Temple of the Archangel Gabriel, Menshikov Tower: description, history, architect and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

Golden-domed Moscow is full of temples with high bell towers, towers, but there is a church that stands out among the traditional examples of Moscow architecture. It is dedicated to Archangel Gabriel. Located on Chistye Prudy, far from the tourist trails, it is known to Muscovites as the Menshikov Tower.

Temple in Myasnitskaya Sloboda

The first mention of the temple, consecrated in honor of the Archangel Gabriel, is found in chronicles since 1551. Its location was the Myasnitskaya Sloboda, according to the tradition of that time, it was called the Church of the Archangel Gabriel in Myasniki. But there was another Moscow geographical definition that tied the temple to its location - the temple of Gabriel the Great near Pogany Ponds.

The story says that the settlement was nicknamed Myasnitskaya for the occupation of the people who inhabited it. The butchers dumped all the waste from their work into the ponds, and the smell from them was very unpleasant. Until 1639, the church was built of stone, expanded and renovated thanks to the care of the abbots of the temple and thanks to the numerous donations of we althy laity. Later, the name of the settlement changed, and the places began to be calledGavriilovsky settlement, named after the temple.

Menshikov starts and doesn't finish

Favorite of Peter I, Alexander Menshikov, in 1699 acquired an estate in Myasnitskaya Sloboda. Thanks to his active character, the desire to benefit the parish, and backing up his zeal with money, Prince Menshikov briskly undertook to equip St. Gabriel's Church, of which he became a parishioner. The first donation went to repair the temple, and from 1701 to 1703 the church was significantly ennobled, but the chance and fortune of Prince Menshikov gave impetus to new construction.

During this period, the king sent the prince on a military mission, which was marked by victory. In addition to honors, Menshikov brought from the campaign the most famous, miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Polotsk. According to legend, the icon belonged to the brush of the Apostle Luke. For such a shrine, Prince Alexander Menshikov decided to make a magnificent church out of a simple church parish, the crown of which would be a miraculous image. That is why exactly one year after the repair, the St. Gabriel's Church was destroyed to the ground and a new one was erected on its foundation.

Angel on a steeple

Finished a new temple in 1707. He came out marvelous, such as has never happened in Moscow before. The rumor slandered that Menshikov wanted to "wipe his nose" proud Muscovites, because they did not like the favorite of the tsar and remembered his "uncourtly" origin, a poor past and a career that began with selling pies. As soon as the construction of the temple was completed, it was immediately called the "towerMenshikov.”

The church turned out to be high, about 81 meters high, which was three meters higher than the height of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. This caused discontent among eminent citizens of the city. But ordinary people accepted the tower favorably and came to admire the new miracle. A special sign of the newly built Church of the Archangel Gabriel (Menshikov Tower) was the thirty-meter spire crowning the bell tower, on which a golden angel ascended to heaven.

The entire decoration of the temple was unique, especially for those years: numerous ornaments covered the walls of the church, one could look at and marvel at artfully carved bouquets, vases, fruits. The exterior and interior decoration was made in the spirit of Peter the Great Baroque, which will manifest itself in full force in the new capital of St. Petersburg, but a little later.

Moscow curiosity

Menshikov Tower in Moscow was built on a grand scale and with great care. Ivan Zarudny was the chief architect of the project and construction manager. Under his subordination were eminent Italian architects, sculptors, and stone carvers - skilled craftsmen from Kostroma and Yaroslavl artels.

Through the efforts of the architects and the desire of the Most Serene Prince, the church came out airy, aspiring to the sky, it seemed that it was hovering above the ground, the Menshikov tower was wonderful. Architect Zarudny designed and built the temple, above which a bell tower of six steps soared upwards, topped with a thirty-meter spire.

Two upper tiers were built of wood with through windows, hung on the penultimate onefifty sonorous, with a clear sound of bells. Wanting to make a splash, Menshikov ordered a large watch from abroad. They were installed below the bells. But the prince was not destined to finish what he started to the end. In 1710, according to the order of Peter I, the capital was transferred to St. Petersburg, and the favorite had to urgently leave Moscow. The Church of the Archangel Gabriel (Menshikov Tower) was never completed.

Fire and desolation

In 1723, there was a fire in the temple, lightning struck right into the spire. The flames flared up quickly and spread from the upper wooden tiers. Burnt oak mounts collapsed and fell into the building along with all the bells. At that time, there were people in the temple who were saving valuable church utensils and icons, many were injured, and someone died from their wounds. The icon of the Mother of God of Polotsk remained intact, for which the laity thanked God and providence.

It is curious that the new church (Menshikov Tower) had not been consecrated by that time, since the work had not been completed, but the prince had more important things to do. Over the years, the temple was dilapidated, the architect Zarudny wrote letters to the prince about the state of the church, where he indicated that the rafters were rotten, the clockwork was not working, and desolation hovered in the room.

After the death of Peter I, His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov fell into disfavor. During his illness, he demanded that a miraculous icon be brought to the St. Petersburg estate in the hope of begging for recovery. But later he was sent into exile, the trace of the icon was lost, and the Menshikov Tower inMoscow has fallen into complete disrepair.

Masonic signs

Fifty years later, Gavrila Izmailov, an influential Moscow nobleman and freemason (according to rumors), decided to restore the church. He made large donations, but they did not completely restore the appearance of the church. Two wooden upper tiers and a spire with an angel remained only in memory and projects. Only the stone four tiers were restored, now the Menshikov tower was crowned with a tall gilded cone.

According to rumors disturbing Moscow, secret meetings and Masonic services were held in the temple. An indirect confirmation of this was the signs and symbols that appeared on the walls of the church, by order of the generous patron Izmailov, belonging to the Masonic Order. By this time, many had already forgotten what kind of church it was, the Menshikov Tower - that was the name of its inhabitants. When the Masons were convicted of treason and many were imprisoned, the meetings stopped, but the symbols, inscriptions and signs flaunted on the walls of the building for a long time.

Church at the Post Office

In 1852, Metropolitan Filaret ordered to knock down symbols inappropriate for Orthodoxy from the walls of the church. The temple was rebuilt at the expense of the postal department and re-consecrated. The church came under the patronage of the Moscow post office from 1821, and at the same time the Church of the Archangel Gabriel at the Post Office began to be called. Since 1792, the postal department has settled in the former residence of Menshikov, and now the building of the Moscow Post Office is located almost on the site of the former Alexander PalaceMenshikov.

Touch history

The Church of the Archangel Gabriel on Chistye Prudy is a unique architectural monument, one of the first examples of Russian baroque. When exploring the sights of the capital, pay attention to the old church, better known as the Menshikov Tower in Moscow. The address of the architectural monument and the current church: Arkhangelsky lane, house 15a.