I absolutely look at temples and cathedrals from an aesthetic, not a religious point of view. Beautiful objects. If they help many and are needed - yes to health. Moreover, they are often built on the money of sponsors and donations from Russians. Plus, these are the traditions and history of Russia.
Why am I? An unusual Orthodox church - a military one - will soon appear in the Patriot Park, located in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region.
The project was presented at the board of the Ministry of Defense under the official name "The main temple of the Armed Forces of Russia." In fact, it will be a whole memorial complex, where it will be possible not only to pray, but also to honor the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland. The temple should turn out to be truly popular, because it will be erected with donations from Russians.
Combination of old and new architecture
The new temple, as conceived by the creators, will combine both the traditions that were used in the construction by the great architects of Ancient Russia and modern architectural solutions. On the one hand, the building was designed in the Russian-Byzantine style, and natural limestone was chosen as the material, which is very characteristic of the famous ancient Russian churches.
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On the other hand, the dome and vaults of the temple will be decorated with stained glass shock-resistant glazing. And the combination of bronze and green is a hint of the official colors of the Russian Armed Forces. The facade will be decorated with natural stone and carved stone ornament.
As a result, the building should turn out to be incredibly beautiful, monumental and at the same time graceful and light.
The temple is designed cruciform in shape, with five domes and, of course, it will have a belfry. The total height is 95 m, and the total area is about 11 thousand square meters. The building will be able to accommodate about 6 thousand people.
Each branch has its own saint
The main military church will have several side-altars. Each of them is in honor of the patron saint of one or another kind of troops. So, it is traditionally believed that Saint Alexander Nevsky patronizes those who serve in the ground forces, the prophet Elijah helps the fighters of the aerospace forces and paratroopers, Andrew the First-Called is the faithful assistant to the sailors, and the Great Martyr Barbara - those who serve in the rocket forces.
The central throne of the main military church in Russia will be built in honor of the Resurrection of the Lord.
In addition to the side-altars, the temple of the Armed Forces is supposed to have auditoriums for working with regimental priests, a methodological center, halls for lectures and conferences, as well as various utility rooms.
Regimental temples - an old Russian tradition
In tsarist Russia, since the times of Peter the Great, every military unit had its own priest and its own temple. Of course, at first these were not in the full sense of the word temples-buildings, but mobile church-tents or small rooms in regimental barracks. But later, full-fledged stone or wooden churches began to be erected in Russia.
Especially actively, such churches began to be built after the war of 1812 - as a rule, to perpetuate the feat of this or that unit, which showed special heroism, and to thank God and the saints for the victory. In other words, the temple had two tasks at the same time - memorial and nurturing.
As such an example can be called the temple of the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment, erected in honor of the Great Martyr Myron in the city on the Neva. The battle of Leipzig, during which the soldiers of the regiment showed heroism, took place on the day of this saint.
Often in such temples are stored trophies obtained from the enemy and other exhibits related to military events and the heroism of soldiers. Also in the military church you can usually see banners, awards, historical documents and even military uniforms. Thus, such a regimental temple is not only a place for prayer, but also a kind of military museum.
The uniform worn by Emperor Alexander II at the time of the assassination attempt.
For example, in the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of St. Petersburg, from the first half of the 19th century, trophies of the war with the Turks, and then other relics associated with the history of the famous Preobrazhensky regiment, were kept. In the temple-museum one could even see the ceremonial uniforms of the Russian tsars, as well as the saber that was under Alexander II at the time of his murder, with traces of his blood.
From the middle of the century before last, burials of especially revered senior military officials, officers and even privates (buried, as a rule, in mass graves) began to be made at military memorial temples.
As you know, in the Kazan Cathedral of the northern capital, Kutuzov's ashes are buried, and in the Sevastopol Vladimir Cathedral, admirals Kornilov, Lazarev, Nakhimov and Istomin are buried.
Temple with the tomb of admirals in Sevastopol.
It is assumed that the Main Military Temple of Russia will revive this tradition of folk memorial cathedrals, and first of all, the military, philanthropists and everyone who is interested in the unique project will donate money for its construction.
You can get to the Patriot Park by car, following the Minsk highway, or by taking a train to Golitsyno station and then changing to a minibus.