Chapel of Alexander Nevsky (Taiginka)

The Chapel of St. Alexander Nevsky is an Orthodox chapel in the village of Taiginka, Kyshtym urban district, Chelyabinsk Oblast, at 29 Tsygankova Street. It was built in just three months in the summer of 2004 with money from a native of the village, and it is still in use today as part of the Chelyabinsk Metropolis.

History

Taiginka lies 12–15 kilometres from Kyshtym. The village began as a temporary settlement for the workers building the Kyshtym–Karabash railway branch, and its later life was tied to mining: graphite near Kyshtym was first talked about in 1911, and in 1939 geologists found a large deposit here.

The chapel was built to an approved sketch in record time: work began on 2 July 2004 and was finished by 24 September. During construction a bell-cote was added that had not been in the original design. The building was paid for by the project's initiator, Viktor Pichugov, who represented the village revival fund. Born in Taiginka, he was at the time head of the Nizhnevartovsk District and chairman of the board of the Aganneftegazgeologiya company.

Consecration

On 20 November 2004 the chapel was consecrated in honour of the holy prince Alexander Nevsky. Pichugov came for the occasion with a delegation from the Khanty-Mansi Okrug and the Nizhnevartovsk District, and the head of Kyshtym, Vyacheslav Shchekochikhin, attended with his deputies even though he was on holiday.

The rite was performed by the Kyshtym priests Father Sergius and Father Vladimir together with the dean, Father George, rector of the church in Kasli. A procession around the chapel closed the ceremony, and from that day the chapel became part of the parish of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Kyshtym.

Nearby

The village is surrounded by forest, and the hills around it give views over woods and lakes. Close to Taiginka are quarries where graphite and kaolin were mined, and sandy wastes that travellers call the "Ural desert". A visit to the chapel combines well with a walk to the quarries.

Getting there

Taiginka is about 15 kilometres by road from Kyshtym, roughly a 17-minute drive. Public transport runs to the "Posyolok Taiginka" stop. The chapel stands on Tsygankova Street.