Temples of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Photos and descriptions of existing churches in Nizhny Novgorod Nizhny Novgorod Church

Nizhny Novgorod is the capital of the Volga region, a large Orthodox center. On the territory of Nizhny Novgorod there are more than 100 churches that make up historical heritage cities. They were built in different time and survived difficult times of godlessness. Today, churches are welcoming believers again.

Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

It was founded in 1649. This is the first stone church built in the Upper Posad of Novgorod. The founders united two churches in one building: the summer Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Women and the winter church, built in honor of the icon of Our Lady of the Sign. The temple was closed after the revolution and looted. Then a light industry technical school opened in the building. In the 90s, the church was returned to the diocese, and in 2009 the first liturgy was held.

Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

It is considered to be the only Russian Baroque monument built in Nizhny Novgorod in the mid-18th century. The church was consecrated in 1785. Initially it was located outside the city, in a cemetery. But then the territory became part of Nizhny Novgorod. Two chapels were built next to the temple, in which funeral services were held. IN Soviet time the church was closed. Today it is in operation; restoration work is still underway in the temple.

Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God

The cathedral was included in the list of objects cultural heritage. This is the only church in the history of stone architecture of the 17th century, the covering of the main volume of which is made in the form of a “crossed barrel with four faces.” The first mention of the temple dates back to 1621. The stone church building was founded in 1672. During the Bolshevik years it was closed, the bell tower and the refectory were destroyed. Restoration work was completed in 2004, the destroyed buildings were restored. The church began to welcome its parishioners again.

Temple of the Vladimir Oran Icon of the Mother of God

The church was built from 1999 to 2005, in the Sovetsky district of the city, on the initiative of the district administration. It was built in the traditions of Russian Orthodox architecture. The shrine of the temple is the Vladimir Oran Icon of the Mother of God. On the territory of the church there is a monument in honor of the soldiers who died during the Chechen War.

Temple of John the Baptist

Full name: Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist. This is one of oldest temples Nizhny Novgorod. In 1683, a stone temple was built on the site of a dilapidated wooden church. From the porch of the still old cathedral, Kuzma Minin proposed to gather an army of volunteers and liberate Moscow from the Poles. It was closed from 1937 to 1994. The shrines are the icons of John the Baptist and the Mother of God of Kazan, donated by Alexy II.

Church of the Icon of the Mother of God of All Who Sorrow Joy

The Orthodox Church is also called the Sorrowful Church. Was built in eclectic style architectural style, in 1893-1896. The first mention of the wooden Sorrow Church dates back to 1825. Before the revolution, the temple was a brownie at the Martynovskaya hospital. It was closed several times during the Soviet years. The service was restored in 1994. The temple was included in the register of architectural monuments of regional significance.

St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral

The oldest temple in Nizhny Novgorod. It was built during the emergence of the city. A wooden cathedral was founded in 1221, and a stone one in 1227. It was rebuilt in 1359. The building is a 4-pillar and 3-apse temple, with 3 porches. Recognized as a monument of Russian tent architecture. The cathedral houses the tomb of Kuzma Minin. The temple was closed in the 20s. Services began in 2000.

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The church is also known as Rozhdestvenskaya or Stroganovskaya. Built in the Stroganov Baroque style, construction of the cathedral lasted from 1696 to 1719. The cathedral was recognized as a monument of federal significance. Shrines of the temple: icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, icons with pieces of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov. The church was closed in the 1930s, and services resumed in 1993.

Sormovo Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral

The church was built in 1882, in the village of Sormovo (later this territory became the Sormovo district of Nizhny Novgorod). Over time, the temple ceased to accommodate all believers; in 1900, builders laid the foundation of a new big church. In 1903, the temple was completed and consecrated. The church was closed by the Bolsheviks, and various organizations were located in the building. In 1990, the temple was returned to believers.

Old Fair Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral

Construction of the cathedral took place in 1816-1822. It was built in the classicist style, designed by Auguste Montferrand. The cathedral was erected next to the city fair, hence the name Old Fair. Until 2009 he was the main cathedral Nizhny Novgorod Diocese. It was closed during the Soviet period, services began in 1989. In 2009, a monument was unveiled on its territory in honor of the Nizhny Novgorod residents who participated in the liquidation of the Chernobyl accident.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Since 2009, it has become the cathedral of the diocese. Located in the historical part of the city, it was built according to the design of the architect Lev Dahl. Construction lasted from 1868 to 1881. After the revolution, the cathedral was closed, the property was confiscated, and during wartime the building came under fire and was badly damaged. Restoration began in 1983. The first Divine Liturgy was conducted by Archbishop George in 2009.

There are several hundred churches, temples and cathedrals in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Unfortunately, in the 30s of the last century, most of the churches were closed, looted or simply liquidated. In the best case, warehouses, production facilities, and even Houses of Culture were organized in the temple premises. There are still hundreds of temples in ruins in cities and villages. In the 90s, churches began to be handed over to believers and, if possible, repaired, reconstructed and even rebuilt.

Nizhny Novgorod churches

Churches in Nizhny Novgorod suffered the same fate: almost all city churches were liquidated. However, the recovery in last years It is progressing at a rapid pace thanks to the believers and the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese. Among the Nizhny Novgorod churches there are also those that, due to their characteristics, are of great tourist importance. For example, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral or Sormovo Cathedral.

The most important churches of Nizhny Novgorod

• Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky
• Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Sormovo
• The oldest Cathedral in the region is St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral
• Spassky Old Fair Cathedral
• Church of the Nativity (Stroganov Church)
• Smolensk-Vladimir parish in Gordeevka (Smolensk Church)

The architecture of churches is varied: from small, simple churches and house churches to luxurious and majestic cathedrals. After all, everything depended only on the financial capabilities of the parish, and if there was money, then they did not spare money for the church. This explains the appearance of huge temples and architectural masterpieces in seemingly small villages.

Wooden churches have also been preserved in the region - most of them are in the Trans-Volga wooded part of the region.

We did not try to collect all the churches of the Nizhny Novgorod region, but only selected the most interesting and unique ones.