Church of the Holy Righteous Warrior Feodor Ushakov in South Butovo
Saint Righteous Warrior Feodor Ushakov (1745–1817) was an outstanding Russian naval commander and admiral who commanded the Black Sea Fleet from 1790 to 1798 and the Russian-Turkish squadron in the Mediterranean from 1798 to 1800, and who never suffered a single defeat in naval battles. After completing his military service, he devoted his life to prayer and works of mercy, building a church in the village of Alekseyevka and helping those in need, for which he was locally canonised in 2001, and glorified by the whole Church in 2004 as an example of valour, mercy and deep faith. The saint’s memory is celebrated on the days of his glorification (canonisation) – 23 July (5 August), 2 (15) October, the day of his blessed repose, and also 23 May (5 June), the day of the Synaxis of the Rostov-Yaroslavl Saints. Since 2000, Feodor Ushakov has been venerated as the heavenly patron of the Russian Navy, and since 2005 also of the Strategic Air Forces. As for church life connected with his name, on 15 October 2012 a temporary church in honour of the Icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed” (Troeruchitsa) was consecrated with the minor rite. Subsequently, on 15 April 2015, the rite of blessing of the foundation stone for the main church was performed, and on 12 February 2018, the rite of its minor consecration, after which regular services began in it. On 27 July 2019, a side altar in honour of the “Three-Handed” Icon was consecrated, and finally, on 22 December 2019, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia performed the rite of great consecration of the church. Under his patronage, active missionary, catechetical and youth work is carried out: there is a Sunday school for children, various creative clubs and optional classes, including a guitar club, English language, literary, dance and handicraft clubs, and a children’s choir, as well as a Bible study group for adults and a youth football team called “Admiral”. In addition, an Orthodox lecture series has been organised, where talks on questions of Orthodox spirituality, culture and history are held on Saturdays in district libraries; an art gallery and a church-archaeological museum have been opened in the clergy house; the church also provides spiritual care for a number of district secondary schools and cadet classes.
Address: Moscow, Yuzhnobutovskaya St., 6, building 1
