How a temple was built in the Russian outback 100 years ago, which is not inferior in beauty to the Savior on Spilled Blood
How a temple was built in the Russian outback 100 years ago, which is not inferior in beauty to the Savior on Spilled Blood

Video: How a temple was built in the Russian outback 100 years ago, which is not inferior in beauty to the Savior on Spilled Blood

Video: How a temple was built in the Russian outback 100 years ago, which is not inferior in beauty to the Savior on Spilled Blood
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The small village of Kukoboi, located almost 200 kilometers from Yaroslavl, attracted everyone's attention at the beginning of the 20th century. A temple was built there, in beauty and size not inferior to the St. Petersburg Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and it is not surprising - after all, it was designed by the architect of the Imperial Court and director of the Institute of Civil Engineers Vasily Antonovich Kosyakov. To consecrate the building in 1912, Bishop Tikhon, the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, arrived in the outback.

The village of Kukoboi remains a small settlement today, with just over a thousand people living in it. However, this place is truly rich in its history. The first mention of him was made almost 500 years ago - the tsar's voivode then bought a small village from the monastery for 100 rubles and a horse. In the middle of the 19th century, the first stone church was built here, a little later - a school, and at the beginning of the 20th century it was here that the largest library in the county was located.

The village of Kukoboy, Yaroslavl region, a settlement with more than 500 years of history, was declared the birthplace of Baba Yaga in 2004
The village of Kukoboy, Yaroslavl region, a settlement with more than 500 years of history, was declared the birthplace of Baba Yaga in 2004

In 1909, an event occurred that changed the entire history of this place. The rich merchant Ivan Agapovich Voronin returned to his homeland. He left his native village a long time ago, when he was still young. I went to seek my fortune in the capital and was not mistaken. He married a rich widow, lived with her on Nevsky Prospekt, became a merchant of the 1st guild and a real state councilor. He owned both weaving factories and brick factories, even became a member of the Accounting Committee of the State Bank, and in addition, he was a member of the management of the joint-stock company for the construction of churches and cathedrals in the capital. Returning home 40 years later, he decided to give all his fellow countrymen a gift - such that people would really be happy.

Meeting of Ivan Agapovich Voronin with representatives of the authorities of the Podorvanovskaya volost of the Poshekhonsky district in May 1914. in with. Kukoboy. (I. A. Voronin in the center)
Meeting of Ivan Agapovich Voronin with representatives of the authorities of the Podorvanovskaya volost of the Poshekhonsky district in May 1914. in with. Kukoboy. (I. A. Voronin in the center)

The merchant offered the villagers a choice - either to build a railway from Kukoboy to Poshekhonya (60 kilometers off-road, forests and swamps), or to build a temple in their village. The inhabitants unanimously chose the cathedral. This is how this construction began, which was really done by "the whole world." Voronin allocated one million rubles - an unprecedented amount for those places. But the villagers themselves did not stand aside. In those days, excellent builders, carpenters, and carvers lived in Kukoboi. Everyone got down to work together. The skill of the rural craftsmen was so great that even a local builder was appointed as the chief engineer.

Church of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands in the village of Kukoboy. North facade. Stained glass window
Church of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands in the village of Kukoboy. North facade. Stained glass window

The famous Russian architect Vasily Antonovich Kosyakov, the author of such grandiose projects as the Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt, the Cathedral of Peter and Paul in Peterhof and the Cathedral of St. Vladimir in Astrakhan, built the temple in the outback. For the needs of the construction site in Kukoboi, a small brick factory was quickly launched. However, the facing material was delivered special, from Finland. White brick with a pink tint, hollow inside, served at the same time as an excellent heat insulator, and the amazing beauty of turquoise tiles was covered with glaze. The materials were brought by water, along the Ukhtome River. The old-timers then told for a long time that each overseas brick was wrapped in wrapping paper and numbered.

Tiles and facing bricks for the temple were delivered from Finland
Tiles and facing bricks for the temple were delivered from Finland
Church of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands in the village of Kukoboy, Yaroslavl region
Church of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands in the village of Kukoboy, Yaroslavl region

The cathedral in the village of Kukoboy is still considered one of the main pearls of the Yaroslavl region. A hundred years ago, a real architectural miracle was created in the Russian outback. The temple was built in just less than four years. The opening of the shrine in May 1912 brought together such a number of guests that Kukoboi had probably never seen before. The cathedral was consecrated by the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Tikhon. At that time he was the bishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov. By the way, the donated one million rubles was also enough for a school and three buildings for a hospital and a shelter.

Church of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands in the village of Kukoboy, 1912
Church of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands in the village of Kukoboy, 1912

After the revolution, the Kukoboi temple shared the fate of most of the churches in Russia. It was immediately closed, in the 30s it was ravaged - crosses and domes were thrown down, the unique carved iconostasis was destroyed, icons were burned. Fortunately, the walls of the architectural wonder have survived, as the premises have been used. An old photograph shows how a gathering of Stakhanovite collective farmers is being held in the church. Later, a warehouse was set up in it, and a prison in the basements.

Gathering of Stakhanovite collective farmers in the Spassky Church of the village of Kukoboy, 1934
Gathering of Stakhanovite collective farmers in the Spassky Church of the village of Kukoboy, 1934

In 1989, the temple was returned to the church, but so far its restoration has not been carried out to the extent that it deserves. This is all the more offensive because today the ROC finds huge funds for the construction and restoration of many and much larger objects in regional and district centers. It remains to be hoped that the unique architectural monument located in a small village will also someday wait for its turn.

today the temple in the village of Kukoboy is not in the best condition, the unique facing is gradually being destroyed
today the temple in the village of Kukoboy is not in the best condition, the unique facing is gradually being destroyed
Church of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands in the village of Kukoboy
Church of the Savior Image Not Made by Hands in the village of Kukoboy

See further on the selection of Rare photographs that capture vivid events in the history of the Russian state

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