Since time immemorial, Orthodox Rus' has developed a tradition of erecting churches to remind descendants of the glorious milestones of history. They were built in gratitude to God for His constant help and for the edification of youth, who are yet to create this history. The tradition is still alive today. Its continuation was the Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill, which immortalized the memory of all who did not return from the war.
Throughout the centuries-old history of Russian Orthodoxy, this saint patronized Russian warriors and farmers, that is, those without whom the life of the people is impossible. In his honor, numerous churches were built and consecrated throughout vast Rus'. From the end of the 14th century, he became a prayer book for our capital before the Throne of God.
Nowadays, the coat of arms of Russia and the coat of arms of Moscow are decorated with the image of St. George. On them he is presented in his traditional appearance - a horseman slaying a serpent with a spear. Long before the Church of St. George the Victorious appeared on Poklonnaya Hill, the thrones of several Moscow churches were consecrated in honor of St. George the Victorious by order of the Moscow Patriarchate. Everyone who wants to bow to this defender of Russian land gathers there.
Construction of the temple
In accordance with the plan of preparation for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Victory, it was decided to erect a temple - a monument that is a decoration of Poklonnaya Hill. It's hard to imagine a better place to implement this project. A year before the planned celebrations, the ceremonial laying of the building took place.
The Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill was built at an unusually fast pace and was consecrated exactly a year later. The author of the project was the famous architect A. Polyansky in Soviet times. How many people remember him for his most famous work? the building of the WWII Museum. It is unfortunate, but, having created a wonderful project, the author never saw its implementation. The architect passed away in 1993. The temple became his posthumous monument.
Authors of the decoration of the temple
The Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill is a very original architectural solution. It simultaneously, without harming each other, embodied classical elements and features of modernism. A similar trend is noticeable in the appearance of many modern churches, the construction of which has begun in recent years, but in this case it received the most vivid embodiment. Undoubtedly, its further development will encourage the creation of new interesting projects.
Bronze bas-reliefs, the author of which was Z. Tsereteli, were installed on the walls of the temple. They give the overall appearance of the temple expressiveness and spirituality. On the western façade of the belfry there is a mosaic panel “Deesis”. It was also posted by the famous master Evgeny Klyucharyov. These images, just like the entire building as a whole, bear the imprint of the fusion of modern artistic movements with the traditional, centuries-old canons of Christian art.
Visitors to the temple will also be impressed by its interior decoration, the main element of which is the three-tiered iconostasis created at the Sofrino production association, consisting of forty-eight icons of various sizes. All of them were written by Moscow isographer Alexander Chashkin. The interior painting, completed eight years later, includes, in addition to traditional themes for an Orthodox church, images of Russian new martyrs who suffered during the years of repression.
Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill: schedule of services and address
Undoubtedly, the capital has acquired another striking attraction. But the temple on Poklonnaya Hill is famous not only for its beautiful decoration. The relics of St. George the Victorious are his precious shrine. Since they became the property of the temple, the flow of pilgrims to them has not dried up. Before coming to Moscow, they spent a long time in Jerusalem, and there are many records testifying to their miraculous work. Currently, they are freely accessible to everyone who wants to pray in front of them.
For two decades now, the Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill has been opening its doors to its parishioners every morning. The schedule of services performed there informs visitors to the temple that they begin at 9 a.m. with the reading of the hours, followed by the liturgy at 10 a.m. Evening services usually last from 17:00 to 19:00, after which the temple closes. We inform everyone who is planning to visit it for the first time: Moscow, Poklonnaya Gora, Church of St. George the Victorious. Every Muscovite will point it out to you.
St. George's Church on Poklonnaya Hill is located next to the Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow
Poklonnaya Gora is a historical place where many events related to the history of Russia took place. Ambassadors of the Crimean Khan Mengli-Girey came here, and Polish troops stopped when approaching the city. Napoleon waited here in 1812 for the keys to Moscow to be brought to him. Nearby is the Kutuzov Izba, in which a meeting of generals was held before the Battle of Borodino.
Previously, the capital was much smaller, and the mountain was higher, offering a beautiful view of the city.
