Temple of the Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul. Church of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul in the Yasenevo Metochion of the Optina Pustyn Metochion of the Stavropegial Monastery

In the charter of the Russian Orthodox Church there is a definition of a monastery courtyard. Literally it sounds like this: “a community of Orthodox Christians, within the jurisdiction of the monastery and located outside its borders.”

Initially, the courtyard was created so that monasteries located in the forest or taiga wilderness could have food. After all, not every person had the opportunity to get to the desert monastery before. That is why a courtyard was created in big cities, and most often in the Capital, where believers could donate to the monks and submit notes (about the health and repose of deceased relatives).

Just like the Optina Monastery itself, it is stauropegial. This means that decisions regarding the management and appointment of abbots, both in the monastery and in the courtyard, are made by the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.

During the service, only his name is remembered, regardless of whose diocesan territory the monastery or metochion is located.

Metochion of Optina Pustyn in Moscow

Optina Pustyn has its own courtyard in Moscow in the Yasenevo district. The main church of the courtyard is the Church of St. supreme apostles Peter and Paul. The farmstead is located approximately 250 km from Optina Pustyn. Divine services, as in the monastery itself, are held here daily.

The address of the courtyard is Novoyasenevsky Prospekt, 42m.

Metochion of Optina Pustyn in St. Petersburg

There is also a courtyard at Optina Pustyn in St. Petersburg. The main church of the courtyard in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Therefore, it is often called the Assumption Metochion of Optina Pustyn.

Divine services are also held here daily.

Address of the Assumption Compound: emb. Lieutenant Schmidt, 27/2

Peter and Paul in Yasenevo was consecrated in honor of the holy apostles in 1753. But this does not mean that there was no church here before. The village of Yasinovskoye (that’s how its name sounded then) was indicated in the will of Ivan Kalita in 1331 as part of the inheritance of his son Andrei.

As you know, in the old days a village was distinguished from a village by the presence of a church (there were no churches in villages). Consequently, in Yasenevo there existed back in the 14th century.

Photo 1951

Documents of the 17th century accurately describe the wooden Yasenevsky, built by decree of Patriarch Philaret in 1626-1628. Then it was consecrated in the name of St. Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia and even had a “bell tower on pillars” with five bells.

Yasenevo successfully survived the Troubled Times, which were merciful to the village and did not harm it at all. Tsars Alexei Mikhailovich and Peter I Alekseevich loved to come to these places.

Church fence gate

Alexei the Quiet even erected a second wooden church in 1674 next to the old church - in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”.

He had 3 thrones: Znamensky (the upper one is in the second tier), the lower one is the MCC. Sophia with her daughters (as in the old church, which was dismantled a little later), and from the south there is also the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

After his marriage to Evdokia Lopukhina, young Peter I gave this village to his wife’s family. It was one of the Lopukhins who began the construction of a stone temple here in the Elizabethan Baroque style in 1751. The consecration took place in 1753 in honor of the supreme apostles Peter and Paul. The dilapidated Znamenskaya building, which by that time had fallen into a terrible state, was dismantled, a magnificent manor house, also in the Baroque style, was erected nearby, a park, gardens, and ponds were laid out. Yasenevo amazed with its splendor. The village has seen a lot famous people. From the beginning of the 19th century. the owners were the princes Gagarins, who were acquainted with writers, artists, philosophers - Denis Davydov, V. Zhukovsky, Pletnev, Odoevsky, Krylov, Vyazemsky, A.S. Pushkin, Tyutchev, Chadaev, Turgenev, V. Borovikovsky, and in July 1822, Leo Tolstoy’s parents, Nikolai Tolstoy and Maria Volkonskaya, were married in the Church of Peter and Paul in Yasenevo.

