Description of the attraction
The Church of All Saints is one of the oldest temples in the city of Arkhangelsk, located on the Obvodny Canal. The exact time of the construction of the church is unknown. But, according to the former head of the temple K. A. Averkieva, the temple was built in 1864. For the first time, mention of the Church of All Saints can be found in the Arkhangelsk Diocesan Gazette in 1889.
In 1927, the church was closed and turned into a warehouse. There is information that in the 30s a transit point was located in the church building. He is mentioned in the book "The Gulag Archipelago" by Alexander Isaevich Solzhenitsyn, which tells about the misfortune that happened in the building of the temple. Its 8-tiered bunks collapsed, unable to withstand a large number of people and crushing many people among themselves. They were quickly buried in the churchyard. After that, the temple was in complete desolation. According to eyewitnesses, the dome and the belfry were destroyed, the windows were walled up, the stoves and floors were dismantled, the plaster was damaged, and the wiring was cut off.
In October 1946, at the insistence of the parishioners, with the blessing of Bishop Leonty, the church was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Arkhangelsk diocese. The temple has been renovated. The first abbot was appointed Abbot Father Seraphim (Shinkarev), who was transferred to this place from the service of the abbot of St. Elias Cathedral. Father Seraphim was an outstanding organizer, the parishioners loved and respected him.
A parish council was formed. In just 10 days, before November 1, 1946, the primary restoration work was carried out in the temple. A throne and an altar were placed in the altar, window openings and frames were arranged, stoves were installed, a temporary iconostasis was erected, icons were hung, and so on. Bishop Leonty blessed the transfer of 3 holy images from the Cathedral: the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God, the Joy of All Who Sorrow icon, the icon of St. Nicholas, Golgotha (Crucifixion with those who are to come), and everything that is necessary for the celebration of divine services. The church was prepared for consecration. And on November 1, 1946, His Grace Leonty, accompanied by the clergy, in the presence of a large number of people, consecrated it.
The subsequent improvement of the temple was carried out for several years, and the additions to it were already carried out in our days under the patronage of the rector fathers who served in those days.
The iconostasis of the Church of All Saints was made according to the project of the priest Father Vladimir Zhokhov, and the icon painters of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra from Moscow painted icons for him. At present, in addition to the main chapel, there is a memorial chapel, a refectory, a prosphora and other auxiliary premises inside the church.
In 2001, the Church of All Saints celebrated the 55th anniversary of its restoration. The shrines of the temple are the icons of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and "Tikhvin", St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Mirlikia, miracle worker.
The clergy of the church performs pastoral service not only within the walls of the temple, but also outside it, comforting and supporting sick people at home, visiting old people living in nursing homes, coming to schools and orphanages, hospitals, visiting prisoners in prisons, spending these places preaching the Word of God and performing the sacraments of Repentance, Holy Communion and Baptism. Also, the ministers of the temple do not disregard the police officers, conscripts and soldiers who serve in the ranks of the Russian Army. There is a Sunday school at the church. It provides classes for adults, parishioners and children with hearing problems.
By the 55th anniversary of the renovation of the church, through the diligence of the parishioners, the restoration of its interior was completed, the domes and wall paintings of the temple were renewed.
