Church of the Archangel Michael (Orenburg)

The Church of the Archangel Michael is an Orthodox church in Orenburg, on Vostochnaya Street (listed in directories as 22/1 Vostochnaya Street). It stands next to the memorial to fallen Interior Ministry officers in the square named after police major V. P. Samokhin, which is why people in the Orenburg region often look for it as the church by the "police park" on Vostochnaya.

History of the Church of the Archangel Michael

The church was founded on September 6, 2012, with the blessing of Metropolitan Valentin of Orenburg and Saraktash. That day the rite of founding a church was performed: the site of the future church was consecrated and a cross was raised.

The ceremony was led by Metropolitan Valentin himself. He was assisted by clergy of the Orenburg diocese: the diocesan secretary Archpriest Evgeny Sirotkin, the rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral Mitred Archpriest Alexy Aseev, the acting rector of the Orenburg Theological Seminary Hegumen Nikodim (Shushmarchenko), Priest Maxim Sitnov and Deacon Nikolai Lishchenyuk.

The dedication to the Archangel Michael, leader of the heavenly host, echoes the neighbouring memorial: the Archangel is venerated as the patron of soldiers and defenders.

The foundation stone

The foundation stone was set into the altar wall of the church under construction. Its inscription says that the church was founded "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" in honour and memory of the Archangel Michael in the city of Orenburg under Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' and Metropolitan Valentin of Orenburg and Saraktash. The date is given in two ways: the year 7520 from the creation of the world and 2012 from the Nativity of Christ.

The memorial and Samokhin Square

Next to the church is a memorial to Interior Ministry officers killed in the line of duty. It bears the name of police major V. P. Samokhin, who died in Grozny on March 6, 1996. Together the church and the memorial form a single place of remembrance for fallen police officers.

Getting there

The Church of the Archangel Michael is within Orenburg city limits, on Vostochnaya Street, by the square with the Interior Ministry memorial. The memorial itself is the landmark: the church stands right beside it. It can be reached by city transport or taxi using the address 22/1 Vostochnaya Street.