Description of the attraction
The city of Kandalaksha is located in the Murmansk region. It is located on the southern border of two dioceses: Murmansk and Monchegorsk. Despite the fact that St. John's Church was built relatively recently, in 2005, its parish has a very long history.
About five centuries ago, baptism took place on the Niva River, on the right bank near the mouth. Now the city of Kandalaksha stands here. According to the writings of the Monk Theodoret of Kola, the local residents themselves came to Moscow with a request to perform the sacrament of baptism over them and to consecrate a church for them. Then, at the behest of the prince, Archbishop Macarius sent a priest and deacon to them from Novgorod to perform all the rituals. In 1526, the Monk Theodoret of Kola erected a church in honor of the Nativity of John the Baptist. From this time and from this place the history of the city begins. During the entire period of the existence of this temple, it was rebuilt many times. In 1548, the Kandalaksha monastery was formed around the temple.
In 1589, as a result of the attack of the Swedes, the construction of a temple, a monastery and many peasant households, they suffered from raids and plunder. More than four hundred people died at the hands of the Swedes. In the 16th century, the temple decayed and fell into disrepair. In 1751, His Grace Barsanuphius issued a letter that gave permission for the restoration of the ancient church in honor of the Nativity of John the Baptist. In 1768, the temple began to be rebuilt. In 1801, the consecration of the new church took place. This building stood until the forties of the twentieth century. The new temple stood for a long time. He survived attacks by British troops during the Crimean War in 1855-1856. However, in the early forties of the last century, as part of an anti-religious campaign, the church was closed. The temple building was beheaded and desecrated. Only at the end of the last century, the temple began its revival.
In the summer of 1988, Orthodox Christians of the Kola Diocese celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. By that time, a community had already been registered in Kandalaksha. During the festival, believers turned to His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, who is in the city of Kirovsk, with a request to send a priest to their city, since at that time the community was without its pastor. Vladyka promised to satisfy the request of the community and recommended for the time being to find premises for the future church.
On June 3, 1989, on the day of the feast of the icon of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya", the Kandalaksha city administration officially transferred the premises where the administration of the Kandalaksha reserve was formerly located. Shortly thereafter, on July 6, 1989, the temporary throne in honor of the Nativity of John the Baptist was consecrated. After that, a thanksgiving service was served.
Over the next years, several priests and abbots were replaced, a Sunday parish school was opened, the site for the construction of a new church was consecrated, not far from the place where the ancient temple once stood. Soon a spacious new temple was erected on this site. He is one-altar. Built from wood. It has a hipped roof design. The construction of the temple was laid in January 2000. It was solemnly consecrated on March 26, 2005. The ceremony was conducted by His Eminence Simon, Archbishop of Murmansk and Monchegorsk.
Today the temple is active and continues to transform. The rector of the temple, hieromonk Siluan (Nikolaev), appointed to this position in 2006, is engaged in the improvement of the territory and decoration of the temple.