Installation of the Cross after restoration. 2011

In 1826, the temple was repaired. His own modern look he owes it to Prince Sergei Ivanovich Gagarin, who added a “warm” side temple in honor of the Great Military Church to the original cubic-shaped volume with a dome on an octagonal drum. Barbara, the patron saint of his wife, as well as a bell tower adjacent to the church. Over time, it became clear that the construction was carried out with violations, and the wall of the bell tower was warped. In 1860, the warm Varvara chapel had to be rebuilt again. Perestroika was completed in 1865 according to the design of the artist Kalugin in the style of classicism, building not one, but 2 chapels - in the name of St. Barbarians and in honor of Sergius of Radonezh (consecrated in 1861), the patron saint of Sergei Ivanovich himself.

Closed in the 1930s. The local state farm used it for storage.

Boarding house for labor veterans in Konkovo. Easter 2011

As a result of the terrible treatment of the building, the wall paintings were completely lost, although the exterior was restored in the 1970s (Yasenevo became part of the city in 1960).

In 1989, the Peter and Paul Church was transferred to the community of believers. Next - as always: restoration, improvement of the territory and creation of the interior decoration of the temple, organization of a Sunday school, children's choir, social service (patronage, assistance to prisoners). The house Resurrection Church in the boarding house for labor veterans No. 6 is assigned to the temple, where services are conducted by priests of the Peter and Paul Church.

In 1997, the Patriarch, by his decree, transferred the Yasenevsky Church of Peter and Paul to the Holy Vvedensky Stavropegic Monastery of Optina Pustyn as a metochion.

On November 23, 2009, it was in this church that the funeral service took place for the famous priest Daniil Sysoev, who was killed on November 19 in the Church of the Apostle Thomas, where he served.

Moscow courtyard of Optina Pustyn

A monastic metochion is “a community of Orthodox Christians within the jurisdiction of the monastery and located outside its borders,” the statute of the Russian Orthodox Church tells us.

Initially, monastic courtyards played the role of hotels or hospices for monks going on obedience outside the walls of the monastery and pilgrims to holy places.

IN modern world The monastery's courtyards, in addition to other tasks assigned to them, carry out primarily missionary service. This happens, for example, in Greece, and on the island of Crete, and in other Local Churches.

The missionary service of monks is a historically determined service that began in the first centuries of the creation of the institution of monasticism. An example is that monasticism came to Rus' even before its Baptism, when monks from the Byzantine Empire during the iconoclasm went beyond its borders, bringing the light of Orthodoxy to remote corners of the Earth.

Metochion of the Holy Vvedensky Stavropegial monastery Optina Pustyn from March 1991 to February 1997 was in the temple Life-Giving Trinity in Ostankino. Then the temple became the Patriarchal metochion, and the metochion of Optina Hermitage was transferred to the Church of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul in Yasenevo, the rector of which was then appointed abbot, now Archimandrite Melchizedek (Artyukhin).

In mysterious ways, the Lord arranged it so that the monastery's courtyard was moved to Yasenevo, to a place that was historically connected with the Optina Hermitage. On July 9, 1822, the wedding of Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya and Lieutenant Colonel took place in the temple of the village of Yaseneva
Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy, the parents of the writer Leo Tolstoy, who, as you know, visited Optina Pustyn and talked there with Elder Ambrose (Grenkov), and his sister Maria Nikolaevna, a nun of the Shamordino Monastery.

From the first days of the formation of the metochion, daily services and confessions began to be held in the Church of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul. The restoration of the church, the restoration of the fraternal building and outbuildings began. The brethren, hand in hand with the parishioners, who at that time were still small in number, began to work on improving the territory of the courtyard.

Gradually, a sisterhood was created at the temple, whose members serve the cause of mercy in the boarding house for veterans No. 6 in Konkovo. Parishioners provide assistance to Orthodox communities in prisons and correspond with prisoners. Theological and catechetical courses are organized at the church, classes in which are not only held in person, but with the blessing of the rector, they are also organized distance learning for prisoners. There is also a Sunday children's school, where students are given knowledge about Orthodox faith, contribute to their churching and entry into the life of the community. Special children's Divine liturgies are held for children.

