Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine

4.5

Photos

  • Храм Святой великомученицы Екатерины. Photo 1
  • Храм Святой великомученицы Екатерины. Photo 2
  • Храм Святой великомученицы Екатерины. Photo 3
  • Храм Святой великомученицы Екатерины. Photo 4

Description

The village of Tugustemir, located in the north of the Orenburg region, is proud of one of the most beautiful sights of the region - the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine. This unique temple, with its special architectural style and amazing history, attracts many tourists and pilgrims, and can be seen from the first steps into the village.

The history of the temple in Tugustemir goes back to 1852, when the noble landowner Viktor Ivanovich Zvenigorodsky erected this temple in memory of his beloved wife Catherine, who died at a young age. He was a believer and strived for the best to be in the temple. Therefore, during construction, a special solution of egg yolk was used, which made the masonry especially strong. Local residents brought eggs to prepare the mortar, and Zvenigorodsky himself personally tested the strength of the bricks. To make the temple even more majestic, an expensive gilded iconostasis was purchased for the interior decoration, and the walls were decorated with images of saints.

Among the many features of the temple in Tugustemir, one can highlight stained glass windows and a majestic bell tower, to the top of which a spiral staircase led. The bell tower surprised with its size, and the ringing of its bells spread many kilometers from the village. The tombstone near the temple, connected with the story of the priest’s wife, also deserves special attention.

However, in Soviet times, the quiet life of the village and the temple ended. The Bolshevik authorities began to fight religion, and the Church of St. Catherine did not stand aside. In 1928, a decision was made to demolish it, but thanks to the strong masonry, part of the building was preserved. A granary was placed inside the temple, and the bell tower became a warehouse for chemicals.

Only in the mid-1990s did the process of restoration of the temple begin, which continues to this day. In 2006, the temple was recognized as an architectural monument of regional significance, and a project to restore it began. Today, this shrine opens its doors again to believers and tourists, telling its amazing story and attracting attention with its beauty and grandeur.

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