In the 20th century, Victory Park was founded on Poklonnaya Hill. For the 50th anniversary, a memorial dedicated to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was built. A 142-meter-high stele is installed in front of it, and the area is decorated with fountains. There are exactly as many of them as the days the war lasted.
Shrines of Poklonnaya Gora
In 1992, the famous architect A. Polyansky created a project for the St. George Church on Poklonnaya Hill, which was built with some changes and consecrated in 1995 by Patriarch Alexy II.
The appearance of the temple displays traditional forms for ancient Russian architecture, reminiscent of ancient Novgorod churches. Naturally, modern building materials and technologies were used during construction. The church is very bright inside thanks to glass walls.
The Church of St. George on Poklonnaya Hill has a magnificent iconostasis and mosaic icons. Famous sculptors Z. Andzhaparidze and I. Tsereteli took part in the production of bronze bas-reliefs on the facades.
In 1997, the relics of St. George, which are located in the temple on Poklonnaya Hill, were donated from Jerusalem.
In Fili, next to the Kutuzovskaya Izba, it was founded in 1910, closed in 1930, and in 1994 it was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, restored and re-consecrated in 2000.
St. George the Victorious and Archangel Michael - heavenly patrons of warriors
In memory of the Orthodox Christians who laid down their lives on the battlefields, the St. George Church was erected on Poklonnaya Hill.
George the Victorious was himself a talented military man. He was born in Cappadocia into a believing family; his father was killed during the persecution of Christians. Having entered the service, with his exploits and courage, George soon attracted the attention of Emperor Diocletian, who promoted him and made him a governor, which was a very high rank in those days.
However, the fact that Hieromartyr George professed the Christian faith caused his patron to become furious when he found out about it. The emperor highly valued his military merits and promised the saint forgiveness if he renounced his faith. He subjected him to terrible torture for several days, and then cut off his head.
George's fearlessness, his fidelity to faith, the way he courageously endured suffering for Christ made him one of the beloved and revered saints. He is considered the patron saint of warriors in many Orthodox countries.
Archangel Michael, who leads the angelic army, is also a strong patron of those who fight for truth and justice.
Prayerful memory of those who gave their lives for victory
There are not only Orthodox churches on Poklonnaya Hill.
Part of the complex in honor of the victory in the Great Patriotic War is a memorial synagogue dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. It was opened in 1998 in the presence of the Russian President.
In 1997, the construction of a memorial mosque in honor of the fallen soldiers of the Muslim faith was completed.
On National Unity Day, November 4, 2014, a Buddhist temple was founded on which it will be a symbol of the blessed memory of Buddhist soldiers who gave their lives during the Second World War, residents of Kalmykia, Buryatia and other peoples of Russia who follow this religion.
When is St. George's Church open?
Services in churches on Poklonnaya Hill are held as scheduled. Liturgy is celebrated daily.
Baptisms and weddings are often held here, and it has become a tradition for newlyweds to visit the St. George Church on Poklonnaya Hill on their wedding day.
On holidays there are a lot of people here: pilgrims come here to the relics of the Holy Martyr George, military personnel come after taking the oath to pray at a prayer service for future service, and veterans. Sunday school is open. Once a year, during Easter week, all the chants at the liturgy are sung by children.
Poklonnaya Hill is a unique place where everyone can pay tribute to the memory of fallen soldiers and pray for the bright future for which they fought.
- Temple of St. George the Victorious was built and dedicated in 1995, to the 50th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
- Temple architecture successfully combines Russian style and modernism.
- On the walls there are bronze bas-reliefs by Z. Tsereteli and Z. Andzhaparidze. On the belfry there is a beautiful panel “Deesis”.
- In the interior decoration The central place of the temple is occupied by a three-tiered iconostasis with 48 images of saints.
- Visit Poklonnaya Gora and Church of St. George the Victorious in the evening to admire how evening sky reflected in the huge windows of the temple.
The Church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Hill does not have a centuries-old history, but has a very unusual appearance among Orthodox churches in Moscow. It successfully combines Russian style and modernism and is a real decoration of the Victory Park memorial complex. Like the entire complex, the temple was built in memory of the victims and heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The main shrine of the temple is considered to be a particle of the relics of St. George.