Every week, the rector of the church holds Sunday conversations dedicated to the patristic works and various issues of human spiritual life.

The rector and priests of the metochion, in agreement with the administration of the Yasenevo district, periodically conduct conversations on spiritual and moral topics with students of secondary schools.

Many young people come to the temple. In January 2003, with the blessing of the rector of the church compound, a youth group was created, which over time became the Orthodox youth brotherhood “Pokrov”. Now this is a large and friendly team that actively participates in parish life and public life capital, carries out annual missionary trips to the Urals, helps orphanages...

Many traditions have developed over 17 years. Of course, during this period the composition of the community has changed, many new people have appeared, but on the day of the patronal feast of the holy chief apostles Peter and Paul, everyone who, even having changed their place of residence, continues to feel like a parishioner of the Optina Metochion, gathers in the church for joint prayer. And on this day you can see how big and friendly this community is.

The role of the missionary service of monasteries is now greater than ever. As His Grace Theophylact, Bishop of Dmitrov, Vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', Administrator of the South-Western Vicariate of Moscow, noted in his congratulatory sermon, the significance of the ministry of monasteries and, in particular, monastic farmsteads is “the continuation of the ministry of the apostles, this is the fulfillment of the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Anna Pokrovskaya

In South-West administrative district In Moscow, in the Yasenevo district, there is an ancient temple erected in honor of the apostles Peter and Paul. It is the courtyard of the widely known. Considered rightfully not only a religious center, but also a historical monument, it attracts a large number of parishioners and simply lovers and connoisseurs of antiquity.

Construction of the first wooden church

The Church of Peter and Paul in Yasenevo has a long history, dating back at least seven centuries. In historical documents that have reached us, Yasenevo has been mentioned since the 14th century. Since in the papers certifying the rights of its owners it is designated precisely as a village, this suggests the presence of a church in it, since this was part of the tradition of past times.

The earliest documentary evidence of this, with a description of the building itself, dates back to the time of the Tsar. Near the place where Paul is now located (in Yasenevo), in 1626, by order of Patriarch Filaret, the father of the first Tsar from the Romanov dynasty, construction of a wooden church began.

It should be noted that in that historical period, when the years of severe trials in Rus' were coming to an end, which went down in history as Time of Troubles, a trend towards spiritual growth has emerged in the consciousness of Russians. This was expressed primarily in the construction of many churches, cathedrals and monastery complexes. The temple discussed in this article was part of this universal process.

Commission sent by the highest decree

The Historical Archives preserved letters from the owner of the village, F.A. Lapukhin, who, starting in 1733, repeatedly asked the leadership of the diocese for permission to build a new stone church on the land that belonged to him to replace the wooden church that had become fairly dilapidated by that time.

As often happens here, the matter dragged on, and only during the reign of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, by her personal decree, a commission was sent to Yasenevo. She was instructed to determine the degree of dilapidation of the former wooden church, and if it was found unsuitable for further use, to petition for the construction of a new one - this time a stone one.

Appearance of a stone church in Yasenevo

The statesmen examined the church, rickety from time to time and darkened by bad weather, cautiously listened to the creaking of its roof and gave a conclusion about the impossibility of holding services in it. This document became the legal basis for the start of construction, as a result of which the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Yasenevo) appeared.

The original appearance of the temple was different from that of the building that has survived to this day. In those years, it represented only the eastern part of a cubic shape. It contained a central - unheated - aisle. Above it rose an octagonal drum, cut through with windows and topped with a dome. This building was made in the then fashionable style, called Catherine's Baroque. In 1822, the parents of the future writer Leo Tolstoy, Princess M.N. Volkonskaya and Lieutenant Colonel N.I. Tolstoy, were married in this temple.

Further reconstructions

The temple in Yasenevo (Peter and Paul) acquired its modern appearance during the period when the village belonged to Prince S.I. Gagarin. In 1832, by his order, a warm side chapel was erected, consecrated in honor of St. Barbara, who was the heavenly patron of his wife. In the same year, the bell tower that has survived to this day was built.

