with a decorative dome, with a bell tower in two tiers. The main feature of the church is that it has been active at all times. The Church acted at a time when the tsar was overthrown, when Soviet power came, acted during the years of the revolution and in the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War, acted in the years of atheism and general unbelief. At all times, services were held here, and the sound of bells was heard - ancient bells of loud striking, which were forged by hand. And at the moment when the veil of unbelief fell asleep, the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos opened its doors wide and received the repentant - here they baptized and crowned, buried and blessed.
Probably, the churches in Molochkov are more than 300 years old. As the legend says, near these places there was a monastery of monks and it was the monastic brethren who were engaged in the construction of the church. According to the paintings preserved on the walls, it is asserted that they belonged to the brush of local artists. And according to the surviving icons of that time, it was concluded that they were executed by Novgorod icon painters. In the plots of the paintings, red is the predominant color - it indicates the school of Ancient Novgorod.
Some icons of the Ilyinsky Cathedral also found shelter in this church. Many were transported back in the 30s of the last century. At that time, the Ilyinsky Cathedral, by the decision of the Soletsk regional executive committee, was confiscated from the church community and given to the Zagotzerno office. In particular, a list of the icon of the Old Russian Mother of God was transported. The original of the icon has been the largest external icon in the world for many centuries. The height of the original is 2m 75cm, the width is 2m 04cm. However, according to rumors, the list from this icon is 2 cm larger than the original. glorious Soleck land.
Old parishioners say that if you put a candle in the chandelier and raise it up, then all your wishes will certainly come true.
Today the temple needs renovation work. Of course, restoration work is being carried out, but, unfortunately, at an insignificant pace. The matter is further complicated by the fact that the church was built of limestone limestone. The walls are destroyed from moisture and dampness, they are covered with mold, which is why the paintings are in such a deplorable state. Although the walls are still slightly plastered, more extensive renovation work is still required. However, despite all the problems with the appearance, an extraordinary aura reigns in the church - light, light with the smell of wood and wax candles, which, by the way, were brought from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
In Soviet times, the church, located far from the regional center, continued to operate. At the moment, the church is also active. Not far from it, on an ancient spring, there is a chapel-bathhouse in honor of the righteous warrior Theodore Ushakov.