History of the creation of the temple
Since ancient times in Rus' there was a tradition of immortalizing patron saints on banners and dedicating churches being built to them. The image of St. George in the form of a horseman piercing a serpent with a spear was often depicted on the coats of arms of Russian princes and generals. Today it adorns the coats of arms of Russia and Moscow.
The Church of St. George the Victorious was built and consecrated in 1995, on the 50th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The date and place of construction of the temple were not chosen by chance: St. George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of both Moscow and Russian soldiers. The famous architect A. Polyansky (1928-1993), one of the leading architects of the era of communism, worked on the design of the temple. Therefore, for many specialists and ordinary people it seemed strange that the project of this particular author was accepted for the creation of such an important religious shrine. But Polyansky so successfully combined modern motifs with traditions, and brevity with monumentality, that his project was implemented, albeit with some changes made after the author’s death.
Temple architecture
On the walls there are bronze bas-reliefs by Z. Tsereteli and Z. Andzhaparidze. On the belfry you can see the most beautiful panel “Deesis” (author - E. Klyucharev). These elements are a striking example of modern temple architecture. They give the building sublimity, spirituality and expressiveness.
Another element of modernism is the large glazed sections of the walls, which look unusual for Orthodox churches. Thanks to them, the interior of the temple is flooded with natural light. The building is impressive with its slenderness and fits harmoniously into the architectural ensemble of Poklonnaya Gora. On a clear summer day, you can admire the majestic structure through the jets of the Poklonnaya Gora fountains and see how the sun's rays play in the magnificent stained glass windows.
Temple interior and shrines
In the interior decoration of the temple, the central place is occupied by a three-tiered iconostasis with 48 images of saints. Here you can also see elements of modern times: along with traditional subjects, Orthodox new martyrs of the 20th century who suffered during the years of repression are depicted here.
The main shrine of the temple is considered to be a particle of the relics of St. George the Victorious (Cappadocia). It was presented to the temple as a gift by the Patriarch of Jerusalem Diodorus in 1998. Among other shrines is an icon of St. Nikita the Stylite, considered a healer; an icon and a particle of the relics of one of the most revered saints, Blessed Matrona of Moscow, who, according to beliefs, helps all those who suffer; an ark with particles of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, to whom people turn with prayers for health and family well-being.
During the short history of the temple, traditions have already developed related to those who are patronized by St. George. These are military personnel, cadets and students of military schools who take the oath here. The fallen soldiers are also remembered within the walls of the temple.
Church-Chapel of the Archangel Michael
Attached to the Church of St. George the Victorious is the chapel-museum of Archangel Michael, located near the Kutuzovskaya Izba in Fili (Kutuzovsky Proezd, building 3). This is a memorial Orthodox church, founded on September 1, 1910 in honor of the heavenly patron of the Russian army, Archangel Michael, and in memory of the legendary 19th century commander Mikhail Kutuzov. The chapel-museum houses Kutuzov's personal belongings, weapons and samples of uniforms from the Patriotic War of 1812. The chapel was built in a picturesque Russian-Byzantine style.
After being ruthlessly destroyed during the Soviet years, the chapel has recently experienced a rebirth. From the Church of St. George the Victorious, you can walk to it in 10-15 minutes. Another nearby attraction related to the events of the Patriotic War with France is the Battle of Borodino Panorama Museum on Kutuzovsky Prospekt.
Walk along Poklonnaya Hill
You can visit Poklonnaya Hill and the Church of St. George the Victorious in the evening, when dusk is gathering. Thanks to the huge windows, the temple seems fragile and transparent. The white walls are flooded with the light of lanterns, and the evening sky is reflected in the windows. The fountains are illuminated and the area is completely transformed. It is worth admitting: this is truly one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in Moscow.
In addition to the Church of St. George the Victorious, on Poklonnaya Hill you will see the Victory Monument, you can go to the Victory Museum (formerly the Museum of the Great Patriotic War), walk along the green alleys of the park and enjoy the view of the magnificent cascades of fountains.
The Church of St. George the Victorious is an active Orthodox church of the Moscow diocese, which is also the Patriarchal Metochion, not only an important compositional element of the architectural ensemble of Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill and one of its attractions, but also a symbol of the victory of the Russian army over the enemy.