However, over the years, significant errors made during the work were revealed. In particular, the built warm aisle turned out to be not strong enough, and one of its walls was askew. Many complaints were also expressed about the bell tower - extremely narrow and disproportionate to the entire building. In addition, there was a need to redesign the interior for greater convenience for the numerous parishioners of the temple.

The final formation of the appearance of the temple

In this regard, in 1860, the owners of the estate turned to the leadership of the diocese and personally to the ruling metropolitan for permission to rebuild the temple, taking into account all the listed shortcomings. The blessing for the work was received, and reconstruction began the same year.

The author of the project for the new temple was the architect Kalugin. In 1665, the temple in Yasenevo (Peter and Paul) was solemnly consecrated, but this event took place after the death of the owner of the estate, Sergei Ivanovich Gagarin, who died in 1862.

As a result of the work carried out, the appearance of the temple, so familiar to all Muscovites today, was finally formed. Its architecture corresponds to a three-part composition, symmetrically located along the longitudinal axis of the building. Its components are the temple, the vestibule and the bell tower. This type of temple buildings was very common in the 19th century in the patrimonial estates of Central Russia.

The fate of the temple during the years of universal atheism

IN Soviet period The temple in Yasenevo (Peter and Paul) suffered the same fate as many religious centers in the country. In the thirties it was closed, but, fortunately, it was not destroyed, but was used as a state farm warehouse.

The building as a whole has been preserved, but the interior wall paintings, made in the first half of the 19th century and of high artistic and historical value, have been irretrievably lost.

From 1973 to 1976, restoration work was carried out in the temple, as a result of which the external façade of the building was restored to its original form, and crosses were erected on the dome and bell tower. However, this was the extent of the matter. The territory where it was located belonged to a local motor depot and was closed to outsiders. The question of resuming services in the temple was not even raised.

Returning the temple to parishioners

Only with the advent of democratic changes and a change in state policy towards Peter and Paul was it returned to the believers. This happened in 1989, and ten years later it received the status of the Moscow courtyard of Optina Pustyn. Today it is one of the most famous Orthodox churches capital Cities. Every day, the services held there are attended by both members of the large parish community and those who came from other regions and cities of the country to venerate the shrines stored here. The Church of Peter and Paul in Yasenevo opens its doors wide to everyone.

The schedule of services posted at the entrance and posted on the official website indicates that services are held to the full extent provided for by the Church Charter. Anyone planning to visit Moscow is recommended to visit this center of Orthodoxy. The address where the Church of Peter and Paul is located: Novoyasenevsky Prospekt, building 42. You can get there by metro to

The Yasenevo estate is one of the oldest estates in the city of Moscow. One of the buildings of the estate is the temple of the supreme apostles Peter and Paul. The first historical information and documents describing the temple date back to the beginning of the 17th century. Under Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, a wooden church of the martyr Sophia and her daughters Vera, Nadezhda and Lyubov was built in Yasenevo - in 1628-1629. In the salary books of the Patriarchal State Order it is listed as “newly arrived” (just built).

In 1674, Alexey Mikhailovich ordered the construction of a new large and “wonderfully decorated” church in Yasenevo next to the old church. It consisted of two churches: the upper one - the Sign Holy Mother of God, completed with a tent, and the lower one - the martyr Sophia and her daughters. Another tent had a chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. They called it the Church of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary with two chapels: St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the Martyr Sophia and her daughters. Here is its description: “...the village of Yasinevo is on a pond, and in it is the Church of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary, wooden, with a tent top, with a porch, and that church has another church in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Sophia, and right side at the bottom of the church is the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, on the porch there is a staircase going up, and under the lower locker there is a tent roof; the real church and the lower churches, the altar and the chapel and the porch are covered with planks, and the crosses are upholstered in white iron, the building of the great sovereign, and built in 182 (1674); the church of that church has wooden folding doors." Boyarin, Prince A.M. Lvov used his own money to build a "bell tower on pillars, with five bells" and paid for decorations for the iconostasis, as well as the handwritten book "Apostle". Old Church of the Sign in Yasenevo last mentioned in 1751.

