Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Kuntsevo. The former Compound of the Holy Cross Poluninskaya Women’s Community of the Ryazan Diocese, 1907
The Orthodox Compound of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery in Kuntsevo (Moscow) is the current representation of this monastery in the capital of Russia. It is located at the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Kuntsevo, at 10, building 3, Bagritskogo Street, next to the Kuntsevskaya metro station. The Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Kuntsevo, where the Compound was founded, was built in 1997 as a wooden building. The church has two chapels: in honour of St. Seraphim of Sarov and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The compound was established in 2000. The church is also known as Serafimovskaya Church or Serafimosarovskaya Church. The Savvino-Storozhevskoye compound in Kuntsevo has a long history, although it was founded only in the 21st century. The Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Kuntsevo became an Orthodox shrine, attributed to the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. The history of the temple begins with the organization of a women`s almshouse in the Spassky district in 1900, which was later transformed into the Polunin women`s community. This community was named after its founder, the merchant Vasily Ivanovich Polunin. In 1906, one of the novices began the construction of a courtyard and a church near the village of Krylatskoye. The construction was carried out on land donated by local peasants, designed by the architect V.F. Zhigardlovich. After the construction was completed in 1909-1910, the church was consecrated by Bishop Nikodim of Ryazan and Zaraisk. In 1915, the construction of the belfry, gates and utility rooms began, but it was suspended due to historical events. In 1917, the compound was transformed into the Seraphim Community, which was subordinated to the Moscow Diocese and is also known as the Kuntsevsky Monastery. In 1919 Marina Tsvetaeva, in conditions of hunger, gave her daughter to the Kuntsevo monastery in the hope of saving her, but the girl did not survive. In 1922, the Kuntsevsky monastery was abolished, and the church was transformed into a parish church. In 1924-1925, the church underwent major repairs at the expense of parishioners, and in 1928 the damaged structures were replaced. However, in 1929, the church was finally closed at the request of the authorities, and church life ceased. The building of the former temple changed owners several times, first it housed children`s institutions, then industrial premises. In 1997 a temporary church in honour of St. Seraphim of Sarov was built on the site of the surviving parts of the building. After some time, St. Nicholas Chapel was built in the building. In 1998, the church building was transferred to the community, but the old church fell into disrepair, and it was demolished around 2000. In 2000, the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Kuntsevo received the status of a compound of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Nowadays, the compound complex includes several facilities: The Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov, a chapel, a gatehouse and a gate pylon. The Compound has been under state protection since 2006. It has the status of Patriarch.
Address: Moscow, Bagritskogo str., 10, building 3, building 1
