Description of the attraction
The Epiphany Church is located in the village of Pezhma, Velsky District, Arkhangelsk Region. On the site of the wooden Epiphany church, a stone one was erected. The construction of the stone temple began in May 1805 and was completed a year later.
The church was a two-story building, covered with a dome and decorated with five domes on faceted wood drums. The height of the temple was 32 meters. The main chapel was consecrated in honor of the Epiphany of the Lord, the chapel, located on the 2nd floor, was dedicated to the Holy Life-Giving Trinity. On the west side, a refectory was attached to the church, which was heated in winter with the help of ovens, with two aisles. On the right edge of the entrance there was a side-chapel in the name of Saint George the Great Martyr, on the left - in the name of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. In 1828-1829, a limestone floor was installed in the temple.
In 1841, there was a thunderstorm, during which the church was damaged, so in 1842, for 16 years, repairs were made, and the thrones were rededicated. In 1834, a bell tower was added to the church, but soon cracks formed on its walls. In 1895, it was examined by the Vologda provincial architect Remer, who made the decision to dismantle it to the ground. In October 1897, the foundations of the new bell tower were laid. The construction of the new building lasted until 1904. In 1903, the bells were raised on the bell tower and the Holy Cross was installed, and in 1904 it was whitewashed. The height of the bell tower was 52.5 meters.
In 1904-1914, work was carried out to expand and arrange the two-story church: the vaults were moved, the height of the walls of the main church and the refectory were increased, the second floor of the summer church was abolished to increase the volume of the temple building and create a second light in the form of round windows under the cross vaults. … Thus, the Epiphany Church acquired a form that has survived to this day.
When the First World War began, all construction and finishing activities were stopped, and after the Great October Revolution, the second period began in the historical life of the church - a period of aging, desolation and destruction. These events are reflected in the church chronicle: the signing of a document on the separation of the church from the state, after which the church was transferred to the community for maintenance; in 1922 - confiscation of church valuables.
The persecution of churches and priests in the 30s of the XX century did not escape the Vela church. Many priests were repressed, and in 1933, when the last rector died, the church was closed for believers, the bells and the cross were removed from the bell tower, and the church property was taken away.
Later, the church building was used as a granary and warehouse. In addition, the territory of the churchyard at the church was arranged for a parking lot for equipment, there was a diesel one in the aisle, two two-story houses were erected on the north side, and on the south, after a fire that destroyed the Floro-Lavra church, a road was built to a bridge across the Pezhma River.
By the end of the second period of its historical path, the Epiphany Church acquired a depressing look, time left the stamp of abandonment, loneliness and inexorable destruction on it, and a lopsided cross hanging on chains emphasized this sad picture. After some time, the local population decides to keep what they inherited. This was the beginning of the third period in the history of the Epiphany Church, which continues to the present day.
Several legends are associated with the Welsk church. In Soviet times, they wanted to destroy the temple. According to one of the legends, the cross, when it fell, hit the church wall, where a characteristic imprint remained, and went into the ground. Nobody found him. And the raft with bells went to the bottom of the Pezhma River. Restoration work is being actively carried out here.