In 1751 F.A. Lopukhin received the right to build the current church - a very monumental baroque building. The completion date of the work is unknown; construction continued for several years. Therefore, Yasenev’s oldest building, the church, dates back to approximately the first half of the 1750s.
The church has been preserved in Patriotic War 1812. Then French units arrived in Yasenevo, marching from Moscow along the old Kaluga road.

In Yasenevo, in the Church of Peter and Paul, on July 9, 1822, one of the most remarkable events took place. Then, in the presence of the family of the owner S.I. Gagarin, as well as the neighboring landowners Count Tolstoy and Prince Trubetskoy, were married by Count Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy (1795-1837) and Princess Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya (1790-1830) (parents of L.N. Tolstoy), as evidenced by the entry in the registry register kept in the Central Historical Archive of Moscow.

With the name of Prince S.I. Gagarin is associated with the acquisition by the Church of Peter and Paul of its present form. Initially, the stone temple consisted of one (current eastern) cube-shaped volume of a cold central aisle. It was a pillarless cubic church of a centric composition with an octagonal drum, cut through by eight windows, and topped with a dome.

In 1832, a warm side chapel was added to the temple (the temple itself was cold), with a separate entrance, in honor of St. VMC. Varvara - the heavenly patroness of the prince's wife, and the bell tower, directly adjacent to the temple.

In 1860-61. another reconstruction was carried out, correcting the identified shortcomings of the previous one. It turned out that “this chapel temple, having no vaults, is not strong, and due to the noticeable slope of one wall it threatens with danger; the bell tower with the entrance to it inside is greatly narrowed, and in the construction is not proportional to the temple...”. A petition was submitted to the Moscow Spiritual Consistory for permission to re-build a two-altar warm chapel connected to the cold church, and a new bell tower. The request was granted, and the project developed by the artist Kalugin was approved. Construction was completed in 1865.

As a result of reconstruction in the 1860s, the Church of Peter and Paul acquired an appearance that remains to this day. The architecture of the temple was brought to the type of three-part axial symmetrical composition “temple-narthex-belltower”, the most common among churches built at that time in Russia.

In its final form, the temple had three altars: the central one in the name of the holy apostles Peter and Paul (the antimension was consecrated on February 26, 1826), the southern one in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh (the antimension was consecrated by St. Philaret (Drozdov), Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna on October 20, 1861, a piece of the holy relics of which is now in the church), and the northern one in honor of the holy great martyr Barbara (the antimension was consecrated by Bishop Nikolai of Dmitrov in 1832).
In the 30s, the temple was closed and used as a warehouse, then it was not used in any way. The church's paintings, dating back to the first half of the 19th century, have not survived.

In 1973-76, the temple was externally restored, crosses were erected on the temple and bell tower. The tower, located on the church site north of the temple, was built in the 1970s. restorers. Opposite the entrance to the temple there is an inconspicuous two-story brick building dating back to approximately the middle of the 19th century. According to Yasenev’s inventory, compiled in 1901 when insuring the estate in the Moscow branch of the first Russian insurance company, this building contained “human rooms of the equestrian yard,” and it itself, as part of the equestrian yard, was connected by fences with its other buildings that stood along the perimeter and formed closed space. Before the transfer to the Patriarchate, the “people’s rooms” were occupied by a music school. And in 1989, the temple with “people’s rooms” was returned to the Orthodox Church and transferred to the parish, all the interior decoration is modern. In the 1990s. The appearance of the temple was changed by the introduction of decorative elements: door portals, crosses above the windows, etc. Since 1997, the temple has become the Moscow courtyard of the Holy Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage.