Description of the attraction
Not far from the Balaklava embankment, literally a few steps away, there is an old church of the Twelve Apostles. This unique building is located very close to the bustling tourist center. Turning right behind the Rodina cinema and going up the lane, you can get to a picturesque staircase, to the right of which the dome of the Twelve Apostles Church shines in gold.
The temple was erected in 1357, at that time the Genoese were the full owners of modern Balaklava. The date of construction of the church is established by a tablet found in 1861 during its reconstruction under a layer of plaster in the wall. The tablet bore an inscription that construction began in September 1357 during the reign of Simono del Orte, a "humble husband" who, presumably, was one of the first consuls of the Cembalo fortress, the ruins of which can still be seen on the mountain. Perhaps Simono del Orte built the church on the foundations of a sixth century Byzantine temple.
According to the reference book of the Taurida diocese, the temple was built and consecrated in 1375 in the name of the Twelve Apostles. Based on the same source, one can find out that the stone church building on this site was erected in 1794, but it received significant damage during the Crimean War and was restored by the efforts of parishioners in 1875, in the same year, on July 8, it was consecrated. In the pre-war period, the church was under the jurisdiction of the chief priest of the fleet and the army; the relics of the Greek battalion of Balaklava were kept here. Subsequently, after its disbandment, the temple passed into the diocesan department.
With the onset of Soviet times, the temple shared the fate of most of the religious buildings - it was closed. Services were held here only during the Great Patriotic War. Subsequently, this shrine housed the Osoaviochim club and the House of Pioneers.
In 1990, the temple was transferred to the Orthodox Church. The restoration work in the dilapidated building began under the leadership of Archimandrite Augustine. The restoration project was developed by the capital's architect Yu. G. Lositsky. The solemn consecration of the church took place in 1990 on July 13th.
Today the temple is a courtyard of the St. Clement Inkerman monastery. Within its walls are kept particles of the relics of St. Basil and St. Sergius of Radonezh.