From the history of the construction of the temple
The Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious has been revered by the Russian Orthodox Church for many centuries as the patron saint of warriors and farmers. Many churches built in different centuries, located in large cities and small villages of the country, are consecrated in his name. And since the time of the prince Dmitry Donskoy St. George is considered the patron saint of the capital Russia, and his most famous image in the form of a rider on a horse, killing a serpent with a spear, still adorns the coat of arms of the Russian Federation, and in the capital itself there are several churches with thrones of St. George the Victorious.
At the end of the last century, the new St. George Church, built on the territory of the Victory Park memorial complex, located in the Western Administrative District Moscow, became a decoration of Poklonnaya Hill. It is deeply symbolic that it was in Victory Park, symbolizing the victory of the Soviet people over fascism, that on May 9, 1994, after a solemn prayer service, the first stone was laid for the foundation of a new church by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus'. And a year later, on May 6, 1995, on the day of remembrance of St. George the Victorious and in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Victory, Patriarch Alexy II performed the rite of solemn consecration of the temple.
Built in the Russian style with some modernist elements, St. George's Church has become one of the attractions of the complex. The design of the temple building was drawn up by the famous Soviet architect Anatoly Polyansky, the author of the main building of Victory Park - Unfortunately, the architect, who died in 1993, did not see his brainchild, but his interesting solution made the temple a unique monument of the symbiosis of two architectural styles, complementing each other without harm, which was expressed, along with compliance with the canons of the construction of Orthodox churches, in the absence of small decorative ornaments inherent in the Russian style and excessive enlargement and laconicism of details characteristic of modernism.
Slenderness and upward direction are given to the temple by the high glazed quadrangles with arched divisions and semicircular zakomaras, the graceful apse, almost the entire height of the eastern wall of the wall, and the drum cut through by narrow windows, decorated in the upper part and crowned with an onion-shaped dome with a cross. A unique feature of the external design of the temple is the absence of corner zakomars, the abundance of modern structures that highlight and emphasize the main volume, as well as bronze bas-reliefs that decorated the facades and mosaic icons that decorated the belfry.
The famous sculptor Zurab Tsereteli worked on the creation of the bas-reliefs, placing a sculptural image of the Mother of God “The Sign” on the northern façade of the temple, St. George the Victorious on the western façade, and the Savior Not Made by Hands on the southern façade. The bas-reliefs are complemented by the mosaic composition “Deesis”, laid out by the monumental artist Evgeny Klyucharyov on the western facade of the belfry.
The interior of the temple sparkles with splendor. The three-tier iconostasis, made at the Sofrino art and production enterprise, is decorated with 48 large and small icons created by the talented isographer Alexander Chashkin. A large chandelier, icons with lamps, banners with images of saints complete the overall picture.
Eight years after the construction of the temple, the walls and vaults were decorated with paintings, the subjects of which, in addition to traditional ones, reflected the holy images of the New Martyrs of Russia. In the northern wing of the temple, artists painted images of innocently murdered family members Nicholas II and holy martyrs, in the south - martyrs of the first centuries of Christianity, in the center - warriors who defended not only the faith, but also the Fatherland, in the west - images of Dmitry Donskoy, Alexander Nevsky, Ilya Muromets, Fedora Ushakova and other warriors.
The construction of the temple became possible thanks to funds allocated from the Moscow budget, and Yuri Luzhkov, who held the post of mayor of the city in those years, took an active part in the process of its construction and improvement. It was Yu. Luzhkov, who made a business trip to Jerusalem in 1997, who met there with Patriarch Diodorus, who donated a piece of the relics of St. to Moscow. Great Martyr George, in November 1998, transferred to the St. George Church and since then kept at the altar in a shrine under a carved gilded canopy.
Despite the fact that the St. George Church has existed for a relatively short time, it has already developed its own traditions. In it, thanksgiving prayers are served daily and soldiers who died on the battlefields are remembered, as well as students and cadets of Moscow military schools and military personnel take the oath.
On the territory of the memorial museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 “Kutuzovskaya Izba” in Fili there is a functioning temple-chapel of the Archangel Michael, assigned to the Church of St. George the Victorious. There is a Sunday school for children at the church, and the rector of the church, Archpriest Seraphim Nedosekin, and his parishioners are spiritually cared for by the pupils of the psychoneurological boarding school.
