Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Troitskoye-Golenishchevo, Ramenki
The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Troitsk-Golenishchev, located in the Moscow district of Ramenka, is an outstanding monument of Orthodox architecture. Its history goes back to the distant past, when a wooden church consecrated in the name of John the Theologian stood on this place back in the XV century. Subsequently, in 1644-1645, according to the project of the talented architect Antipas Konstantinov, a magnificent stone temple was erected here, which gave the new name to the village – Troitse-Golenishchevo. The village of Golenishchevo was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1406. It served as the summer country residence of Metropolitan Cyprian of Moscow and Kiev, and already in 1474 Metropolitan Gerontius founded a church here. In the 17th century, the wooden Trinity Church with the chapel of St. Leontius appeared in its place, but soon it was replaced by a stone church built by the efforts of Larion Ushakov. Later, side chapels were added to it, and in 1660 a bell tower and refectory were erected, which were rebuilt and expanded two centuries later. During the difficult times of the war of 1812, the temple was in the hands of the Napoleonic troops, who set up a stable within its walls. As a result of the fire, the ancient iconostasis was lost, but some icons were saved, as they were handed over for restoration shortly before these events. At the end of the 19th century, the temple underwent significant renovation, but even more serious tests awaited it in the 20th century. In 1939, the temple was closed, and its iconostasis was at the disposal of the famous director Sergei Eisenstein, who used it in the filming of Ivan the Terrible. After that, the relics never returned to the temple. The shrine remained in disrepair, and its premises were alternately used as a warehouse for a cardboard factory, the leased territory of the USSR State Television and Radio Station, and then as a recycling collection point. In the 1970s, the first attempts to restore the church began, and in 1990 the process of its return to the Russian Orthodox Church began. Soon the first prayer service was held, the territory was cleared of warehouse buildings, and work began on the restoration of the bell tower. In 1992, prayers were heard in the church again. In the mid-1990s. A large-scale restoration was carried out, during which the temple was restored to its historical appearance, ridding the central tent of the late metal coating. In addition, the Ioninsky key, located next to the river, has been cleared. In 1999, a wooden baptismal chapel was erected near the refectory in honor of St. Cyprian. Over time, the church’s parish became active: regular worship services are held here, a Sunday school operates, a library operates, as well as an audio and video library with recordings of services and sermons. The parish provides support to the Matveevsky Orphanage, and also issues a monthly parish leaflet, Kyprianovsky Spring. On June 3, 2012, on Holy Trinity Day, for the first time in a long time, an episcopal divine service was held in the church, led by Bishop Ignatius of Bronnitsky. The architectural appearance of the temple is a vivid example of tent architecture, popular in Russia since the 16th century, but subsequently banned by Patriarch Nikon. The central tent, later covered with iron, rises above the main quadrangle, completed with elegant keeled arches. The southern and western sides of the building are decorated with spacious galleries, and side chapels dedicated to Metropolitan Jonah and Holy Martyr Agapius are adjacent to the temple at the apse level. Their tents are decorated with false auditory openings, and the eights on which the heads are mounted are decorated with kokoshniks, giving the whole composition elegance and lightness. Nowadays, the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity remains not only an important monument of Russian architecture, but also a living spiritual center that unites believers who carefully preserve its centuries-old heritage.
Address: Moscow, Mosfilmovskaya St., 18A
